The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-11-12
City Messenger Charles Marvin
Passes Away After a Service
of Unprecedented Length in
the City's History
DEATH CAUSED BYA
STROKE OF PARAL YSIS
Mr.. Marvin Entered the Office of
City Messenger in 1863 and
Served Under Eighteen Mayors
and Thirty Nine City Councils
with Little Opposition

third shock of paralysis. Mr.. Marvin
has failed gradually up to the time Of
his death.
He did not regain consciousness from
i the time he was stricken down, but
grew weaker every hour. The attend
ing physician entertained little hope of
his recovery and death had been ex-
pected at any moment.
Mr.. Marvin enjoyed the distinction Of
having been elected for 80 consecutive
terms as city messenger of Worcester
1t was his often-expressed desire to
serve out 40 years in the office he has
filed for so many years. As a general
! thing, tenure Of office in an elective
! position is rather Of uncertain length,
but with Mr.. Marvin conditions were
reversed, and had his health permitted,
there is not man in the City Council
who would not have said Make 1t a
half century
Mr. Marvin was possessed of a genial,
companionable disposition, who made
friends of all with whom he came in
contact. He had neared his 18th birth
day, but he was the sort of a man who
would not allow his feelings to keep
Ipace with Father Time. He was keenly
alive to all questions Of the day and
there were few young men in Worces-
world closer than he. His interest in
the national game never waned. He
| was one Of the first to welcome the
opening Of the baseball season and
among the last to watch its close.
Mr.. Marvin had not enjoyed good
| health for two or three years, but no
one ever heard a complaint from his
lips. He was always ready with a
| smile and happy greeting-a man of
| whom no one could speak other than
praise and who will long be remem-
bered by his associates as genial,
| whole-souled gentleman.
| Three years ago last August, Mr..
Marvin experienced a shock of paralysis
while alighting from a street car in
Lynn. He rallied and was back at his
desk within a comparatively short time.
He suffered second shock last Win
ter but again his splendid vitality
triumphed, and before his associates
had begun to think Of his recovery he
was again on duty and has been at his
office a part at least of every day since
that time. Mr.. Marvin accompanied
the committee on water on its last in
spection of the water system, and, in
spite of the fact that the rain came
down in torrents, he went about with
his associates and was apparently one
of the merriest. His last trip with the
City Council was on the day of the last
Inspection. the home + ARM.
During practically 80 years continu-
Gus service Mr.. Marvin was associated
with is mayors and 80 City Councils.
He was universally popular and his
death will be sincerely mourned by all
who had the pleasure of his acquaint-
ance.
Mr.. Marvin was elected city messen-
ger in 1863 during the administration
of Mayor D. Waldo Lincoln and with
t,ar +1al
unanimous choice of members of sue
lceeding City Councils. There was some
thing of a drive made at Mr.. Marvin
about Is years ago, but his personal
popularity and the thorough and eff
cient manner in which he has always
Iattended to the duties of his office were
arguments that appealed stronger than
lanything else to majority of members
of the board.
In Mr.. Marvin's election it was a
case of office seeking the man rather
than the man seeking the office. A
short time previous to the time of his
election Mr.. Marvin had been engag ed
to take charge of Horticultural Hall.
He was seated at his desk Sunday af-
! ternOon previous to the election of city
officials in 1853 when Richard Barker
and ex-Mayor Frank H. Kelley entered
and asked him to be a candidate for
the office. Mr.. Marvin consented with
out taking particular interest in the
, matter. In fact it did not occur to him
that he had promised to be candidate
until friend stopped him on the street
the following night and informed him
that he had been elected city messen-
5 ger to succeed David Gleason. who had
held the office previous to that time
\ Even then he did not think much OF
. the matter and did not enter the City
Hall for several dayg after until he
finally received notice from the city
clerk to present himself and qualify
for the office.
( In his election the Common Council
voted for him by sizeable majority or
L the first ballot but there was a divi-
= sion in the upper board where a candi-
It date named Brewer received half the
votes. But after several ballots the
y aldermen fell into line and established
: the precedent which had been adhered
to so closely by their successors, in
electing Mr.. Marvin city messenger.
The duties of the office were practi-
cally the same then as now. The city
messenger was custodian Of the munic-
!. ipal building and had charge of the Of
fee supplies. There were fewer city
officials in those days The Board of
Aldermen comprised eight members
and the Common Council the same
number as at present, but the heads of
departments were limited to the city
clerk, city treasurer and collector of
taxes, water commissioner, city engi-
neer, clerk of overseers OF the poor.
chief of the fire department, city mar
shall and city messenger.
The head Of the fire department and
overseers of the poor occupied rooms in
the Piper building and voters from all
quarters of the city went to City Hall
on election day where various rooms
were fitted up as ward polling places.
Reporters did not attend meetings Of
the city government at that time Al
ter the meetings the clerk would Writ
out what he considered should 20 to
the public and send it out to the news
papers. On rare occasions, Mr.. Mar
vim has said, a reporter would attend
the meetings, but even then there were
few accommodations for their work
He often recalled seeing Caleb Wall.
the veteran newspaper man. on
several occasions attend a meeting and,
as there was no table for his use.
kneel on the floor and write his copy
on the seat of a chair.
Mr. Marvin always preserved the no.
LITIGATION Of his first election. The docu-
ment is slightly discolored by age, but
otherwise is as perfect as when is
sued. The notification reads as fol-
lows;
II City of Worcester. Jan. 5. 1883. 1
| Charles Marvin. Dear Sir-YOu are
hereby notified that you have been duly
elected by the City Council, city mes
senger for the current municipal year.
Samuel Smith, City Clerk.
] In addition to his other duties, Mr.
Marvin attended every meeting Of the