Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1895-01-05
"rne MOTHER OF ONO. ("

The Old Town Of Rutland, Mass, Q
Few towns In Massachusetts,, or in
New England even, can lay claim to
greater distinction from the point Of
view of the historian than can the old
town Of Rutland, Mass, yet, notwith-
standing her right to recognition rs a
confer of historical interest, compar.
utively few people know anything
about the town, and still fewer could
tell just why she is distinguished above
many Of her sister municipalities. Rut-
land, says the New York Tribune, ID
situated in Worcester County about
fifty miles from Boston, on the line Of
the Massachusetts, Central Railway.
The land Is high, about 1850 feet
above the sea level, and from its hills
che spires of as many a. fourteen
towns can be seen. One object of inter.
est pointed out by the citizens Is the
central tree, which IL said to be ex.
actly in the center of the State. Noun.
tain ranges 100 miles distant form the
horizon line, and old MOnadnOck IL
not far distant. After Burgoyne's sur.
render a portion Of his army campcd
for considerable period In this old
town, and traces of the camp Of the
British soldiers can still be seen. Three
Of Burgoync's officers took back to Eng
land wives from among the farmers
daughters.
But Rutland's chief claim to distinc.
ton lies In the fact that she Is the moth.
sr Of Ohio. The first settlement ut Ma.
rletta was made by the sturdy sons Of
Massachusetts, who rallied around the
forty families of Rutland, and one win.
ter morning In 1887 they started with
their teams and household goods to
build new homes In the then unknown
Northwest. From this little group Of
sturdy pioneers sprung what might be
termed new country. The names of
Manasseh Cutler, Rufus Putnam, Tim.
othy Pickering, Rufus King and M.
than Dane are, rs Edwin ID. Mead has
said, Of the greatest moment In the
history Of the West. 1T was Manassel,
Cutler who did more than any other
man to secure the adoption Of tho
clause In the great ordinance whicj,
forever dedicated the great Northwest
to the use of freedom"
The one place In the town about
which will linger memories Of the
grcat historic past Is the General Ri.
fus Putnam house. 1t was in this house
that the first project Of settling Ohio
took shape. 1t was here that II was first
discussed by General Putnam and Gen.
eral Benjamin Topper; II was In the
old brick oven In It's kitchen that the
bread was baked which was to form
the food supply Of those pioneers dur.
Ing n portion Of their journey, and II
was from the dooryard of this house
that the little band of rugged pioneers
started out to settle and people the
great Northwest.
A movement has been started which,
1t Is hoped will result In saving the old
house from the hand Of the iconoclast
and preserving It for years as a reposl.
tory Of colonial relics. or for a public
library for the town. 1t Is large,
two.story house, with rooms opening
from each side Of the front door. It Ia
still In good state Of preservation. Its
large square living rooms suggest good
cheer and comfort. The sides Of tho
rooms are covered with wood panels.
A wide staircase leads from the lower
hall to the chambers, with heavily
carved balusters. Some Of the walls
are even now covered with tho original
figured wall paper which was brought
over from England by the original own.
er. 1t was built by John Murray, a
wealthy citizen, whose afiiliatiOn with
the tories In the revolutionary period
made him obnoxious to his fellow
townsmen, who soon made his life a
burden, and he escaped one night nn,l
went to Move, Scotia. His property was
aftcrward cOnflscated. and the house
fell into the hands Of General Putnam.
1t has been occupied by three genera.
lions Of the Mead family.