History of Douglas, Ma

Know Your Home

Native AmericansThe earliest residents of the Blackstone Valley were the Paleo-Indians, who arrived in this region about 12,000 years ago. By the early 17th century, three principal tribes lived here: the Narragansett, the Nipmuc and the Wampanoag. They followed a semi-nomadic life, occupying fields for the planting of corn, beans and squash until forced by soil depletion to move on. The Native Americans also depended upon hunting and fishing in the waters of the Blackstone River Watershed as other sources of food. The Native Americans’ hold on the region was shattered by their defeat by the English settlers during the King Philip’s War (1675-1676). Few sites of this era remain, but many of the trails created by the Native Americans gradually transformed into the modern roads we know today, and those with a trained eye can still see signs and reminders of those days. The Native Americans of the Blackstone River Valley did not disappear after the King Philips War. The Nipmuc, Narragansett and Wampanoag peoples are all still active members of the Blackstone Valley Community.

Early SettlersThe first European settler in the Blackstone Valley was fittingly enough the Reverend William Blackstone, who built his home, Study Hall, in what is now Cumberland, Rhode Island in 1635. Blackstone was not however the first European to ever see this area, as other explorers, hunters, fisherman and trappers had previously visited the Blackstone River Valley. Roger Williams and a small band of followers established Providence within a year of Blackstone’s settlement. Within a few years, scattered farms and a few small hamlets began to pop up all over what was then the American frontier. The majority of these early colonists were English and most, especially in Rhode Island, were seeking a place where they could live with a freedom of religion denied them in England or Massachusetts. There was a small number of people who came from other lands, including French Huguenots and Africans who came here in bondage. Settlers from England and Scotland would dominate the Blackstone River Valley through the early days of the industrial revolution. Almost everyone living in the Blackstone Valley during the colonial era farmed, but by the mid-1600s the settlers had begun to tap into the waterpower opportunities of the region with grist mills, saw mills and iron forges.

New SherbornThe Town of Douglas, Massachusetts has a very rich history. The town, originally named New Sherborn, was first settled in the early 1700s through grants provided by Sherborn, Massachusetts. There are discrepancies regarding the dates and the original acreage provided by Sherborn. The first known settler of Douglas was Ephraim Hill. The originally settlers came to Douglas for agricultural abundance. In 1746, New Sherborn was renamed and incorporated as Douglas, Massachusetts after Dr. William Douglas, who promised the town a financial reward to name the town after him. There is no proof that Dr. Douglas ever kept his promise of financial reward.

https://mysfpl.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2016.04_TownHistory.pdf

Veterans of the American Revolution, Civil War and Spanish American War

Industrial Revolution

Axe and Wool Industry However, the one industry Douglas was known for at that time was the Douglas Axe Company, which was run by the Hunt Brothers. The Douglas Axe earned a world-wide reputation by winning awards and medals at the World's Fair in London and at the Paris and Vienna Expositions during the late 1890s. Beginning in the 1880s, William E. Hayward of Uxbridge, MA brought the woolen goods industry to Douglas. Hayward was shortly joined by Winfield S. Schuster of Pittsfield, MA. The Hayward-Schuster woolen mills were an essential part of the industry of Douglas for close to 100 years. Many of the townspeople were employed by the mills. The woolen mills were contracted by the United States military to provide woolen blankets to the soldiers during the World War II. The Hayward-Schsuter Mill was sold to Guilford of Maine, a high performance textile company, in 1984. The Douglas branch of Guilford of Maine closed its doors in the early 2000s. Around 2010, the mill became home to Classic Envelopes. There are also other small businesses and a garage that are run out of the mill. As of 2017, Douglas does not support a major industry. There are numerous restaurants, a couple of gas stations, and some other small businesses.

Veterans of Modern WarThe young men and women of Douglas have contributed to the military efforts of the United States since the Revolutionary War.

64 during World War I, and over 350 from World War II.

Several town members served during the Korean War, Vietnam, Persian Gulf, and Afghanistan

Douglas State ForestThe Douglas State Forest was created through a state purchase of 1,245 acres in 1934. As of 2017, the State Forest is 5,525 acres. It is home to numerous trails, include the mid-state trails,, parks, and other recreational areas. Douglas also has numerous ponds and lakes, both private and public, which many have their own rich history. And we cannot forget the Mumford River, which many of these bodies of water flow into.

History of SchoolsThe first known education in Douglas began in 1748, with most schooling happening at home. In 1754 the first school-house was built. Douglas, at one point, had as many as 10 school districts. As of 2016, the Town of Douglas has four public schools that provide education for children from Pre- Kindergarten (PK) to 12th Grade. The Primary School cares for children in PK, Kindergarten and 1st grade. The Elementary School is for the 2nd through 5th grade. 6th, 7th and 8th graders attend Douglas Middle School, while the High School is attended by 9th – 12th grade.

The Elmwood Club Restaurant This old, historic building was erected around 1860 as an office for the once great and world-renowned Douglas Axe Manufacturing Company

which flourished here for over a century from 1798 to 1912. The Elmwood Club had its beginnings around World War I, probably being named for

the stately elms which then surrounded the building. The Club as maintained by the Hayward and Schuster mills for the men of the

community, providing them with recreational facilities such as reading rooms, pool tables, card rooms and shower baths. Shortly after the

Elmwood Club started, Mr. Walter E. Schuster, whose hobby was baseball, fielded teams during the 1920s which furnished thrilling encounters for the

residents of the Blackstone Valley. Mr. Schuster acquired the best talent available - players such as Hank Greenberg, Wes Ferrell and Bump Hadley, who then went on to become baseball greats in the Major Leagues. During

these years the players used the Elmwood Club for dressing and for relaxation. As a result the Club became the center for baseball and

recreation -- a meeting place where the main topic of discussion was baseball and sports. One day in 1946 the Elmwood Club was taken over by the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, together with their star players

Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio. The occasion was a baseball game between the two teams as a highlight of Douglas' 200 th Anniversary. In 1952 interest in the Elmwood Club as a sports center declined due to the demise of league baseball. This loss, coupled with the growing attraction

of television, gradually decreased the popularity of the Club and eventually brought it to an end. Since 1952 the building has been used by the Girl Scouts, as a sales outlet for woolen fabrics and finally as a Senior Center. In 1982 the building was purchased by Tsimogianis Brothers, who converted the interior into what it is now The Elmwood Club Restaurant and while so doing preserved to a great degree the exterior architectural

features of this significant and historic building.

By Anthony H. Coppola

Picket Fence

Red Sox vs YankeesDouglas Historical Society

December 8, 2015 · Did you know that the Red Sox played the Yankees at Soldiers Field in Douglas? The date was Sept. 13, 1946 and the occasion was the 200th Anniversary of the Town. Did you know that 15 of the original players came back to Douglas for the games re-enactment in 1996 when we celebrated our 250th Anniversary? Just five years until our town will celebrate the 275th! Here's a bit of history for you!

Don't Use These Guns (courtesy of Sports Rivalry Central)

The 1946 Red Sox outpaced the Yankees all season before clinching the pennant on September 13. Their exploits have been well-chronicled except for the story of a game where Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams had to be warned not to use their shotguns on the opposing pitchers. On September 26, a crowd of 12,000 filled the stands at Soldiers Field in East Douglas, Massachusetts to watch the Yankees play the Red Sox. The exhibition game was part of the festivities for the town’s 200th anniversary, and was a gift from the Hayward-Schuster company, a major textile manufacturer in the Blackstone Valley.

Known as the cradle of the American Industrial Revolution, the Blackstone Valley stretches from Worcester, Massachusetts to Pawtucket, Rhode Island. From the 1920s to the 1950s, it was a hotbed of semi-pro baseball. Companies such as Hayward-Schuster made significant investments in their teams and playing facilities, recognizing that baseball promoted company loyalty and worker morale while providing wholesome entertainment for the entire town. Their managers recruited talent not only from the local area, but from leading New England colleges and Southern factories. Recruits were given jobs that allowed plenty of time for practice.

Hall of Fame first baseman Hank Greenberg and Red Sox pitcher Wes Ferrell were among those who began their careers in East Douglas. When Greenberg hit a home run in his first at-bat after riding the bench, Walter Schuster paid him $175. on the spot to ensure the continuation of his services; the amount was equivalent to two months’ wages for a working man of the era. In 1927, Schuster hired future Boston pitcher and Hall of Famer Lefty Grove to pitch a championship game, paying him $300. plus $10 per strikeout. Birdie Tebbets, the Red Sox catcher, played for East Douglas at the end of each college season in the early 1930’s; in a single week he caught Grove and another Hall of Famer, Carl Hubbell.

The color barrier fell in East Douglas a generation before it did in Boston or New York. In 1929, Schuster hired ‘Cannonball’ Bill Jackman of the Philadelphia Giants to pitch in the Blackstone Valley championship game, paying him $175 plus $10 per strikeout. Said by observers to be faster than Bob Feller, Jackman won the game, striking out 14.

The Yankees won the East Douglas game, 8-7. DiMaggio and Williams supplied the highlight with a local newspaper reporting: “The terrific thumper of the Boston Red Sox, Teddy Williams, failed to get a hit yesterday afternoon…but it took a glittering gloved hand stab by Joe DiMaggio to prevent “The Kid” from getting a home run in the third inning.”

A new element was introduced into the traditional Yankees-Red Sox rivalry during the pre-game ceremony when players were showered with presents, including camel hair coats and automatic shotguns. Master of ceremonies Joe Cashman admonished them: “Don’t use these guns on opposing pitchers.”

The town observed its 250th anniversary in 1996 with a re-enactment of the 1946 game that featured area notables including former Sox catcher Rich Gedman. Journalist Thomas Mattson reported that fifteen of the original players were also on hand including Dom DiMaggio (Joe’s brother and an All-Star in his own right), Bobby Doerr, Johnny Pesky, and Dave Ferris from the Red Sox, and Clarence Marshall, Al Gettel, and Bobby Brown from the Yankees. Marshall, the former pitcher, shook DiMaggio’s hand and said: “Dom always hit me real good.” Responding to a question about the rivalry between the two teams, he continued: “We liked the Red Sox. We just liked to beat them.”

Red Sox cont.

Sources:

National Park Service: Blackstone Valley https://www.nps.gov/blac/learn/historyculture/people.htm

Simon Fairfield Library Town History (2016.04) https://mysfpl.org/historical-archive/historical-archive/town-history-2016-04/

They-Raced-Horses-on-Main-Street-. Douglas, Massachusetts : recalling an era, 1868-1908. by Anthony Coppola 1990

Douglas Historical Foundation