The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-11
ALBERT CURTIS.
Memorial Paper Read BY Senator Charles
{. Mashburr.

" " dSnDuFF'
The annual meeting of the Society of
Antiquity took place last evening in
Salisbury hall. The principal business
OF the evening was the reports of the
officers of the past year, all of whom
have been chosen to fill the same posi-
tons for another tWelVe-month. Rev. J.
j. Putnam was to have delivered an
address of the Pilgrims, but was kept
at home with the grip. In his absence
Charles G. Washburn red 2 memorial
on Albert Curtis.
The following new members were
elected into the society: Mrs. Myrtis
Harrington, Miss Mary A. Smith, Miss
Joanna l. Smith, Miss Katherine e.
Higgins, Mrs. Alice Sawyer Morgan,
Mrs. Sarah Lydia Daniels, John w.
Sheehan, Mrs. Ellen A. Sheehan, Miss
Jennie Isidore Mcclellan.
President Futchins made an exhaus-
tive report on the work and accom-
lEshments of the society for the past
YEAR and made several recommends
tions for the future. 4Ie said in part:
In the inaugural address of last year
the membership was stated to be 1S9
active, 20 correspond, -g and II hon
orary members. At the present writing
it is S61 active, y corresponding and Is
honorary members.
An examination of the librarians re-
port will show the increasing amount
of material which is flowing in an ever
broadening stream into our library and
museum, making our collections in
valuable from a historic point of view.
The efforts of the committee on
marking historic spots has secured,
through the city council, an order
placing in the hands of City Solicitor
Arthur P. Rugg, Esq, and City En-
gineer Fred A, Mcclure the carrying
out of the design to mark the spot
where, on the 18th day of July, 1716
the Declaration of Independence was
publicly read in this commonwealth, if
not in New England.
And We trust that during the present
Year some celebration of that reading
by Isaiah Thomas may be celebrated
after the proper marking of the spot
upon which he stood
The place where John Adams taught
school should be properly marked, and
to the committee is commended this
subject
Through the efforts of the committee
on ancient manuscripts. publications,
paintings and engravings, a large mass
of material. much of it historically val
liable, was secured from the various
city departments when moving from
the old to the new city hall.
This ought to be a reminder that this
Is the place for the preservation of
everything of historical nature, which
Is so apt 20 be lost or destroyed in the
removal Of concerns and families.
Mr.. Washburn's eulogy on Albert
Curtis was the result of much PAINS
taking research. In preparing the pa
per he made use of all obtainable ma
1erial bearing on the life of the subject
of his sketch, both written and by word
of mouth He interspersed his address
with many amusing and interesting re-
miniscences not only about Mr.. Curtis
but also concerning many others of the
early founders of Worcester, With
which his life was so intimately asso-
Cated.
Mr. Washburn began by stating that
there were few men whose lives were
so identical with the life and growth of
Worcester as was Mr.. Curtis. His
memory extended from almost the car
lest beginnings of the city up TO the
present year and he had been in
1imately associated with nearly all tho
time.
He told several adventures of Mr..
Curtis ancestors with the Indians
when they came west from Boston into
What was then the wilderness. Mir.
Washburn described his invention of
the shearing machine, and dWult on
Mr. Curtis business career at some
~Lt7 I'll Ilc lOuClleu OH MS connection
with Union Church, the Worcester Y.
NJ. c. A., the Mechanics Association.
the Old Mems Home, Hope cemetery,
and told about his many charities.
In conclusion, he paid glowing
tribute to the character Of the man,
who, he said, was a sober, industrious
and thrifty Christian mechanic. who
made the most of his opportunities and
after becoming himself successful cid
his best to assist others.