By Susan T. Turner
Ralph Newton is my grandfather and in January and February 2019, a brief story about his WWI service was featured as Object of the Month in the “An American Town in World War I” exhibit. My heartfelt thanks to Laura Stagliola and Stacen Goldman for so thoughtfully crafting his story. My family and I are very grateful that we could honor him in this way.
I was fortunate to know my grandfather, but I knew little about his WWI service – just that he had fought in France. I heard more about his Framingham roots and then his family’s life in Maine. My uncle says his father didn’t talk much about World War I.
But when my grandfather passed away, we discovered that he had saved army papers, his photograph album and various mementos. With those, plus online research, we were able to craft a snapshot of his army service.
However, what was most unexpected – and for me, the most exciting – was when we uncovered stories about his life in Framingham and the support from his employer and neighbors. I’ve come to appreciate Framingham through my grandfather’s eyes and many times, it felt like coming home.
For my family, I created a detailed story with all that I learned. With you today, I hope to share some of those highlights.
Framingham Roots
Ralph Newton was born and raised in South Framingham. His father, Lewis Newton, was a conductor for the Boston & Albany Railroad and his mother, Annie Haynes Newton, had worked at the Straw Bonnet Factory. The Newtons lived on Hollis Street and Gilbert Street, finally building their own home at 51 Winthrop Street.
As a young man, Ralph learned to play the clarinet and joined the Framingham HS Orchestra and a local dance band. In 1908, he graduated from Framingham High School, the last class to graduate from that school on the town green.
After graduation, Ralph Newton began his career at Dennison Manufacturing and continued to play in a dance band (lower right photo: back row – right).
Once the U.S. declared war on Germany, Ralph Newton made the decision to enlist and in May 1917, he joined his local National Guard unit, the 6th Mass Infantry, at Framingham.
Snapshots of Army Service
He trained at Camps Framingham, Devens, and Bartlett and was assigned to the 101st HQ Military Police and 101st Infantry of the 26th Division. In October 1917 he left for France and his Enlistment Record recounts the battles he saw. The service card below was the first “find” – from FHC in a recently-donated collection.
Ralph Newton also loved cameras and taking pictures. When we found his photo album, we found quite a time capsule, a story of his service from enlistment to coming home. Of the 115 photos, only three are from his time in France.
Right: A rare photo of Ralph Newton in Soissons, France
Far Left: 3rd Battalion 6th Mass Infantry on the road to Ayer, Ma. Another photo, not shown, notes “32 miles to Devens.”
Left: Packing for Overseas, Camp Bartlett Westfield. The 26th Yankee Division was newly formed when this was taken. Note the 26th Div on the duffle bags.
A Musician at Heart – The French Clarinet*
Since Ralph Newton played clarinet at home, it seems only natural that he would play while in the army. In fact, the FHC service card documents him as being in the band when he enlisted.
In May 1918, he was able to travel to Paris and while there, he purchased a clarinet from A. Robert, 14 Rue d”Hauteville (right). Once he returned, there was likely little time to play given the raging battles that followed.
However, on November 18, 1918, one week after the Armistice, Ralph Newton requested and received a transfer to the 101st Regimental Band. And that led to one of the more memorable moments in his army career.
President Wilson Visits the 26th Yankee Division
On Christmas Day, 1919, President Wilson and General Pershing visited and had dinner with the 26th Yankee Division in Montigny le Roi, France. My grandfather saved an original 1919 Christmas Program from that day (excerpts below). In color and “Printed in the field by Headquarters 26th Division American EF,” it shows just how significant an occasion it was.
As a member of 101st Regimental Band, we can assume that Ralph Newton performed that day for the President and General Pershing. This had to be a personal highlight – it is one of the few stories he shared with my uncle.
It was another three months before the Yankee Division would return to Boston, and during that time, Ralph Newton played with a band, traveling to Lyon and other parts of France.
*About that clarinet – another surprise: This was not Ralph Newton’s first purchase from A. Robert. In 1914, he purchased two clarinets from France – also from A. Robert – and had them shipped to Framingham. These clarinets he played throughout his life (see photo p.2). Nearly 100 years later, his great-grandson played them in his school orchestra.
Support from the Home Front
Until this point, I only knew of my grandfather’s service through his mementos and my own research. But the story quickly expanded via the FHC records and exhibit. Suddenly, this was no longer just the story of my grandfather in WWI, but instead, that of a “regular guy” who was well supported by his community and neighbors. I kept updating my family, starting each conversation with “you’ll never believe this…”
The Military Girls – we did not expect this!
The Military Girls Club raised money for the Red Cross and
each week, sent care packages to selected Framingham soldiers. Soldiers’ thank you notes were published in the newspaper and fortunately, the group’s president (Cassie Harrington) kept a scrapbook. That very scrapbook is on display at FHC, lent by Kathy Barbieri Tomasetti, Cassie’s granddaughter.
One day I received an unexpected email from Laura. As she was preparing a program, she found this April 29, 1918 letter from Ralph Newton in the scrapbook!
But why was he selected? After all, only about 45 soldiers received Military Girls’ packages.
It took some digging, but I’m sure I found the reason. FHC provided a list of the Military Girls members and I researched their 1919 addresses. Four were of the Fair family, of Gilbert Street. So, what’s the connection?
Before moving to Winthrop Street, the Newtons also lived on Gilbert Street. For over 10 years the Newtons lived across the street from the Fair family.
By chance, I met Ruthann at the FHC archives, a descendent of that same Fair family of Gilbert Street. We’re both convinced that the Fair ladies knew Ralph Newton and his family, and that’s likely why he received a package.
Dennison Details
I also didn’t realize that FHC held the old Dennison records – it was a trip back in time, learning about the place where my grandfather worked. We quickly verified that Ralph Newton did indeed work at Dennison and that prior to enlisting, he worked in Mr. Van’s division.
Then, another discovery: In September 1917, the Dennison Round Robin published its Roll of Service, naming employees serving in the military. On page 7, we found Ralph H. Newton, Co. E, 6th Mass Infantry Band.
Dennison Support
I wonder how many others were surprised to learn that Dennison continued to pay employees while they served.
Dennison made up the difference between military and company salary. While I don’t know how much my grandfather made at Dennison, in the army he achieved the rank of Battalion Sergeant Major. My Great-Uncle served in the same division – according to his letters, a Battalion Sergeant Major made $56 per month.
It is hard to grasp the value of this today. Then I read the “Roll of Honor” introduction notes in the September 1917 Round Robin:
“upwards of 150 our young men are now serving their country with the same pluck and enthusiasm that they put into their work for Dennison.”
Nearly one-third of the Framingham soldiers were Dennison employees. I am struck at just how significant Dennison’s level of support was during WWI and I’m sure my grandfather was very grateful.
Post WWI Career
On April 6, 1919, Ralph Newton returned to Boston on the USS America. He proudly marched and played his clarinet in the Welcome Home Yankee Division Parade in Boston on April 25, 1919.
On April 28, 1919, he was Honorably Discharged and shortly thereafter, resumed his career at Dennison. In the 1920 US Census he is listed as a “Traveling Salesman” for a “Tag Company” and according to a City Directory, he was located in Portland, Maine.
These were the clues that unlocked one more discovery – finally, one of the last pictures in his WWI album made sense. In the photo (left), Ralph Newton, in his 3-piece suit, is sporting a tag on his lapel, confirmed by FHC to be a Dennison label.
Then I found this stash of Dennison tags on display at the FHC archives.
There’s nothing like seeing the real thing!
Ralph Newton left Dennison sometime in 1921 and moved to Lewiston, Maine to join the Berry Paper Company. In 1922, he married my grandmother, Louise. They raised their family in Auburn, ME, retired to Freeport and spent many years traveling the world and visiting family and friends.
Thank you to FHC
It’s been such a privilege to work with Framingham History Center. I’ve learned more than I could possibly have imagined and met wonderful people. On behalf of the extended Newton family, thank you. And to Ralph Haynes Newton and the other veterans, thank you for your service.