The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-11-13
Five Hundred from Murray
Crane for Putnam House.

Members af the various historical
and revolutionary societies and esbe-
cially those of the Massachusetts So
ciety of the Sons of the Revolution. are
rejoicing in the success of the efforts
that have been made to secure the old
Rufus Putnam place in Rutland to pos
terity that it may ever stand and he
preserved as a memorial to the heroic
old general who was such a prominent
HSure IN the early history of the state
ana or Worcester county.
In September last, the Society of the
sons OF the Revolution which has its
headquarters in Boston, erected a tab
!eC on the historic residence in Rutland
IN which Gen. Rufus Putnam passed
many years of his long and useful life.
more than century ago. At that time
there were elaborate exercises at the
church in Rutland dedicatory of the
tablet that was erected. On this occa-
sion a memorable address was deliv-
cred by Senator George F. Hoar and
many Of the prominent historical So
ciety people of this and other states
were present.
An attempt was then made to pur-
chase the house, and the transaction
was erected at cost of $4,000 A com
mittee consisting of Senator Hoar. AL
derman b. w. Potter and Col. e. B.
1 Stoddard, took a conveyance of the
place, and on this negotiated a mort
gage which was taken by the Five Cent
| Savings Bank. The bank made such
arrangement in the matter that it was
possible for the society to pay in money
on the mortgage as fast as it was able
to do so, and such has been the interest
taken in the project, that up to within
few days ago, the amount had been
| reduced to slightly over $780,
| Yesterday Senator Hoar received
word from Lieut.. Gov w. Murray
Crane that he stood ready to contrib
ute $500 toward the purchase of the
house, and his check for that amount
has been paid into the bank on the
mortgage. This leaves it practically
certain that within a very short space
of time the historic mansion will be the
property of the society, title clear, and
will thus secure to future generations
the scene of some of the most interest
ing historic events that have taker
| place within the limits of Worcester
county.
This action on the part of Lieut.. Gov
Crane is very highly appreciated by
| the society and came as somewhat o.
a surprise to its officials, as it was en-
tirely unsolicited. 1t is one of the mos
generous contributions that have beer
received toward the purchase of tn,
house.
In addition to the preservation of thu
house, it is the intention of the societ,
to make a sort of museum of the struc
lture, where it will be possible to keel
and preserSe d large collection of relic
of colonial and revolutionary days
Already there are a number of object
of historic interest and considerable
intrinsic value collected there, whicl
areton exhibition at all times.
The house is at present occupied b.
the former owner of the estate, VIII
acts as custodian. The society feel
Especially gratified to think that wha
is really it's most pretentious effort thu
far in the line of revolutionary pre-
servation, has met with such splendit
success, and if the museum idea is de
lveloped to its utmost, the money thu
far expended will have been put to al
exceedingly valuable use.