CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS IN TOPSFIELD
1900
| Jan.
1 |
Celebration
of the 25th anniversary of the organization of Fountain Lodge, No. 170,
I.O.O.F. |
| April
12 |
Rev.
Herbert J. Wyckoff installed pastor of the Congregationalist Church. |
| April
14 |
Rev.
William N. Roberts Appointed pastor of the Methodist Church. |
| July
19 |
Barn
belonging to Albert W. Stevens struck by lightning and consumed by fire,
together with out-buildings and one side of his dwelling house.
Loss, $1350.00. |
| Aug.
12 |
Religious
exercises in the Congregationalist Church in connection with the
celebration of the 250th anniversary of the incorporation of the town. |
| Aug.
16-17 |
Celebration
of the 250th Anniversary of the Incorporation of the Town. |
| Aug.
29 |
Gaius
B. Frost elected Principal of the High School. |
| Sept.
15 |
Mass.
State Highway Commission appropriates money to construct "The Valley
Road." |
| Nov.
22 |
Dr.
H. F. Sears of Boston, buys the Josiah P. Perkins and Dudley Perkins
farms. |
1901
| March
21 |
The
Town Farm sold to Dr. H. F. Sears, of Boston, for $9000.00. |
| March
25 |
A
Village Improvement Society formed; Albert A. Conant, President. |
| May
6 |
Melville
W. Stone, of Reading, chosen Superintendent of Schools, for the school
district of Topsfield, Boxford, Middleton and Reading. |
| June
21 |
Lighted
chandelier in the Town Hall fell to the floor soon after the close of the
High School reception. Fire extinguished by chemicals; damage
$25.00. |
| June
24 |
The
street locations in Topsfield for the Essex County Street Railway were
surveyed and staked out. |
| Aug.
16 |
Proceedings
at the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the incorporation of the
town, published and placed on sale. |
| Sept.
19 |
McKinley
Memorial Services at the Town Hall. Business suspended during the
day. |
| Sept.
28 |
Dr.
Byron Sanborn, of Boston, began to practice medicine in town. |
| Oct.
12 |
"The
Valley Road" completed and opened to public travel. |
| Oct.
17 |
A
6-inch artesian well at the Dr. H. F. Sears estate, abandoned at a depth
of 714 feet, the flow of water being but six gallons per minute. |
| Nov.
28 |
The
residence of Thomas W. Peirce (the Ray farm) damaged by fire shortly after
midnight; loss $500. |
1902
| Jan.
27 |
Death
of John Bailey. |
| Jan.
30 |
South
Side Social Circle organized. |
| March
1 |
Very
high water in the river and washouts in many of the highways. |
| April
15 |
Rev.
E. C. Dixon appointed pastor of the Methodist Church. |
| May
17 |
The
Mass. State Highway Commission awarded $1100.00 to be expended in
Topsfield. |
| June
3 |
Frank
H. Wentworth of Linebrook, a carpenter, fell from the new stable of
Gilbert B. Balch, and died at the Salem Hospital a few hours later. |
| July
24 |
Gaius
B. Frost, principal of the High School, resigned and Leroy E. Williams
elected to fill the vacancy. |
| Sept.
15 |
Congregational
parsonage sold to Willard Emery of Boston. |
| Nov.
7 |
Walter
Farnham of Linebrook, accidentally shot and killed at Hood's Pond. |
| Dec. |
Coal
famine due to coal strike in Pennsylvania. |
| Dec.
28 |
Rev.
H. J. Wyckoff resigned as pastor of the Congregational Church. |
1903
| Feb. 21 |
Stanwood Church Home
for children closed. |
| Apr. 8 |
Rev. H. William Hook
appointed pastor of the Methodist Church. |
| June |
Heavy rains.
River very high. |
| Aug. |
Arthur D. Wiggin, of
Troy, Vt., elected principle of the High school. |
| Oct. 12 |
Alpheus A. Gould
killed by a train at Towne's crossing. |
1904
| |
Much snow fell
during the winter of 1904-4. |
| May 8 |
The Asa Bixby house,
on Rowley street, destroyed by fire. |
| June 12 |
The David Granville
Perkins house, on Central street, destroyed by fire, also a carriage-house
and a shed. |
| Sept. |
An appropriation
from the Mass. Highway Commission expended upon Central street. |
| Nov. 8 |
John L. Fiske, of
Topsfield, elected representative to the General Court. |
| Nov. 9 |
Ell of the Benjamin
Conant house, on Rowley Bridge street, destroyed by fire. |
1915
| March
11 |
Celebration
of the 20th anniversary of the founding of Topsfield Grange. |
| April |
Rev.
Edward A. Brown of Delta, Ohio, appointed pastor of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. |
| May |
Began
to dredge the Salem water supply canal from the Ipswich river to Wenham
lake. |
| June
19 |
The
Assessors announce a $6.00 tax rate. |
| Sept.
21-22 |
Annual
cattle show of the Essex Agricultural Society, marred by a heavy rain and
wind which blew down the two large tents. |
|
Massachusetts
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