USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Boston notions; being an authentic and concise account of "that village," from 1630 to 1847 > Part 21
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1346 Maverick Church, 1847 |East Boston.
Y.C. 1835|I. 20 Nov.
I. 27 Sept.
T.C. 1822 1. 3 Sept.
0. 11 Oct. I. 4 Nov.
C.A 1837. I. 18 Nov. H.U. 1842 0. 24 Mar.
Providence, R. I.
Randolph,
131 George A. Oviatt, , 132 Matthew H. Smith,
133 J. B. Waterbury, D.D.
134 Samuel H. Winkley, 135 John W. Alvord,
136 Robert S. Hitchcock,
137 Leonard J. Livermore, Milford, N.H.
Charlestown Onmibusses,
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BOSTON NOTIONS.
FRANKLIN PLACE.
The first BLOCK of buildings erected in Boston, was the range called the " Tontine " in Franklin Place :- Up to the year 1792, it had been a slough or quagmire and to build there was deemed quixotic : it was first drained and laid out as a garden ; a fish pond formed and stored with gold and silver fish by its owner, Joseph Barrell ; a number of per- sons associated and made investments for building, and at the expiration of a number of years, the property was to be divided among the surviving subscribers : they petitioned the Legislature for an act of incorporation but which was refused: the corner stone for the two crescent rows, of 16 buildings cach, of three stories height, was laid Aug. 8th, 1793 : the centre building of the south row, has an arched passage-way for carriages through into Otis' Place, which building is the property of the " Boston Library Society : "-in the centre of the area between the two crescent rows, is an en- closed grass-plat of 300 feet in the form of an elipse, and in the centre of the plat, is a monumental URN to the memory of DR. FRANKLIN ; as the whole of these grounds will proba- bly be cleared off to make room for the strides of modern improvements, the principles of economy exemplified in the Doctor's hieroglyphie card, or "art of making money plenty in both pockets " may with propriety be introduced here for the benefit of those minds not well drilled on that beneficial subject of ethics, or it may become an useful gymnasium puzzle to interpret its emblems.
The second row of brick buildings erected in Boston was en the west side of Court street, between Howard street and Bowdoin Square in 1800, and called West Row .- South Row next to the Old South Church, was built at the same time ; and the North Row on the west side of Fish [ Ann] street, in 1802 :- and about that time four buildings next the Park street Church were erected :- by the fall of 1904. the houses at
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BOSTON AOTIONS. 223
the corner of Park and Beacon streets were built :- Hamilton Place in 1806 :- Bumstead Place immediately after :- Pinck- ney street, Hancock and Myrtle streets and the whole extent of Mount Vernon, which in 1799 presented a repulsive drea- ry waste, on which only three decent houses were to be seen, were soon covered with extensive ranges of handsome and fashionable blocks of dwelling houses :- in 1806, that part of the " village " had become the residence of many wealthy and prominent families : Beacon-hill and all the eminences west of it were levelled, and the substracted earth used to fill up the mill-pond, where the Eastern Depot is now located : this was done by the " BOSTON MILL COR- PORATION,"' incorporated March 9th, 1804 :- and certain as- sociated persons were incorporated as the "POND STREET CORPORATION," for making a street [ Endicott] across the mill-pond from Middle (Hanover) street to the old Charles- town Bridge, March 11th, 1806, a distance of 1980 feet :- Charlestown street was soon after made : and with astonish- ing rapidity that whole area of 42 acres of made land, was covered with work shops and dwellings :- about this time Copp's-hill was being razeed and brick buildings erected in Lynn [ Commercial] street : those were the principal improv- ments going on at the north part of the town :- sundry per- sons associated for building a street under the title of the " Broad street Association,"' and were incorporated Feb. 11, 1805, and while this was progressing, another company pro- jected and finished India Wharf :- India street from India Wharf to the head of Long Wharf with the stores on it were ready for occupancy in 1807, 78 & '9 :- The range of four story stores from State street to Purchase, on the west side of Broad street a distance of 1473 feet was quickly completed ; Central Wharf was built in 1816: 1240 feet in length by 150 in breadth, having 54 stores on it : in the centre build- ing is a spacious Hall which has been used as a Charel for
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BOSTON NOTIONS.
the benefit of Seamen, over which is a furnished observatory.
While these great works were progressing, Mr. Cotting, who was the eminent projector of many of them, was planning Market [ Cornhill] street : in 1817 a block of stores was erected on each side : the north side being 432 feet and the south 436 feet in length, on a curved line : they were the first buildings with granite pillars, united to brick walls, erected in the " Village : "-in 1819 Brattle street was open- ed, and a block of elegant four story houses built with gran- ite front on its north line, being the first built of stone :- Fort-hill was put in good shape, and the town lots there, sold for dwelling-house lots and called Washington Place, sur- rounding a fenced-in green plat 200 feet diameter, ornament- ed with trees :- North-Russell, Vine and Poplar streets and the neighborhood of the Mass. Hospital nearly to Cragie's Bridge, which had been marsh and pasture ground or im- proved only for Rope-walks, was converted into good build- ing lots and was soon covered with substantial houses ; Bea- con street presented a busy scene of building elegant pri- vate single houses, according to the taste of the owners, and Colonnade Row on the east of the Common in 1811, present- ed an elegant and imposing range of 24 buildings of an uni- form size and style :- beside many courts, rows, squares, and places, comprising from 6 to 12 buildings each, were erected in various parts of the town about that time.
The Custom House in Custom House street, 60 feet square, of two stories, the lower part of stone and the upper part brick, with a colonnade 60 feet long and 10 feet depth, sup- ported by 10 granite columus of the Doric order 14 feet in length : the front crowned with a pediment, on the top of which is a spread Eagle. The Basement and first story, for storing goods, and some tenements for the house-keeper and under officers : the upper story contains 6 rooms 20 feet high, in which the affairs of the concern are transacted : it
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NEW CUSTOM HOUSE, STATE STREET, BOSTON.
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BOSTON NOTIONS.
cost about #30,000; this is now being vacated and a removal made to the elegant and costly granite pillared new Custom House, at the head of Long Wharf. The accompanying En- graving is a good representation of the new Custom House.
REV. GEORGE WHITFIELD.
1740. Thursday, Sept. 18th. This eminent divine ar- rived, escorted by a number of gentlemen, who had gone out from Boston, to greet him from Rhode Island, with a wel- come: on the next day morning, (Friday) he attended prayers in King's Chapel, and in the afternoon preached to a vast concourse at Mr. Colman's (Brattle St.) the next fore- noon at the Old South, to a crowded house : in the afternoon on the Common, to an audience of about 5,000 : Sunday forenoon he attended the services at Dr. Colman's : and in the afternoon preached at the Old Brick, which was closely packed with people and as many more ontside ; after which he held forth in the field to upwards of 8,000 persons : on Monday morning he preached at Mr. Webb's (New North) and in the afternoon he was to have preached at Mr. Check- ley's, (New South) but just at the time the services began, some person in the gallery broke off a board to make a seat, when some one cried out, that " the gallery was giving way :" the house being filled to its utmost capacity : it created a terrible rushing and confusion : some jumped out of the windows and some into the seats below ; and' by pressing with haste and fright towards the doors, many were thrown down and trampled upon ; bruising and breaking their limbs ; so that five of them died within two days after that event.
Mr. Whitfield then led the anxious multitude to the Com- mon, and preached from the words, " Go ye into the high ways and hedges and compel them to come in."-3h. W.
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BOSTON NOTIONS.
continued thus, one week of incessant labor : he then left Boston a few days, for the eastward; but returned and passed the second week of October, in and about the town : Lis farewell sermon was delivered on the common on Sun- day evening, " where it was supposed upwards of 33,000 people attended." Various were the opinions expressed as to the benefit of this visit : whether evening lectures had been held before is uncertain, but one was then advertised, as established to be held at Dr. Colman's, Brattle St., from October 21st, weekly.
When Hev. Mr. Whitfield visited Boston the last time, Dr. Chaunsy who disliked the man, went down to the bottom of Long wharf to see him land, and thus addressed pin with his characteristic plainness of speech, " Mr. Wh - !. id [ am very sorry to see you come back again," " So is devil," replied 25 :. Whitfield. .
MUSEUMS.
A Museum was commenced in 1791, by Daniel Bowen, at the American Coffee House, opposite the Bunch of Grapes Tavern, State street; it was soon removed to the Hall over the School House in Hollis street, where additions were con- stantly made of natural and artificial curiosities, paintings, &c .: in 1795 it had become quite an important and rare col- lection, onl removed to an elegant Hall, at the corner of Bromfield and Common streets : here it was extensively patronized and became a fashionable and popular place for mstruction and amusement, alike creditable to the proprietor wid the community : but unfortun: ly for both, it was de- L'royed by fire on the 15th of Jan., 1803 : forming so brilliant a light as to be seen in Portsmouth, a distance of 70 miles.
By the aid from munificent individuals, Mr. Bowen was enabled to commence another collection at the corner of
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BOSTON NOTIONS.
Milk and Oliver Streets : in 1806, he formed a copartnership with Mr. Wm. M. S. Doyle, portrait painter, and erected a costly brick edifice of five stories, on the lot next south of the Chapel burial ground, and removed the collection which had become quite rich and numerous to that building; opening it to the public on Thanksgiving evening, Nov. 27 : but by means of a fire which commenced in a room over the Hall they were again burnt out on the 16th of Jan., 1807 : this building was 108 feet in length : 34 feet in width and 86 feet high to the top of the observatory, which was sur- mounted with a figure of Minerva.
The proprietors again were encouraged by kind assistance to retrieve their losses in some measure : they rebuilt the House with two stories, and opened it with a tolerable good collection to the public, June 2d, 1807 : Mr. Bowen soon after this left Boston, and Mr. Doyle continued the manage- ment until the whole was transferred to the New England Museum, kept by Mr. E. A. Greenwood, Jan. 1st, 1825.
A " New York Museum " was opened in Boylston Hall in 1812, which was the commencement of the New England Museum, in chambers of five or six stores extending from Cornhill Brattle St., fronting on Court Street, and by the addition to it, of Mr. Mix's New Haven Museum in 1821, became the most extensive and valuable collection ever brought together in Boston : this was kept by Mr. E. A. Green wood.
A Museum was opened in Ann street. Feb. 28. 1804, by Mr. Ph. Woods, in the large building opposite Faneuil Hall. and a considerable number of curiosities were here collected ; but not becoming a fashionable place for resort, it was at last sold at auction, in 1822, when the best part of it was pur- chased as additions to the New England Museum.
In 1832, Madara Dasdane opened a Museum opposite the west end of Hanover sheet, the principal feature of which
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BOSTON NOTIONS.
was a large and accurate model of a Sugar Plantation in the West Indies. After remaining there about a year it was re- moved to the building on Washington street, opposite Frank- lin street, at which place the collection was broken up and sold at auction the following season.
In 1839 the New England Museum was purchased of the assignees of E. A. Greenwood by Mr. Moses Kimball, who in the spring of 1840 broke up the collection, taking part of it 10 Lowell, with which he established the " Lowell Museum .?? In the same year Mr. J. Harrington located a Museum in the rooms previously occupied by the New England Museum, composed mainly of part of the collection of the American Museum of Philadelphia. It was very neatly arranged and kept open for about two years, but failing to be profitable to the proprietor, was at the end of that time broken up and sold at auction with a great loss.
In the spring of 1841, Mr. Moses Kimball established and opened the Boston Museum, uniting the representation of plays with the Museum establishment, in a new building at the corner of Tremont and Bromfield streets, an engraving of which is here introduced. This collection was very ex- tensive; comprising all the valuable articles purchased in the New England Museum collection-the entire of the Concord (N. IL.) Museuin. A variety of rare specimens of Birds and Qualirapeds, and innumerable natural and artifi- cial curiosities, collected by the proprietor during previous years.
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This original enterprise became extremely popular and fashionable, and proved' a profitable one ; the collection was in the fall of 1316, removed to a new and splendid building erected for the purpose, more commodiously ar- ranged for theatrical representations, on Tremont street, near Court St., built at an cutlay of upwards of $200,000. where the institution now is, an ornament to the city and a moau- ment to the enterprise of his projectors.
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SFUM
BOSTON MUSEUM.
NEW MUSEUM BUILDING, TREMONT STREET.
PAGE 228.
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BOSTON NOTIONS.
MUSEUM CORNER OF BROMFIELD STREET.
MUSEUM
The building covers 16,000 feet of land ; the lower story on Tremont, is five stores; over which, is the Museum Hall of three stories; ornamented with 20 Corinthian pillars : this part, is distinct from the theatrical department, in its rear ; which is more capacious, affording a good sized stage and room for an andhory of 1500 people : the whole establish- inent bidding fair to become a favorite with the public and a profitable concern to the proprietors.
Early in 1846, Mr. Peters of New York, established the " Chinese Museum," at the Marlboro' Chapel, in Washing- ton St. The collection, which was exclusively Chinese, was very large and rich, but ceasing to prove attractive and profitable, after the novelty was worn off it was removed to Philadelphia in the spring of 1847.
THE BOSTON DISPENS; RV.
Was instituted in 1795 and incorporated Feb. 26, 1801. This soriay originated with a number of philanthropic indi-
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viduals for supplying the sick poor gratuitously with med- icines, and physicians : A subscription of five dollars is enti- tled to tickets for four patients through the year : the good this society has done, cannot be mathematically estimated ; but in seasons of distressing sickness, to receive such hospi- table aid, and in the quiet, unostentatious manner it ever has been dispensed, surely must have caused the feelings of thousands of the oppressed to expand with joy and grat- itude. The average number of sick persons assisted by the society is about 3000 yearly.
BOSTON SEAMAN'S FRIEND SOCIETY, 1828.
For nineteen years this society has continued to befriend the seamen by acts of kindness and instruction : they com- menced religious services in the arched building on Central Wharf in 1828 and built a mariner's Church on Purchase St. in 1830, size of 46 by 60 feet : this association for the benefit of the mariner, was but the second formed on this continent, and they have been the cause of great good to that portion of our citizens : in 1845, they erected a stately edifice for boarding mariners, affording them as great conveniences and comfortable lodgings as is enjoyed by others : the house is at the corner of Belmont and Purchase street: it contains 91 rooms : Reading room, Dining room and parlors included: forty-three of the rooms have been furnished by ladies' asso- ciations or by individual ladies, and each is titled over the door with a name given to it by the kind donor : on the top of the building is an observatory, affording a view of the harbor and of the surrounding country : this is truly a com- fortable house for the mariner, and the society must una- voidably be the means of accomplishing a vast amount of good in their day and generation.
The annexed ent gives a good view of the Sailor's Home on Purchase Street
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BOSTON NOTIONS.
SEAMAN'S HOME, PURCHASE STREET.
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THE SEAMAN'S AID SOCIETY.
This society is composed of about 500 Ladies whose be- nevolence and patriotism prompts them to a laborious and im- portant undertaking for the welfare of seamen : this Seaman's Aid Society, aims to accomplish two important purposes, viz. to give good, and fair priced employment to seams- tresses, who are in need of it for their support, and to furnish the seamen with better made garments and at as low a price as can be purchased at the slop-shops : at the Mariners' House in North Square is a Store well stocked by them with every article of dress for a Sailor, manufactured and made in the most thorough manner, and if every reader of this article who wishes to befriend a sailor will direct him to that establishment for a supply of all his wants on shore, he will accomplish thereby a double act of charity-benefit the poor widl w, and do a friendly act to the sailor.
The annexed cut is a good drawing of the Seaman's House.
THE BOSTON PORT SOCIETY,
Was formed in 1828, for the benefit of the marine interests and afford comfort and instruction to seamen : the society
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BOSTON NOTIONS.
comprises about 200 of our most active merchants, and con- tributes its united and individual aid to all societies auxil- iary with them, for promoting the interests of seamen : their meeting house is in the North Square, " the Bethel of Father Taylor," and under the Bethel is a clothing store, for sup- plying seamen with every good article of clothing, made in the best manner and afforded at the same or even at a less price, than the slop-garments are sold for at the common places for such trade.
MARINER'S HOUSE, NORTHI SQUARE.
This is a noble edifice of 4 stories, erected by the BOSTON PORT SOCIETY and leased to the SEAMANS' AID SOCIETY : it con- tains 40 rooms over the basement story : the building is 40 feet square with a wing extending 70 feet of three stories; in the basement is a storage room for seamens' luggage, kitchen, laundry and bathing room : in the wing is a spa- cious dining hall for seating an hundred persons : it has a chapel for morning and evening service and where social re- ligious meetings are held every Wednesday evening under the guidance of Rev. E. T. Taylor : a reading and news room with a good library to which accessions are daily making ; and a store for the sale of sailors' clothing ; the building and land cost about $38,000 and it has been furnish- ed at a cost of about $21,000, by the generous contributions of the Unitarians Churches of Boston and vicinity; a good supply of water is on the estate and two force pumps supply each of the stories with hot or cold water, as required.
The accompanying engraving is a good representation of the building.
BOSTON NOTIONS. PAGE 232.
MARINERS HOUSE
MARINERS HOUSE, NORTH SQUARE.
BOSTON NOTIONS. PAGE 233.
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FEMALE ORPHAN ASYLUM. Corner of Washington and Asylum Sts. Boston,
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BOSTON NOTIONS.
THE BOSTON FEMALE ASYLUM.
Was instituted Sept. 25, 1800. This society was formed by a number of eminent ladies for the charitable and ennobling purpose of relieving, instructing, employing, assisting and protecting female orphan children. They were incorporated Feb. 26, 1803 : their success in rescuing from ruin the fatherless children of the city, has equalled the most benevolent expectations of its founders ; thousands of little parentless girls have been protected and supported by them through the weak and helpless years of childhood, and placed honorably in society as worthy and valued mem- bers. Their asylum was located at the corner of Lincoln St. but removed in 1846 to a spacious edifice on Washington St. built by their munificence and a determination to do their full share of good with the patriots of the day. This insti- tution has about 60 children under its protection at this time.
On placing the corner stone of their new building on its alloted spot, an engraved plate with the following record was imbedded there in proper form, viz .-
Boston Female Asylum for Orphan Children, Founded A. D., 1800 ;- Incorporated 1803.
This house was erected A.D., IsH, by aid of liberal contributions from citizens of Boston, under the superintendence of William Lawrence, George C. Scattuck, Thomas B. Wales.
Henry Hall, and
Architect, Isaiah Rogers. Present Officers of the Society,
Mrs. William Prescott, 1st. Directress, Mrs. Chas. Tracy, 2d. Directress.
Mrs. Mary Otis, Treasurer. Mrs. Thomas B. Wales, Sec'y.
Managers.
Mrs. Amos Lawrence, Mrs. Henry Hall, Mrs. G. C. Shattuck,
Mrs. Isaac Mansfield, Mrs. Chas. Barnard, Miss M. F. Lamb,
Mrs. B. T. Pickman, Mrs. B. T. Reed, Mrs. Albert Pearing,
Mrs. Wm. Reynolds, Mrs. J. K. Mills, Miss Jane Wigglesworth.
RELIGIOUS AND MORAL INSTRUCTION.
The Boston Society for the Religious and Moral Instruction of the Poor was incorporated in 1820. Through the exertions
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BOSTON NOTIONS.
of this society schools for the poor have been instituted in various parts of the town and great pains taken to raise the standard of moral character among them.
THE HOWARD BENEVOLENT SOCIETY,
Was organized June 1, 1812, and incorporated Feb. 16, 1818. Their object of association, was to search out and administer to the wants of the sick and infirm ; more partic- ularly that class who are not entitled to any special commis- seration from the churches through membership: in the winter season a load of wood dropped at the door of an unfortunate family or that of a poor woman is an important blessing to the receiver, and cannot fail of raising their voices to grateful sentiments in return for such generous beneficiaries; it cheers the heart and prompts to virtue.
CITY GOVERNMENT.
Six ineffectual attempts had been made at various times by a portion of the citizens for a charter government with City powers for the town of Boston; the first attempt was in 1651 ; the second in 1708* and the third in 1784 ; at this last period the subject was debated and masterly handled by various speakers, and the meeting concluded with raising a committee of thirteen, to report a better plan of government than that of town powers, if needful ; and also a better regu- lation for the police :- On the 4th of June the committee made their report with two forms, one vesting the power in a Mayor, Recorder, 12 Aldermen and 24 Couneihnen; the other to delegate nearly the same powers to 12 seleetmen, one from each ward; joined with a president and six select- men chosen at large : the discussion of these propositions was elaborate and lengthy, and the meeting closed with a vote to print the documents and adjourn the decision thereon
*See page 97 this work
.
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BOSTON NOTIONS.
235
to the 17th of June : on that day the meeting began in dis- order and ended in tumult : the general cry was vociferous ; " no corporation,-" no Mayor and Aldermen,-no innora- tions," this constituted the chief sounds from unceasing roaring : As soon as the moderator, (Hon. Thos. Dawes) could put a motion for acceptance or non-acceptance of the plans to the people, it was largely voted down in the neg- ative.
In 1785 the subject was again revived, and with less cer- emony from the people,-it received a quietus for that time : In 1792 another attempt was made under different auspices, and propositions made ; the principal effect of which would have been, to lessen the number of town meetings, and this time the vote was ; nay 701, yea 517 : eminent persons of both political parties, which at this time assumed a distinc- tive character, were on each side of the discussion : Hon. Benj. Austin on the major party and Gov. Sullivan on the minor.
In 1804, on the 12th of Jan., two persons were chosen in each ward to form a committee to devise some improved plan of government to take with the " Boston notions, ?? and they reported to the town their best suggestions on the 9th of April, but which were rejected : these repeated trials for a city charter, ever ending in a strong loud voice of rejection, it was thought would put " that spirit " to sleep for many years, and 17 summers did pass by, before the subject was again brought forth for consideration : the mass of the peo- ple called for more energy and decision in the management of the affairs of the town, and in 1822, the town of Boston surrendered its ancient charter and with it, its primitive ad- ministration of the laws and of civil polity, and decked itself in the mystical emblazonment of a city robe and vestment:
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