January 4, 1860
The Female Benevolent Society holds a fundraiser at the Peabody
Institute featuring an address by Rev. Murray on options to treating
children.
January 11, 1860
Eben Upton opens a Dance Academy and School in Sutton Hall.
January 18, 1860
Mr. Augustus Shove of South Danvers, an employee at Pemberton Mills,
describes his escape from the Lawrence calamity that killed 100
people.
A dedicatory levee for the Sutton Hall announces a series of socials
hosted by the local Firemen's assemblies, the Young Men's Literary
Association, the South Danvers Horticultural Society, polka parties,
and balls with music by the Wyatt & Parsons Quadrille Band.
February 29, 1860
C. L. Remond of Salem will lecture on slavery at the Town Hall.
March 14, 1860
A first class oyster saloon and eating house opens on Main Street,
opposite Holten Street. "Concocts the very best oyster stew."
March 28,1860
The story of Mary Cook of South Danvers who came to town with the
aid of the New York Fourth Ward Mission. She was a widowed
mother of five small children who worked sewing shirts for six cents
a piece.
April 25, 1860
Celebrated a Leap Year Party at Sutton Hall. It was humorously
suggested that Leap Year "by the year of women's rights."
Mr. Fairfield's provision store on the Square continues to dispense
food the hungry from his well-fitted market.
May 1, 1860
May Day Breakfast, Fair and Levee held by the Ladies of the
Unitarian Association. Rev. Dr. John Pierpont of Boston, a well
known investigator of spiritualism
May 2, 1860
Parker Pillsbury presents an address on Harper's Ferry and its
victims at Town Hall. The town's School Report illustrates
reforms, including a successful experiment: four mixed schools in
the rural district have "in the past year, been placed under the
charge of able, experienced female teachers for the entire year."
May 16, 1860
Danvers Moral Society meets. Its object is the "suppression of
intemperance and other vices."
May 30, 1860
A social party at Union Grove in West Danvers marked Old 'Lection
Day with music by Goodale's Quadrille Band of West Danvers.
Union Grove was near Phelps Crossing, about five miles from the
Square. It featured an arch with the name of the grove
spanning the entrance, a platform for an orchestra and many sets of
swings.
June 6, 1860
Mabel Lorne's original sketch "A Drunkard's Family" is published in
the Wizard.
July 11, 1860
The juvenile singing class of J. B. Watson presents a Grand Concert
at the Peabody Insitute.
August 1, 1860
General Tom Thumb lectures on his travels in Europe at the Peabody
Institute.
August 15, 1860
A Grand Picnic was held at Union Grove, West Danvers, with music by
Goodale's band and with ice cream.
August 22, 1860
The Eagle Fire Company held a picnic at King's Grove with music by
Parsons Band. Fare to grove from the Square is five cents.
October 3, 1860
Last picnic of the season is held at Union Grove. Wyatt &
Parson's Band plays for a hour in the Square before departing for
the Grove in West Danvers.
October 13, 1860
Torchlight Procession of Wide Awakes (Wizard, Poem, 10/24/1860)
November 7, 1860
First houses in Danvers are lit by natural gas. A Collation
for the Wide-Awakes was held. When the 1200 men marched into
the building owned by Mr. Upton's Glue Factory, the tread of their
feet caused the building to sway and to spill coffee.
November 21, 1860
The Young Men's Literary Association held a ball at Ashland
Hall and a Tableaux was held at Peabody Hall in the Peabody
Institute. There was also a United Parade of the Minute Men
and the Wide Awakes to "bury the hatchet". [Diagram of the
parade order Wizard 1/12/1860, p. 2/2]
December 5, 1860
Wendell Phillips gave the opening lecture of the Bowditch Club in
Danvers.
December 19, 1860
A Ladies Fair is held at the Old South Vestry on Christmas Eve and
Christmas Day.
Abolitionist C. C. Burleigh of Connecticut lectures at Town Hall. |