I always find it interesting that when researching a topic it doesn’t take long for connections to emerge. While researching the old school bell from the No12 Schoolhouse, for the September 2024 ‘Treasures From the Vault” article, several connections emerged. Mrs Clara (Stearns) Craig was the teacher who rang the bell at the No12 schoolhouse, and later at the Central School (now the Evan’s Building) where she taught grade 5. There are numerous old photographs in the THS vault of Mrs Craig and her students over the many 45 years she taught in Townsend.

I wondered how Mrs Craig was able to continue teaching as a Mrs since Massachusetts state law at the time required women to give up their teaching positions once they married. This law would remain in place until 1953 when Governor Christian A Herter ended the marriage ban. This investigation led me to discover tragic events in the life of Mrs Craig’s short marriage. 

Clara Stearns married Clayton Craig of West Townsend on 21 October 1886 and gave up her teaching  position as required by law. Imagine her excitement to learn she and Clayton would be expecting their first child. Alas, it was not to be. The baby died during childbirth on September 15, 1887. A small stone marker engraved with the word “BABY” rests beside the Craig memorial stone in Riverside Cemetery in West Townsend.

Tragedy upon tragedy. On October 3, just eighteen days after the loss of her baby, Clara’s husband died of Consumption.  Mrs Craig was now a widow. What a year it had been – the excitement of marriage, the joy of her pregnancy, and then the loss of all her dreams for the future. What was she to do? She was only 24 years old. Would she return to the home of her parents? No, Clara Craig sought to return to teaching, as she had done before her marriage. 

I can only surmise that her friend Sarah Tyler, who had also been a teacher before her marriage to Asa Tyler, had a plan. Sarah and Asa Tyler lived on Brookline Street just a short walk to the No12 Schoolhouse. They had a room available and Clara could board with them. A perfect solution for Clara. It was done. Clara boarded with the Tylers and taught at the No12 schoolhouse ringing that old school bell that is now in the THS Vault.  Later she walked in the opposite direction to the Central School where she taught Grade 5 until she retired in June 1931 at the age of 69. 

Clara never remarried. Teaching was her calling, her students were her “children” and had she remarried it would have been the end of her teaching career. 

Over the years until her death on December 28, 1948 at the age of 87, Clara was active in the Townsend community. She frequented the Hart Library, the Townsend Historical Society and town social organizations. Her name appears on the list of “Women Voters”. She often spoke of her former students and was very proud of their accomplishments.  

Mrs Craig continued to board with the Tylers on Brookline Street and lived out her final years in the home. She assisted Sarah and Asa as they aged and she helped to bring improvements to the home, including the introduction of telephone service. Mrs Craig inherited the Brookline Street home from Asa Tyler upon his death, and she resided there until her death in 1948.

Asa Tyler was the Grand Old Man of Townsend and the Military Band. He was the oldest Townsend Citizen upon his death on September 15,1934 at the age of 93. The entire band turned out and played at his funeral at the Congregational Church. The band then marched to his burial plot in Hillside Cemetery. Sarah had pre deceased him and a single stone marks their lives. 

Asa Tyler was dedicated to Townsend. He worked at the Fessenden mills as a cooper for 63 years until the factory closed. He then continued his skills as a hand cooper as he had done in his youth. Asa played bass horn in the Townsend Military Band, he served as town Selectman and worked as Assessor. He was Cemetery Commissioner, Highway Surveyor, and a member of the Board of Health. He was a deacon at the Congregational Church for 54 years and was a custodian at the Central School.

The Fitchburg Sentinel was interested in knowing what Townsend’s oldest citizen, Deacon Tyler,  thought of the younger generation. Richard N. Smith in his book “Divinity and Dust: A History of Townsend, Massachusetts 1676-1978” records the old man’s thoughts  –

“ The way I look at it the standards of young people today are higher than I’ve ever seen them … there ain’t near as much cussedness or cutting up as in my time. Of course, they’ll always be bad boys and girls because of the company they keep, but nowadays young people have more opportunities for self-expression. They are brighter and more noble boys and girls.” 

Asa and his wife Sarah never had children of their own.  Mrs Clara Craig and Asa and Sarah Tyler found their legacy in their love for Townsend. Their lives are woven throughout the town’s history,  and at the time of their deaths they were admired, respected and appreciated by all.