BOSTON. DEDHAM CHOIR, 1858. THE CIVIL WAR. FAMOUS MUSICIANS. RETURN TO
CALIFORNIA. SANTA CRUZ.
In January, 1859, I accompanied my husband to Boston to visit his
relatives. My son George was seven months old. My husband realized my
voice was more than ordinary and as he was a fine tenor, and also a
good pianist, he desired that I should have the best advantages that
could be procured, so once more I made the pilgrimage of the ocean and
the Isthmus. We arrived at noon in New York in the midst of a heavy
snow-storm--gloomy, cold and raw--snow everywhere. I remained in the
depot while my husband attended to our baggage and secured the tickets
for Boston, and we left New York at three o'clock in the afternoon.
Blockades of snow twice stopped our train and shovel ploughs had to be
used. On the following day, taking rooms at the nearest hotel and
having been made comfortable, my husband sought his relatives. On his
return at four o'clock in the afternoon we went to the home of his
uncle, William Lincoln, on Chestnut street, who had been my husband's
foster father after the death of his parents. Here we remained until
we moved to 120 Charles street, afterward moving to Dedham, where Mr.
Blake was made a fine business offer.
In this city I began my musical studies. It was noised about that the
young merchant's wife was a singer from California. In a short time I
became a member of Dr. Burgess' choir, composed of men and women of
the first families in Dedham. Mr. Blake and myself were the only two
persons who ever sang with them that had not been born and bred there.
They had sung together for over sixteen years, some of the members had
grown old in the service. They were instructed each week by Edwin
Bruce, who came from Boston each Tuesday and drilled and taught us in
the best music of the day. He was a most competent leader and teacher.
With our choir he directed and drilled three more choirs. His soloists
were the best that could be procured and our concerts were looked
forward to by the people who filled Tremont Temple to years of
study I associated with and heard singers of all nations and had an
opportunity to study the music of oratorios, church and concert work.
The Handel and Haydn society had over 500 members, Carl Zerrahn,
leader, Howard Dow, organist. With our choir and the other three
choirs I have spoken of, we lived in an atmosphere of music
continually for four years.
[Illustration:
Geo. M. Wight
Henry Sherwin
C. Churchill
G.W. Macbeth
Charles Wight
H. Hitchings
J. Eaton
Adelbert Calder
Edwin Bruce
Chas. J. Capen
E.M.Everett
Geo. H. Blake
Dr. Burgess
J.G. Taft
C.B. Danforth
Dr. Edwin Burgess
Alvin Fisher
Mr. Black
Ellery C. Daniells