The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-21
HORATIO HALL
PASSES AWAY
Was Oldest Member of the Spen-
Ger Congregational Church and
One Of the Oldest Residents OF
the Town
PIONEER IN BOOT
AND SHOE INDUSTRY

Business That Has Made Spen-
Ger FamouS-Avoided Publicity
and Would Never Become Can
didate For Office
Special to The Spy.
Spencer, Oct 2O.-Horatio Hall, one
of the oldest residents of Spencer, died
at his home on Lincoln Street at IL
o'clock last night. Mr.. Hall was IS
years, two months and seven days old.
Although at a very advanced age, the
deceased, though ailing at times, was
not obliged to take to his bed during
his last illness until a week ago today.
Horatio Hall was the son of Samuel
and Lydia Hinds-Hall and was born in
North Spencer. In his early days he
went to the district school where he re-
ceived his education. He then engaged
in farming on his fathers farm. At
an early age he married Sarah Ames,
daughter of Henry Ames of Spencer.
She died eight years ago last July. In
the younger days Of his married life
he was engaged as a boot manufactu-
rer, In partnership with Mr.. Draper.
The firm was known as Hall & Draper,
and the business was carried on in
what was known as the old tavern,
then located where the Baptist Church
now stands. This shop was one Of the
first shoe shops ever started in Spen-
GER.
Mr.. Hall proved a very successful
business man. and. although the shop
OF Mr.. Halls day was but a room
compared with the Isaac Prouty shop
of today Mr.. Hall and his partner
were the men who helped found the
industry that today is the mainstay Of
Spencer. After a few years the boot
business was given up, and Mr.. Hail
retired from active business. A little
later he entered the employ of Isiah
Green as a cutter. Mr.. Hall worked
in this capacity for a number of years
He then retired from active business
and lived at the home where he died
on Lincoln Street with his wife.
During his life in Spencer he has
been a faithful member of the Con-
gregational Church, and bore the dis
tlnction of being the oldest living mem
Der of that church in Spencer. Up to
the last few years he attended services
regularly, until he became so deaf that
he could not understand the words of
the preacher. Deafness was the only
one of the number of Ills that follow
old age that Mr.. Hall was troubled
with. His eyesight remained good to
the last and he read the daily news
papers and talked on all the interest
ing topics Of the day.
Aside from being the oldest Congre-
gational resident in Spencer Mr.. Hall
bore the distinction of being the old
est fireman of the town. Mr.. Hall was
connected with the fire companies of
ba mn nv va and in the
last muster rode in a hack, that being
the last time that he appeared before
the public. He avoided publicity as
much as possible and for that reason
never held office in the town. He was
held in the highest esteem by residents
of Spencer, both young and old.
Mr. Hall leaves two daughters and
one son: Mrs s. ]. Perry of Boston,
Mrs. NJ. C. Vineland of New Jersey, H.
E. Hall of Worcester. The funeral
will take place at the house Tuesday
afternoon at 1.S0 o'clock The funeral
services will probably be conducted by
Rev. E. s. Best Of Marlboro, former
pastor of the Congregational Church
Of Spencer.
The tract of land that will be used
as the site Of the Samuel Bemis Memo
rial Park was surveyed last week. and
the deed of the land will soon pass into
the hands Of the trustees. 1t is likely
that a log-cabin, built after the type
Of the homes that were built in the
time Of the first settlers Of Spencer,
will be erected at the park. The cabin
will be Of the rustic type on the out
side, and the interior will be finished
in modern style. 1t will be rented to
some reliable party, who will agree to
act as caretaker of the park. The
handsome memorial to Spencer's first
settler will be dedicated Oct. 20. There
is talk of erecting a monument there
to the memory of Elias Howe.
She opening number Of the Mems
League course of lectures and enter
tainments will be Friday night by the
Boston Philharmonic Sextet.
The rummage sale of the Associ-
ated Charities closed Saturday night
The sale was in GREEN'S block on Me-
chanic Street, and quite sum of
money was raised.
The fair of the Garde d'Honneur
Drum Corps ended Saturday night in
Mechanics Hall with a dance an en-
tertainment. The gold watch offered
as a prize for the lady securing the
most votes was won by Miss Rose
Delage, with S65 votes. Miss Rose
Gagnon secured more than 900 votes.
"A Breezy Time" will be presented
in Town Hall Oct. %. A good per-
Torrance is expected.
The Christian Endeavor Society of
the Congregational Church met Sunday
afternoon at o'clock.
The young people of the Universal
list Church will present the drama
THE Cool Collegian," in November
Rehearsals have already begun.
The Spencer Guild will meet in the
w. C. T. U. rooms Monday evening at
745 o'clock. An interesting literary
and musical program will be presented
Members are requested to bring their
quarterly dues.
The Spencer, Monday Club will
meet with Mrs. c. N. Prouty Monday
at o'clock.
The W. C. T. U. will meet with
Mrs. Edwin f. Stone, High Street,
Tuesday at o'clock
The Grange ladies will meet with
Mrs Edward Warren Wednesday az
ternoon to make arrangements for the
coming fair.
Rev. Mr.. Crawford of the Methodist
Church delivered a sermon Sunday
morning on the evils of dancing and
attending theatres. He like Father
Lamy condemned Saturday night
dances