The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-07-30
MONTAGUE HILL.
no the editor Of The Sow

To the Editor of The Spy
The Spy recently published an arti-
Gle referring to the growth of the city.
particularly that section in the neigh
borhood of Richmond Heights. At the
other end of the city, from the New
worcester line to Gates lane, there has
been steady growth that is worthy of
more than passing notice, particular
ly that part forming the crest of the
hill that IN the early days was part
OF the Gates, Curtis and Cutting
farms.
About q years ago, Charles Knapp
and A. Barrows built on the north side
OF the hill where a street was opened
called Baker street. This street runs
parallel with Main street The Barrows
house is still a fine old residence, and
the new Barrows house-oceupied by
New Worcester's postmaster-is
pretty, modern cottage, Shortly after
the old Barrows house was builded the
house of F. A. Hixon was put up. This
estate, with its stately trees, it's beau
tiful shrubs, and it's vine-clad house, is
one of the finest places on the hill. Two
magnificent catalpa trees adorn the
front lawn, which fill the air with the
fragrance of arbutus, and the great
trees at the side of the house are among
the most noted of their kind in Wor-
cester. Mr.. Hixon has opened several
streets through his estate-notably
Catalpa, where several handsome cot
tages have been built, and Bishop ave-
nue., that will extend from Main street
through the Bishop estate over the hill
to Gates lane. The extension of Baker,
intersecting the new street opened by
Curtis, north of the new school house,
will be a great convenience to children
on the hill, as it will afford short cut
to the school house. Several new houses
have been built on Wayne, Ball, Mon
tague, Autumn and Lake streets.
Since asphalt was laid, Montague street
has been one of the finest in the city.
Thanked either corner by the houses
Of e. A. Comins and Joseph Ellis, and
with rows of beautiful naples along
each curb, Montague street is as pleas
ing a bit of the city to look upon from
end to end as can be found. Since
electric lights were put up, fire alarm
and letter boxes established, this Sec
ton considers itself quite q town.
On the little fiat between Main street
and Curtis pond stand the homes for
old women and men, with Bethany
church between, and all surrounded by
trees. Some of the old houses in this
section have been remodelled. TITS here
the new park will be located if the peo-
pie insist on their rights. There is an
artesian we'll on the ground that will
furnish any quantity of water, play
ground partially cleared, chance to
put an arch under STAFFORD street to
connect the park system with Curtis
pond and Leesville waters, and withal
the cheapest bit of land in the city.
Beyond this on both sides Of Main
street quite a village has sprung up.
Chadwick has several cottages, Rice
tNKrn MI
many others.
Among the buildings mentioned on
what The Spy man designated as the
Little KNOLL not a cheap or shabby
building has been put up. The houses
built by Knapp, Bacon, Robbins, Col
by, Scoville, and King being good ten
ements and up-to-date, and nearly all
Of them for single families
The three-decker has not yet put in
an appearance, and 1t is not greatly
missed With all the buildings recently
put up, there are still between 70 and
80 acres available for building pur-
poses and the present would be a good
time to carry out the Baltimore idea.
Rents are altogether too high for the
ordinary working mans pocketbook
and ownership is out of the question
with the present rates of interest and
taxes. If some generous soul would
start q company, Duy up this land and
build lot of small brick and stone
houses suited to the wants of a single
family, he would build monument for
himself, make coming generations hap
py and make trust that would be
trusted for all time.
When the new park Is secured, that
part of Worcester known as New"
will have a jubilee. and will give ali
those who have helped push the good
thing along, the head of the process
sion. #. A. L.