The Hanson Historical Society Newsletter Summer 2014 ... · The Hanson Historical Society...
Transcript of The Hanson Historical Society Newsletter Summer 2014 ... · The Hanson Historical Society...
The Hanson Historical Society Newsletter Summer 2014
Editor: Melinda Barclay
HANSON HISTORICAL HAPPENINGS
-Early settlers were known to address every married man and woman as “Goodman” and “Goodwife.” Only
high society was given the title of Mr. and Mrs.
-There was an unwritten law amongst the early settlers that required every resident to attend church. Some folks
would walk ten or more miles for the Sunday service.
-Approximately 4,300 years ago, Hanson’s first early Archaic inhabitants would cremate their deceased and
then bury the remains.
-County Road in Hanson was named because the county paid for the majority of the expenses used to build the
road.
-In 1903, a room and boarding house known as “Central House” was built across from the South Hanson train
station on Main Street. The hotel had steam heat and people could pay by the night or week.
-In 1876, drawing was added as a regular lesson taught in all schools.
-Rainbow Camp on Indian Head Street was founded in 1948 by Lulu H. Gobrecht and continues to operate
today.
-Wells Elliot, a famous photographer from Hanson, built and owned a few portable photographic wagons
around the turn of the century. These wagons acted as traveling photography studios.
-Part of Burrage Industries burned down during a fire at the Atlantic Dye Company on March 6th
, 1919.
-In 1941, Hanson Public Market would deliver fresh fish to residents on Thursdays and Fridays.
-On December 1st, 1905, Thomas Hall in Hanson held a Thanksgiving Musical. Admission to this event cost
residents 15 cents. The event began at 8 o’clock sharp!
-The trolley tracks in front of the First Congregational Church on High Street were built in 1900. This provided
residents with a more convenient and less time consuming mode of transportation to church than they had
previously experienced.
THE HANSON TUNK Page 2
Biography of Corp. Franklin Nelson Massey (1916-1944): Former Hanson Resident
Killed In Action
By: Mary Blauss Edwards
Franklin Nelson Massey was born 28 July 1916 at Brockton Hospital to Guy Ernest Massey, a foreman at the
National Fireworks Company, and Marta “Martha” Nanny Fredrika Nelson. At the age of two, his father died
during the Spanish influenza epidemic and he moved with his widowed mother and two siblings Martha Irene
(b. 1915) and Vernon Edwin (b. 1918) to the home of his grandparents, Swedish immigrants John and Cecelia
(Johannesdotter) Nelson on King Street in Hanover. In 1920, his mother remarried Hjalmar Fritz Nicholas
Werme, and they had children Alice (b. 1921), Frederick (b. 1923) and Ruth (1927). Hjalmar Werme worked
for the National Fireworks Company, and the family moved to a house on State Street in Hanson where they
lived during the 1920s and 1930s where Franklin attended Hanson schools. In 1940, Franklin was employed as
a pressman for the West Hanover Rubber Company lived with his parents and siblings on School Street in
Hanover.
As his family employers Rubber Company and National Fireworks began to develop war munitions, Franklin
enlisted for World War II at Boston on 20 March 1941 at the age of 24. His enlistment records describe him as a
high school graduate, with a semi-skilled occupation in the “production of industrial chemicals” (a reference to
his job at the West Hanover Rubber Company), 71 inches tall (5’9”) and weighing 166 pounds.
Franklin was assigned to the 26th Division, nicknamed the “Yankee Division” due to its New England
servicemen. He trained and participated in maneuvers for three years in the United States and was assigned to
the 104th Infantry Regiment within the 26th
Infantry Division. The 26th
Division was stationed at eight different
camps during that time: Camp Edwards, Mass; Fort Dupont, Delaware; Camp AP Hill, Virginia; Fort George
Meade, Maryland; Fort Jackson, South Carolina; Camp Gordon, Georgia and Camp Campbell, Kentucky. Then
in the late summer of 1944, the division was called to active duty overseas. The 26th
Division landed on the
beaches of Normandy on 7 September 1944 and began an intensive training regime for their first month.
According to a history of the 26th
Division, “during these first weeks in France the troops maintained their hard
fighting edge with daily hikes and bayonet practice and further perfected their combat skills. Classes in mine
removal, first aid and radio were conducted.” Combat began in earnest on 7 October 1944, when the 26th
“relieved the 4th Armored Division in the Salonnes-Moncourt-Canal du Rhine au Marne sector” and launched
an attack on 22 October 1944 in the Moncourt woods. On 8 November 1944 the Division “went on the
offensive, took Dieuze, 20 November, [and] advanced across the Saar River to Saar Union”. The French town
of Sarre-Union was held by the Germans at this time, and the 26th
Division participated in fighting to capture
the town. A company of the 104th
Infantry 26th
Division was sent during the night of December 2nd
to strengthen
the town’s defense internally and from December 3-4 dodged German shells on the town and participated in
hand-to-hand combat, rooting out German soldiers hiding in cellars and buildings.
(continued on page 3)
THE HANSON TUNK Page 3
(continued from page 2)
The remainder of the 104th
Infantry 26th
Division attacked German troops just outside of Sarre-Union. Although
the Allies successfully captured the town of Sarre-Union, Franklin Massey did not survive the fighting. He was
killed in action during the capture of Sarre-Union on 4 December 1944.
At the time of his death, Franklin held the rank of Technician Grade Five, an army rank which was addressed as
“Corporal”. Franklin Massey would have been taken to a field hospital behind the front line. He was buried at
the Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial, Saint-Avold, Departement de la Moselle, Lorraine, France in
Section B, Row 26, Grave 11. He was awarded the Purple Heart Medal and Bronze Star Medal posthumously.
Franklin Massey served with the Anti-Tank Company, 104th Infantry of the 26
th Division, shown at the center of this map
on the front line of 30 November 1944, and pushed back the line to the town of Sarre-Union (shown on the lower right
side of this map) by 4 December 1944, when he was killed in action. Map courtesy of
http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-E-Lorraine/maps/USA-E-Lorraine-XXXIX.jpg
The Massey-Werme family had a memorial placed in Franklin’s honor in their family plot at Hanover Center
Cemetery (which lists his place of death as the nearest city to the front, Nancy, France). In 1962, the General
Court of Massachusetts approved a request for the bridge which crosses over Route 3 in Hanover at exit 13 to
be named in honor of Franklin. It is marked and known to this day as the Corporal Franklin N. Massey Bridge.
(continued on page 4)
THE HANSON TUNK Page 4
(continued from page 3)
Memorial of Franklin Nelson Massey (1916-1944), Hanover Center Cemetery, Hanover, Mass. Photograph Courtesy of
Mary Blauss Edwards.
Citations
http://www.yankee-division.com/history.html; http://www.26yd.com/p3; http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-E-
Lorraine/USA-E-Lorraine-12.html#fn9 ; U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946; Register, World War
II Dead Interred in American Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil and World War II and Korea Missing or Lost or Buried
at Sea; U.S. Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939-1945.
THE HANSON TUNK Page 5
HANSON HISTORICAL SOCIETY CALENDAR
Meetings held at Schoolhouse #4 unless otherwise stated
June 5th
Meeting 7:00pm
Speaker: Allan Clemmons on “Hanson History”
June 8th
Hanson Day 1:00pm-4:00pm
Camp Kiwanee
*See President’s Letter for further information
June 12th
Strawberry Prep. Night 5:00pm
June 13th
Strawberry Festival 5:00 – 8:00pm
August 7th
Meeting 7:00pm
Speaker: TBD
Sept. 4th
Meeting 7:00pm
Sept. 20th
Annual Harvest Fair 9:00pm-3:00pm
Rain date: Sunday, September 21st
October 2nd
Meeting 7:00pm
Speaker: TBD
November 6th
Meeting 6:00pm
Annual Potluck Supper at Thomas Mill
Hanson Residents Owen David, DJ David
and Ryan Firth standing in front of the old
South Hanson Railroad Station.
THE HANSON HISTORICAL SOCIETY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2014
John & Patty Norton - Co-Presidents tel # 781 294-8645
e-mail: [email protected]
Allan Clemons Vice-President
Kathy Bergeron Secretary
Richard & Betsy Blake Treasurers
Mary Blauss Edwards Webmaster /Curator
Melinda Barclay Director at Large
THE HANSON TUNK Page 5
PRESIDENT’S LETTER
Our May annual turkey dinner was a success. It was well attended and everyone seems to have enjoyed the
entertainment. Our thanks to all the members who helped make it so successful.
Allan Clemons has graciously agreed to speak at our June 5th
meeting. His subject will be “The History
of Hanson”. Obviously, those who know Allan and his depth of knowledge of Hanson history will realize this is
a “do-not-miss” event.
Also in June, will be a new event. Hanson has decided to have a “Hanson Day”at Camp Kiwanee in
hopes that all of the non-profit organizations and clubs in town will participate; providing a chance for all of
Hanson's citizens to become acquainted with the diverse cultural opportunities of our community. We hope to
display some artifacts, run a continuous slide show of photos from our web site and of course, take the
opportunity to sell books, postcards and find new members. In addition, Helen Vess has kindly offered to
donate some ceramic pieces for us to use in a fund raising raffle. It is our hope that the booth can be worked by
multiple members so that we all are able to enjoy the other exhibits.
In addition, June brings our Strawberry Festival on Friday, June 13th
with all of the necessary
preparations that go into that event. At the June meeting, we will be looking for volunteers and reminding
members of the need to bake biscuits.
HANSON HISTORICAL SOCIETY STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
It shall be the purpose of this Society to stimulate interest in the history of the town of Hanson, Mass. by
collection, preservation, and study of manuscripts, books, pictures, furniture and all other objects of historic
value which shall be acquired by gift or purchase; to provide a suitable repository for such objects and records;
to mark historic sites; to cooperate with other neighboring groups and perform such acts as may from time to
time see advisable to promote the aims of this society; to institute a definite program to acquaint younger
members of the community with our local history and to encourage them to take an active part in the Society.
Organized in March of 1961
Curator’s Corner
By Mary Blauss Edwards
The Hanson Historical Society website has received a major overhaul with updated content, hosted at a new
address: http://hansonhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com/. Particular highlights include digital exhibits including
“From the Archives: The Teachers of Primary School #4/#7 (1845-1960)”; “From the Assessor’s Office: 1929-
1935 Hanson Assessor’s Maps”; “From the Assessor’s Office: Hanson Civil War Service Records”; and “From
the Assessor’s Office: Records of the Hanson Overseers of the Poor”. There is also a new monthly feature
called “Object of the Month” which will highlight a photograph, artifact, or manuscript from the collections of
the Hanson Historical Society. Be sure to update your bookmarks!
THE HANSON TUNK Page 6
Hanson’s “Christopher Columbus of Air” (Throwback to the first edition of the Tunk)
By: Melinda Barclay
Albert Cushing Read was born in Lyme New
Hampshire on March 29, 1887. A few years later,
Albert’s family moved to house on the corner of
Main St. and High St. in Hanson, Massachusetts
where Albert would remain throughout his
childhood. Albert’s father, Reverend Joseph B.
Read, was the pastor of the Hanson Baptist Church
from 1872-1883 and again from 1898 to 1900. Up
until 1913, his mother was the Baptist Sunday
School Superintendent. As a young boy, Albert had
quite bit of ambition. Albert’s made extra money
during school vacation by collecting the fares for
the merry-go-round at Mayflower Grove in
Bryantville. Albert attended the Hanson public
school system and went on to graduate from
Whitman High School.
In 1903, Albert Read was the third alternate
nominated to the U.S Naval Academy. The
principal alternate failed his Physical Examination
while the first and second failed the mental
evaluation. He was then accepted into the U.S.
Naval Academy at Annapolis. He graduated with
high honors in the class of 1907. While serving with
the fleet, Albert studied flying extensively. When
the Navy opened its first training school in
Pensacola, 1912, he was among the first to be
selected for training. After finishing training in
1915, Albert was appointed Naval Aviator No. 24.
When he served aboard the first Naval ship
provided with aircraft, the USS Carolina, Albert
would make numerous Catapult-takeoffs
When America entered the war in 1917, the navy
ordered a series of large Navy-Curtiss flying boats
with the intension of delivering them to Europe by
flying them across the Atlantic. Their wings
spanned a length greater than Wright’s first flight.
Their hulls resembled large covered lifeboats. They
were the first four engine planes built in America.
Before they were finished, the war ended abruptly.
Albert went on to marry Bess Anderson Burdine on
January 30, 1918.
The Navy decided to use the fleet of planes made of
wire, canvas and wood to attempt the world’s first
transatlantic flight. The route began in Long Island,
went up to Nova Scotia, proceeded to New
Foundland, then southeastward across the Atlantic
via the Azores to Portugal, where they would finish
in England. Destroyers were to be positioned along
the route and produce black smoke to mark the
route in the daytime. At night the destroyers were to
point their searchlights windward and fire star shells
every now and then to identify themselves. He was
placed in command of NC-4 and its crew of five.
Before the mission began, trouble followed the
team. A mechanic lost a hand spinning a propeller.
Fire broke out, threatening the destruction of the
flying boats.
By May 8th, the crew was ready for departure. Four
leaf clovers were given to the men as the flying
boats were pulled down the track. The engine
thundered loudly as the planes glided and taxied
into the bay. Cheers arose from the crowd as they
sped down the long stretch of water.
(continued on page 7)
THE HANSON TUNK Page 7
(continued from page 6)
They were out over the ocean when Albert realized there was an oil leak and he had to cut off the engine. A few
minutes later, another engine threw a connecting rod and he had
to make a forced landing on the open sea, some 80 miles East of Cape Cod. Unable to secure help, he taxied
through the waves for hours, and reached Chatham Naval Air Station on Cape Cod safely. The crew fixed the
oil leak and headed for Tresspassey on 3 engines.
On May 16th, 1919, around 6:00 p.m. the 3 flying boats were prepared at Trespasseys Harbor, Newfoundland.
The runway was aligned with townspeople and ship decks were crowded as each of the flying boats took off
down the narrow harbor. After dawn, they encountered a large fog bank and visibility dropped. The fog was so
thick, the plane dripped water continuously. The NC-1 and the NC-3 became lost and landed on the open ocean.
The NC-1 taxied for 5 hrs and was then rescued by a steamer. The NC-3, commanded by John S. Rowers, was
forced to drift-sail in their flying boat over 200 miles of ocean trying to reach the Azores. Albert’s crew
completed the flight safely. When he was sure the other crews had reached safety, the NC-4 took off for Lisbon.
Fog was an issue again but he landed safely, being the first to ever cross the Atlantic by air.
The guns of the fort sent echoing booms across the harbor. His crew was taken aboard the USS Rochester where
they were greeted by Navy and Portuguese officials. Albert was presented the Portuguese Award of the
Commander of Military Order of the Tower and Sword. They then took off for Pymouth, England, arriving on
May, 31. They were received with a royal welcome by the Mayor of Plymouth and were honored during a two
week tour of England and France. The British presented him the Royal Air Force Cross for his major historic
flight. When the crew returned home to America, they were greeted in Washington by Navy officials. Albert
was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal as well as a special medal to commemorate the NC-4 flight.
Hanson’s Albert Read had linked the continents by air in 26 hours and 51 minutes of flying time. He was called
the “Christopher Columbus of the air.” Albert and his crew then made a tour of the country in the NC-4.
Returning to regular Navy Aviation duty, he successfully served in numerous important commands until WWII
when he became chief of the Air Technical Training in Chicago and then commanded the Navy air activities in
Norfolk until the end of the war. For his service, he was awarded the Legion of Merit. He retired a Rear
Admiral. Albert passed away on Oct. 10, 1967. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Information Source for story: http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/acread.htm; Calder, E. Looking Back. Hanson:
The Hanson Arts Lottery Council. Massachusetts :The Massachusetts Arts Lottery Council.
The Hanson Historical Society
P.O. BOX 52
Hanson, MA 02341.
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