PotpourrEMAIL

���`����,��,����`����,��,����`����,��,

PotpourrEMAIL

��,��,����`����,��,����`����,��,������`

Vol. 4, No.2- 1 August 2002. Circulation: 100 and growing!
(C) 1999 Boylston Historical Society and Museum
7 Central St., PO Box 459, Boylston, MA 01505
boyhisoc@rcn.com 508-869-2720
Editors: Betty L. Thomas and Judith Haynes
Boylston Historical Society and Museum Web Page:
http://users.rcn.com/boyhisoc/
To subscribe or unsubscribe to the PotpourrEmail, or
to submit information to be included in the PotpourrEmail,
e-mail info to: boyhisoc@rcn.com
CONTENTS. Welcome; "The History of Boylston 1642-1741";
Tidbits; From Our Readers; BHS News; On The Web; Humor

���`����,��,����`����,��,����`����,��,������`����,�
��,��,����`����,��,����`����,��,������`����,��,���

Welcome to our Email newsletter! For those of you who are not
members of BHS and don't receive the snailmail newsletter, it is called
The Potpourri. Sooooo, we thought the appropriate name for this version
would be PotpourrEMAIL. This Email version is not meant to repeat or
copy the snailmail version, but to complement it, with the addition of
topics of interest to those with computer and web capabilities. If you
have a story to tell, information to impart, a good joke, computer
or web genealogy info, a Boylston genealogy query, or anything that would
be of interest to our readers--please Email us at:
boyhisoc@rcn.com

~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+
"The History of Boylston 1642-1741"

The following is from Vol.II of the Historical Series.
This book is no longer available for sale, but there are bound
copies of all the Historical Series books in the Museum's Fuller
Research Library, the Boylston Public Library, and the
Allen County Public Library [Fort Wayne, IN.] There are drawings,
sketches and photos in the book that we cannot include
in this Email.

"The History of Boylston 1642-1741"
A Critical Edition of the Papers of George L. Wright
by William O. Dupuis
Volume II in the Boylston Historical Series
Revised edition 1978

Chapter I
"The Geography and Geology of Boylston"
by George L. Wright
Glacial Age
The glacial or ice age, as recorded in geological time, is quite recent, beginning perhaps one million years ago, and extending by four advances and retreats to within twenty or thirty thousand years of the present time.
The ice sheet, which was several thousand feet thick, that advanced over the eastern part of Massachusetts and including Shrewsbury, is believed to have been cap and shelf ice from Greenland and the neighborhood thereof, whereas the ice sheet that came down over the region east of Wachusett Mountain and over Boylston was from the Labrador ice cap. The former, coming down the ocean and moving over the land westward, while the latter moved in a southernwardly direction. The general direction of these ice movements over the land is plainly indicated by the scratches found on most surfaces of ledges, and also by the direction of the major axes of drumlins found scattered throughout the eastern half of the state. The scratches were made by stones, embedded in under surfaces of the ice sheets, as the latter moved over the ledges. The geologists have not been able to agree as to how the drumlins were formed, but they have no doubt about their indicating the direction of the movement of the ice sheets.
It is known from observation of existing glaciers that their formed edges have accumulations of blocks of ice and debris which they push along as they advanced over the land, and that the accumulation of ice and debris serves to fill valleys and depressions so as to provide romps and fills upon which the sheet rides over.
This filling action accounts for the absence of the usual glacier markings on the ledge of Sewall Hill, which extends across the path of the sheet that moved southwardly. The fin back of the ledge standing up east of the Gleason-Wesson place shows no signs of glacial action, but on the contrary, it has been washed clean of the soil , that must have accumulated there over the great ages, by water flowing over it , and the presumption is that Sewall Plain was, in glacial times, buried more than a hundred feet deep by blocks of ice and debris. At the southwest corner of Boylston, and over the line in Shrewsbury, there is a large number of small hills and valleys, known as terminal moraine, which were formed by earth or glacial till falling into the crevices between stationary blocks of ice which eventually melted leaving valleys where formerly they rested.
The geologists have conjectured that the southwardly moving ice sheet over Sewall Hill must have collided with the westerly moving ice sheet over Shrewsbury, and in the melee that took place, both sheets were broken up to a large extent and piled upon each other, so that upon melting, a great excess of rocks were deposited on the land with a corresponding excess of water. This is supposed to account for the great mass of boulders and small stones in the Great Rocky Plain. Anybody going from the Bannister Place to Meeting House Hill in Shrewsbury will scarcely need to be told how the Plain came to be so named in 1726, or earlier.
It will be noted that Bond Hill, on the west, the Ball and Barnes Hills, on the east of the Town, are largely what are known as drumlins, and have the same southernly direction as that taken by the ice sheet in passing over Boylston, while the central drumlin in Shrewsbury has a decided westerly direction.

***Editors Note:
1) drumlin. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.
...An elongated hill or ridge of glacial drift. From drum, ridge, from Irish Gaelic druim, back, ridge, from Old Irish....

~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+
Tidbits

List of Jurors from the 1930 Town Report - pg 48
In the town of Boylston, Mass. for the year begining July 1, 1930 as prepared by the Selectmen of said Town pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 234 of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts:
Names Occupations Residences
Anderson, Hans - Stationary Fireman Edgewood Street
Backholm, Oscar - Machinist Mill Road
Brigham, Walter G. - Carpenter Main St.
Button, Charles E.- Carpenter Linden Road
Culter, Howard B. - Farmer Cross Street
Cutler, Leonard R. - Machinist Glazier Street
Garfield, Joseph B. - Teamster & Farmer Cor. Central & Cross Sts.
Fuller, Willis, A. - Carpenter Main Street
Hastings, Calvin R. - Farmer Central Street
Kinnear, Orion B. - Bookkeeper Central Street
Libbey, Arah D. - Salesman Glazier Street
Maynard, John S. - Clerk Main Street
Nylin, Arthur E. - Truer on Grinding Wheels Main Street
Potter, Eugene C. - Manager Main Street
Slack, Thomas G. - Truckman & Tire Dealer Main Street
Stark, Fred C. - Farmer Main Street
Wheeler, Ellwood O. - Furniture Dealer Cross Street
Wood, William P. - Insurance Agent Central Street

Edgar B. Donaldson
Loring G. Fuller
Selectmen of Boylston
A true copy
Attest: George S. Wright, Town Clerk
-------------------------------------------------------
from the 1930 Town Report - pg 47
Bodies of Deceased Former Residents Buried in Boylston 1930

Date, Name, Place of Death, Age [Y, M, D], Place of Burial

Jan. 3, Nancy S. Hale, Berlin, 76,9,-, Pine Grove Cemetery
Jan. 21, Hugh C. F. Smith, Bronx, NY, 85,-,-, Pine Grove Cemetery
Mar. 1, Sanborn A Wright, Worcester, 54,6, 21, Pine Grove Cemetery
Mar. 28, Clarrisa A. Hastings, Berlin, 84,6,1, Pine Grove Cemetery
Mar. 29 Albert A. Ball, Worcester, 21,5,24, Pine Grove Cemetery
July 16, Carl A. Olson, Taunton, 78,-,-, Pine Grove Cemetery
Sept. 4, Alpheus E. Trowbridge, Newton, 66,-,-, Pine Grove Cemetery
Oct. 24, Statia E. Sanders, Worcester, 62,4,27, Pine Grove Cemetery
Oct. 28, *Charles H. Glazier, Florida, 90,-,-, Pine Grove Cemetery
*A soldier in the Civil War, from Boylston
---------------------------------------------------------------
from the 1930 Town Report - pg. 45 & 46
Deaths - Whole number 14, including still births and children under one day old
Date, Name, Age [Y, M, D], Residence, Birthplace, Cause of Death, Burial Place

Feb.4, Maria Jane [Kellie] Cook[ wid. Donald ], 86,3,-, Boylston, Canada, Septic Infection, Hope Cem. Worcester
Feb 11, Thomas J. Cullen, 65,-,-, Boylston, Ireland, R.R. accident, St. John's Cem. Worcester
Mar 2, Jennie W. [Wood] Taylor [Wid. George H.], 71,5,21, Boylston, Boylston, Dedema [sic] of lungs, Pine Grove Cem Boylston
May 3, Edward C. Gilmore, 48, 7,26, Boylston, Manville RI, Pulmonary Tuberculosis, Pine Grove cem Boylston
May 27, Koomar [Eskender] Perch [Wid Charles], 62,-,-, Boylston, ----, Cardio Renal, Hope Cem. Worcester
July 5, James Harris Dean, 1,2,12, Boylston, Boylston, Cholera Infantum, Pine Grove Cem Boylston
July 22, Henrietta [ Moores] Negus [Wid Edwin R.], 78,4,28, Boylston, Boylston, Cerebral hemorrhage, Vernon Grove Cem. Milford
Sep 2, George A. Vickery [husb. Lillian E. Brunker], 49,7,22, Boylston, Boylston, Chronic Myocarditis, Pine Grove Cem Boylston
Dec 13, Joseph Kupstas [husb. Annie Sidenbrute], 60,-,-, Bronchial Pneumonia, Notre Dame Cem Worcester
Dec. 23, Anna M.K. [Aderson] Anderson [Wid. Gustaf], 88,-,-,Boylston, Sweden, Chronic Myocarditis, New Swedish Cem. Worcester
~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+
From Our Readers
From Laurie K Mottle
You have finally answered one of my questions about the age of the rocks in my backyard at 32 Warren Street (my niece referred to it as "a pure geological dump"). Thank you for the excerpt from George Wright's writing. By the way, the Historical Society was the first place I went to in my quest of the age (I use the term lightly) of the rocks in my backyard. I was referred to the library. Anyway, many thanks again.

~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+
BHS News

2001 - 2002 PROGRAMS and EVENTS
All Programs open to the public and
held at the Society (unless otherwise noted).
7 Central St., Boylston
Donations at the door are gratefully accepted!
-------------------------------------------
"Be Our Valentine" Exhibit -
This is a display of Victorian Valentines,
Lace from our collection, and wedding dresses
circa 1950 and 1930.
The exhibit will run through September 2002 and is
open during normal open hours and at regular
museum admission.
Members - free Non-Members - $3
-----------------------------------------
NEW HOURS
Last month we announced that the Museum would be open on Tuesday,
Wednesday, and Thursday from 9am to Noon, June 1 to August 31
Sorry folks...the staff can not open on Wednesday,
BUT
We will be open Tuesday and Thursday - 9 am to noon
AND
The FIRST TUESDAY of each month [year round]- 6-8 pm
Please stop by and visit Norman French and Tim Houlihan on August 6
As always ...we are open by appointment for those who can not make any of our open hours.
-----------------------------------------
COMING UP THIS FALL
Antiques Appraisal Day
Sat., Sept 14 - 11am to 2 pm
at the Townhouse, 599 Main St., Boylston
Donation: $5 per item
**Sorry, coins, stamps, jewelry, and ancient artifacts
will NOT be appraised.
Paul Royka, a nationally known expert, author of two
books on antiques, and an appraiser on the PBS series
'Antiques Roadshow' for 4 seasons will help BHSM to
conduct our first ever Appraisal event --- it's not too early
to start ransacking the attic for those hidden treasures.
-------------------------------------------
King Phillip's War a slide lecture by Michael Tougias,
author of King Philip's War and Until I Have No Country.
Learn about Indian life, Colonial settlements, the battles, and the
strategy during this brutal war between the Colonists and the
Native Americans. Thursday October 24, 2002 at 7:30 pm.
Members - $2 Non-Members - $3 Under 18 - free
Sponsored in part by Mr. & Mrs. R. Haynes and Mr. & Mrs. D. Cole
------------------------------------------------------
Behind the Scenes Tour of Museum & Welcome Reception
for New Members and the Curious!
Meet the Staff and Board members. FREE
Saturday, November 9, 2002 at 7:30 pm
--------------------------------------------------------
Volunteer - Pick any day/hours we are open that fit your schedule - Tuesday, Thursday 9-noon and the 1st Tuesday each month 6-8 pm

C.A.P. CLUB [Cut and Paste] is a group of volunteers that organize the photo copies of BHS Scrapbooks and other newspaper clippings into useable, indexed research tools. CAP Club meets at BHSM EVERY Tuesday and Thursday from 10am to noon. Work involves cutting out articles, grouping them, and pasting the groups onto pages, putting the pages into binders, and then indexing all clippings in each binder. You will have fun reminiscing, discovering, and reading all the old newspaper articles. Everyone is welcome to join in the fun....no dues....no roll call... .Just show up!!!! 9-5ers - join a new section of CAP Club on the 1st Tues each month - 6-8pm.[Starts September 3]

Computer typists - We are putting all our collections information on computer. This work involves typing in forms.

Cleaning Crew: come in once a month to dust, vacuum, clean bathrooms, and general tidying.

Goodie Bakers: Bake goodies for our events.

Door Greeters/ Ticket takers: Stand [or sit] at the door and say hello to our visitors at various programs/events
-----------------------------------------------------
BHSM's Contribution to the New Exhibit at Plimoth Plantation

BHSM is proud to be able to assist Plimoth Plantation as they debut a major new exhibit. Thanksgiving: Memory, Myth & Meaning is an interactive exhibit leading visitors from present-day celebrations and traditions backward through time, peeling back layers of popular culture, observance, meaning and myth to let viewers see the history of this holiday. The exhibit ends with a fresh look at the 1621 harvest celebration from the perspectives of the participants, the Wampanoag and the English. The exhibit is included with admission.

Our contribution to the exhibit is the loan of a 17th century English backsword (42" long, with a hilt about 8" in diameter) from the BHSM collection. The sword has been examined by Walter Karcheski of the Higgins Armory Museum in Worcester, who estimated its age at approximately three-hundred and seventy years (circa 1630).

To publicize our role in this undertaking we're conducting a Raffle, with the Grand Prize of a One-Year Plimoth Plantation family membership, a $90 value. In addition, there will be four more prizes consisting of Plimoth Plantation one day passes for a family [2 adults, 2 children], a $ 72 value.

Raffle Tickets - $1 each or 10 for $7. Stop by the Museum or mail in your money [include SASE for return of stubs] The Raffle will be held on Appraisal Day---Sept 14.... you don't have to be present to win.
-------------------------------------------
Season Tickets were so popular last year that we are offering a Season ticket again this year.
a $15 value for $8 - Makes a great gift
Season ticket [you must show your Season Ticket at each event] Includes:
1. Appraisal Day - appraisal for One Item 2. King Philip's War admission
3. History of Boylston admission 4. Flagg Pond admission 5. One Raffle ticket
---------------------------------------------
Visit the gift shop
http://www.ultranet.com/~boyhisoc/gift.htm

~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+
On The Web
the Veterans History Project
http://www.loc.gov/folklife/vets/

Online, cross-referenced English
http://dict.aiedu.com/

Bartleby - For questions on English grammar, spelling, and usage;
dictionary of words, names or quotations
http://www.bartleby.com/61/

Find definitions by alphabetical browsing or
word lookup. Powered by several print dictionaries.
http://onlinedictionary.datasegment.com/

Resource site for the new Macmillan English Dictionary.
http://www.macmillandictionary.com/

The Rap Dictionary
http://www.rapdict.org/terms/a

Ultralingua
http://www.ultralingua.net/
~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+

Humor -
The Daily News, Batavia, Genesee County, New York State
August 10-1897

SOLD HIM TO A WIDOW.
Mrs. ROBINSON of New York Disposed of Her Husband for $25 Cash.
New York.--Mrs. Hannah ROBINSON, 25 years old, sold her husband John for
$25 to Mrs. Jennie GRAY, a widow, last Thursday and now she wants him back,
but John and the widow propose to stick to the agreement.
The ROBINSONS were married in Scotland in 1888 and have a two-year old
son who is being cared for by the grandfather, who lives in Jersey City.
They live at no. 621 West Forty-fifth street and opposite them lives the
widow GRAY, who deals in oil cloth. They are hucksters and peddle oil
cloth. Recently Mrs. ROBINSON noticed that her husband was becoming
infatuated with Mrs. GRAY and offered to sell him to her for $25. The widow
agreed and articles of sale were drawn up by a notary. The money was paid
over and John took up his quarters with Mrs. GRAY.
After Mrs. ROBINSON had spent the money, in just three days, she demanded
the return of her husband. Mrs. ROBINSON procured a summons for Mrs. GRAY,
but the latter disregarded it and then began proceedings for divorce, but
before the papers could be served John and Mrs. GRAY moved over to New
Jersey, without the jurisdiction of this State.

PERMISSION TO REPRINT articles from PotpourrEMAIL is granted
unless specifically stated otherwise, PROVIDED: (1) the reprint
is used for non-commercial, educational purposes; and (2) the
following notice appears at the end of the article:
Written by
Previously published by PotpourrEMAIL,
PotpourrEmail, Vol. 4, No.2 - 1 August 2002. Please visit
Boylston Historical Society and Museum's main Web page at
http://users.rcn.com/boyhisoc/
This newsletter is distributed monthly, on the first day of the month,
to all Boylston Historical Society members (who have Email!), genealogists,
and friends who have a special interest in the history of the town of
Boylston.
���`����,��,����`����,��,����`����,��,������`����,�
��,��,����`����,��,����`����,��,������`����,��,���

boyhisoc@rcn.com
508-869-2720
Boylston Historical Society
PO Box 459
Boylston, MA 01505
Web Page: http://users.rcn.com/boyhisoc/