An Act to incorporate the Groton Hotel Company.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives,
in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same,
as follows:—
SECT. 1. Luther F. Potter, Nathaniel P. Smith, Simeon Ames,
their associates and successors, are hereby made a corporation,
by the name of the Groton Hotel Company, for the purpose of
erecting, in the town of Groton, buildings necessary and
convenient for a public house, with all the powers and
privileges, and subject to all the liabilities, duties, and
restrictions, set forth in the forty-fourth chapter of the
Revised Statutes.
SECT. 2. Said corporation may hold such real and personal
property, as may be necessary and convenient for the purposes
aforesaid, not exceeding in amount twenty thousand dollars:
provided, that no shares in the capital stock of said
corporation shall be issued for a less sum or amount, to be
actually paid in on each, than the par value of the shared
which shall be first issued. And if any ardent spirits, or
intoxicating drinks of any kind whatever, shall be sold by said
company, or by their agents, lessees, or persons in their
employ, contrary to law, in any of said buildings, then this
act shall be void. [Approved by the Governor, May 2, 1850.]
In the spring of 1852, a charter was given to Benjamin Webb, Daniel D.R. Bowker, and their associates, for the purpose of forming a corporation to carry on a hotel at the Massapoag Springs, in the eastern part of this town, but the project fell through. It was to be called the Massapoag Spring Hotel, and its capital stock was limited to $30,000. The act was approved by the Governor, May 18, 1852, and it contained similar conditions to those mentioned above in regard to the sale of liquors. These enterprises are now nearly forgotten, though the mention of them may revive the recollections of elderly people.
During the first half of the present century Groton had one characteristic mark, closely connected with the old taverns, which it no longer possesses. It was a radiating centre for different lines of stage-coaches, until this mode of travel was superseded by the swifter one of the railroad. During many years the stage-coaches were a distinctive feature of the place; and their coming and going was watched with great interest, and created the excitement of the day. In early times the drivers, as they approached the village, would blow a bugle in order to give notice of their arrival; and this blast was the signal at the taverns to put the food on the table. More than a generation has now passed away since these coaches were wont to be seen in the village streets. They were drawn usually by four horses, and in bad going by six. Here a change of coaches, horses, and drivers was made.
The stage-driver of former times belonged to a class of men that has entirely disappeared from this community. His position was one of considerable responsibility. This important personage was well known along his route, and his opinions were always quoted with respect. I can easily recall the familiar face of Aaron Corey, who drove the accommodation stage to Boston for so many years. He was a careful and skilful driver, and a man of most obliging disposition. He would go out of his way to bear a message or leave a newspaper; but his specialty was to look after women and children committed to his charge. He carried, also, packages and parcels, and largely what is to-day entrusted to the express. I recall, too, with pleasure, Horace George, another driver, popular with all the boys, because in sleighing-time he would let us ride on the rack behind, and even slacken the speed of his horses so as to allow us to catch hold of the straps.
Some people now remember the scenes of life and activity that used to be witnessed in the town on the arrival and departure of the stages. Some remember, too, the loud snap of the whip which gave increased speed to the horses, as they dashed up in approved style to the stopping-place, where the loungers were collected to see the travelers and listen to the gossip which fell from their lips. There were no telegraphs then, and but few railroads in the country. The papers did not gather the news so eagerly, nor spread it abroad so promptly, as they do now, and items of intelligence were carried largely by word of mouth.
The earliest line of stage-coaches between Boston and Groton was the one mentioned in The Columbian Centinel, April 6, 1793. The advertisement is headed "New Line of Stages," and gives notice that—
A Stage-Carriage drives from Robbins' Tavern, at Charles-River
Bridge, on Monday and Friday, in each week, and passing through
Concord and Groton, arrives at Wyman's tavern in Ashley [Ashby?] in the evening of the same days; and after exchanging
passengers there, with the Stage-Carriage from Walpole, it
returns on Tuesdays and Saturdays, by the same route to Robbins's.
The Charlestown Carriage drives also from Robbins' on
Wednesday in each week, and passing through Concord, arrives
at Richardson's tavern, in Groton, on the evening of the
same day, and from thence returns on Thursday to Robbins'.