New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-10-21
"THE MOTHER OF OHIO"
HISTORICAL INTEREST IN THE OLD TOWN OF
RUTLAND. MASS

,usroprcA1, INTEREST IN THE OLD TOWN OF
RUTLAND. MASS.
Ros,on. oct 90 (SpecaD.-Few towns in Massa-
chuse,ts or in New England even, can lay claim
N greater distinction from the point OF VIE" OF te
historian than can the old town OF Rutland Mass
We, Notwithstanding her right to recognition as d
centre % historical interest comparatively few peo-
ple know anything about the town. ana sun FEWER
could tell lust why she IS distinguished above many
OF her sister municipalities Rutland is situated IN
Worcester County. about fifty miles from Boston,
on the line of the Massachusetts central railway
The land is high. about l.25o feet above the sea
level and from its hills the spires of as many as
fourteen towns can be One object or interest,"
pointed out by the citizens is the Central Tree.
which is said TO be exactly in the centre or the
State Mountain ranges 90 miles distant form the
horizon line and old Monadnock Is not far distant
After Burgoyne's surrender, says writer IN ne
New-England Magazine" portion Of his army
carnpe1 for a considerable period in this old town,
and traces Of the camp of the British soldiers can
still be seen. Three Of Burgoyne's officers TOOK
back TO England wives from among the farmers
daughters.
But Rutland's chief claim to distinction lies In
the fact that she is the mother OF Ohio. The first
settlement at Marietta was made by the sturdy
sons Of Massachusetts. who rallied around the iorty
families Of Rutland. and one winter morning IN
l77 they started with their teams and househoId
goods to build new homes In the then UNKNOWN
Northwest From this little group OF sturdy
pioneers sprung what might be termed new coun-
Try The names Of Manasseh Cutler, Rufus Putnam.
Timothy Pickering, Rufus King and Nathan Dane
are. Edwin d. Mead has said, OF the greatest
moment in the history of the West. 1T was
Manasseh Cutler who did more than any otner man
10 secure the adoption OF the clause In the Rrcdt
ordinance which forever dedicated the great North
West TO the use Of freedom. -
The place In this town about which Will long
Ilnger memories OF the great historic past Is the
General Rufus Putnam house. II was IN TINS house
that the first project Of settling Ohio took shape
Putnam and General benjamin Tupper: il was in
NE Ola BRICK oven in its kitchen that the bread was
oake1 which vas TO form the food supply OF those
Pioneers during portion OF their journey, ard II
was from the doOryard OF this house that the little
oand OF rugged pioneers started out TO settle and
people the great Northwest.
a movement has been started which il is hoped
WI. result IN saving the old house from the hand
VI tne conOclast and preserving il for years as
tepository OF Colonial relies. or for public library
III me town. l. Is large two-story house. with
.oons opening from each side OF the front door IL
81 sun u good state OF preservation Its large.
seiaale iV!ng rooms suggest good cncer and com
,oit The sides Of the rooms are covered with Wool
tahrs wide staircase leads from the lower hall
60 tne chambers. with heavily carved bausters.
W3.gihal figured wall paper which was brought over
IRON England by the original owner. II was built
vy Sohn Murray, wealthy citizen, whose aflia lion
NJ me Tories In the Revolutionary peroi made
n,sn obnoxious 10 MS fellow townsmen, who soon
,ape MS life a burden and he escaped one night
81. went 70 Nova Scotia. His property was after
~ar1 confiscaed. and the house fell into the hands
" general Putnam. II has been occupied by three
generations OF the Mead family.