USA > Massachusetts > Gazetteer of the state of Massachusetts, pt 1 > Part 20
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36
The first church here was organized April 5, 1756, and the Rev. Nathan Fiske was ordained pastor two years later.
Brookfield has the credit of the following eminent men: Dwight Foster (1757-1823), an able jurist, and United States senator from 1800 to 1803; Kiah Bailey (1770-1857), an able clergyman ; Col. Enos Cutler (1781-1860), a brave soldier; William Appleton (1786- 1862), a successful merchant; Samuel Jennison (1788-1860), an antiquary and author; Pliny Merrick, LL.D. (1794-1867), an emi- nent lawyer and judge.
Brookline is a wealthy and beautiful suburban town on the southwestern side of Boston, lying like a wedge between the Back Bay section and the Brighton district of that city. Its northeastern point almost reaches the Charles River, while its broad southwestern end abuts in equal extent against the West Roxbury district and the city of Newton; the latter also forming nearly half its boundary on the northwest. It is abont four and one half miles long, and an average of two miles wide for the greater part of its length, and contains 3,750 acres, beside
208
GAZETTEER OF MASSACHUSETTS.
.
streets and water surfaces. The Boston and Albany Railroad and the Woonsocket Division of the New York and New England Rail- road pass through the town; the stations and villages being Brook- line, Chapel Station, Cottage Farm, Longwood, and Reservoir Sta- tion. The post-office is Brookline, which is in the Boston postal district and has carrier delivery.
The surface of the town is beautifully varied by hill and valley ; and the aspect it presents from elevated points in Boston is very charming. From Longwood Brook, which divides its northerly half from Boston, the land rises in a beautiful swell, to fall again, then to be succeeded by the noble eminence of Corey's Hill, 270 feet in height; while beyond this Lyman's Hill rises to 339 feet; and to right and left are other hills,-a group of them in the southern part. Other names are Aspinwall Hill (210 feet), Fisher's Hill (250 feet), and the two Walnut Hills, of somewhat less elevation. The views obtained from these hills are unsurpassed in beauty. That from Corey's Hill embraces the distant summits of Wachusett and Monadnock mountains and the hills of Waltham on the northwest, the charming landscapes of Watertown, Mount Auburn and the University of Cambridge on the north, and on the northeast and east, the heights of Charlestown, of East Boston and the city proper, with the harbor and islands, the long line of Nantasket and the ocean beyond. Two small ponds, and a charming artificial reservoir connected with the Boston Water-works, enhance the beauty of the scenery. The town has, itself, an elaborate system of water-works, drawing its supply from Charles River. About 250 acres are de- voted to forest, and it is said that every tree indigenous to the State is here represented.
There are still about 24 farms, mostly devoted to the dairy and the vegetable garden; their product in 1885 being valued at $89,599. The usual kinds of small manufactures are found here; whose value, for the same period, was $152,853. The population of the town, by the census of 1885, was 9,196. The Brookline National Bank has a capital of $100,000; and the savings bank, at the beginning of this year, held deposits amounting to $382,833. The last valuation of the town, in 1888, was $41,246,900,- with a tax- rate of $10.50 on $1,000.
Brookline is chiefly remarkable to the passing traveller as a place of suburban residences. Its surface is in a high state of cultivation, which, to a large extent, is ornamental ; and, amid the gardens and the numerous shade-trees -elins, maples, oaks and many others - mostly of large size, are the elegant mansions and cottages of citi- zens whose daily business is in the metropolis. The streets are kept in excellent condition, and are also extensively bordered with shade-trees. Western Avenue, the continuation of Boston's Bea- con Street, is a splendid driveway, extending quite across the town.
Brookline has a large and handsome town-hall, built of rose gran- ite, at an expense of $150,000. The principal audience-room is capable of seating 1,200 persons. There is a public library building of brick, with an interior finish of butternut, and containing a choice library of upwards of 20,000 volumnes.
209
BROOKLINE.
The edifice of the Harvard (Congregational) Church, constructed of stone from various parts of the world, at an expense of more than $100,000, is a beautiful example of church architecture. The Epis- copal Saint Paul's Church is remarkable for its chaste and elegant form and finish. There are other church edifices of much beauty and impressiveness; that of the Roman Catholics excelling in size. Beside those mentioned, the Episcopalians have another, and the
20
THE HARVARD CHURCH, BROOKLINE.
Methodists, the New Church (Swedenborgian), the Baptists and the Unitarians each have substantial and suitable houses of worship.
Brookline has taken good care that her schools shall meet the requirements of her superior citizenship. They are carefully graded, and the high school is of the first order. Twelve buildings
210
GAZETTEER OF MASSACHUSETTS.
are devoted to them, valued, with property appertaining, at very nearly $200,000. Two good suburban journals, the "Chronicle " and the "News," amply supply the needs of the place in this line.
Brookline was originally a part of Boston, with the name of Muddy River Hamlet,-which doubtless seemed an appropriate term to those who could not get over the divisional stream. It was not formally separated from Boston and incorporated as a town until November 13, 1705; yet it is found that the records begin on January 19, 1687, when an entry was made that the town voted that, "for the annual maintenance of the schoolmaster £12 per annum should be raised, and the remainder necessary to support the charges of the master be laid equally upon the scholars' heads, save any persons that are poor, to be abated in part or in whole." Brook- line was embraced in Suffolk County until 1793, when, contrary to the wishes of its people, it became a part of Norfolk, forming the northeast extremity of the county. The first meeting-house was erected here in November, 1714; and the first church was organized October 26, 1717; and in the following year the Rev. James Allen was ordained as minister.
Some twenty or more years ago, Mr. David Sears founded a chapel, at a cost of about $40,000, in the northeasterly part of the town; and near this stands a memorial church of Roxbury stone, trimmed with white marble, built by Mr. Amos A. Lawrence, at a cost of about $50,000. This chapel has given to the railroad station, near by, the name of Chapel Station, which, in turn, has attached its name to the unique and elegant little village in its neighborliood.
Among the distinguished men of Brookline may be mentioned: Zabdiel Boylston, F.R.S. (1680-1766), an eminent physician, who introduced inoculation for small-pox into this country; Jeremy Grid- ley (1705-1767), a distinguished lawyer, the teacher of James Otis; William Aspinwall, M.D. (1743-1823), a celebrated physician; Elhanan Winchester (1751-1797), author and clergyman; Col. Thomas Aspinwall (1784), an able lawyer and gallant soldier; George Sewall Boutwell (1818), a distinguished statesman, gov- ernor of Massachusetts from 1851 to 1853, Secretary of the United States Treasury from 1869 to 1873, United States senator from 1873 to 1877.
Brookside, a village in Westford.
Brook Station, a village in Princeton.
Brook's Village, in Templeton.
Brookville, a village in Holbrook.
Brownell's Corner, a village in Westborough.
Brush Hill, a village in Milton.
211
BRYANTSVILLE-BURGESS ISLAND.
Bryantsville, i
Buckland' is a pleasant farming town in the western part of Franklin County, 125 miles from Boston on the Fitchburg Railroad. This road crosses the northeast corner of the town, where the Buckland station is located; but that of Shel- burne Falls, on the eastern border, is also convenient. The post- office is Buckland, and the villages are the centre and Buckland Four Corners.
The surrounding towns are Charlemont on the north, Shelburne and Conway on the east, Ashfield on the south, and Hawley and Charlemont on the west. The beautiful Deerfield River forms the entire northern line, and taking a sharp turn south forms the line of Shelburne on the eastern side. It receives as tributaries in Buck- land, beginning at the west, First, Second, Third, Ware's and Clark's brooks, and Clesson's River, which crosses the middle of the town from south to north, receiving Taylor's Brook on the way, and fur- nishing power for several mills.
The manufactures consist of cutlery (employing, in 1885, 216 per- sons), gimlets, some small machinery, lumber, stone, food prepara- tions and silk goods ; the last employing 20 girls. The entire num- ber of manufactories was 12, and the aggregate product $39,494. There are 153 farms, whose product for the same year was $143,671. The assessed area is 11,721 acres, which includes the 2,601 acres of woodland. The population, in 1885, was 1,760, which was sheltered in 338 houses. The valuation in 1888 was $527,168; with a tax- rate of $12.50 on $1,000. There are seven school-houses, valued at about $5,000.
The surface of the town is very uneven, and near the Deerfield River the scenery is charmingly picturesque. The geological structure is calciferous mica-schist and calcareous gneiss.
A Mr. White and Captain Nahum Ward were among the first settlers ; and the first child born here was Jonathan Ward.
The earlier name for this plantation was Notown; and it once constituted a part of Charlemont. It was incorporated as the town of Buckland, April 14, 1779. A Congregational church was organ- ized here in October, 1785, with 18 members. The first pastor was the Rev. Josiah Spaulding, who was held in great esteem. This church still continues ; and there is also one of the Methodists.
This town is the birthplace of Mary Lyon (1797-1849), the cele- brated teacher and author.
Bucksville, in Millbury.
Buffum Village, in Oxford.
Bullardvale, a village in Winchendon,
Burgess Island, midway of the shore line of Bourne.
212
GAZETTEER OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Burgess Point, in southern projection of Wareham. Burkville, in Conway.
Burlington is a small agricultural town in the easterly section of Middlesex County, about 10 miles north by northwest from Boston. The nearest railroad station is Woburn Centre, three miles distant. The boundaries are Billerica and Wilmington on the northwest and northeast, Woburn on the east and southeast, Lexington on the southwest, and Bedford on the west.
The assessed area of the town is 7,312 acres, including 1,888 acres of woodland. The trees are chiefly oak, maple, pine and some birch. The surface is broken and uneven; and there are conspicuous emin- ences at the north, centre and south which afford admirable views. From Bennett Hill in the centre there is a fine view of Wachusett and the New Hampshire mountains. A beautiful stream called Vine Brook, an affluent of the Shawsheen River, winds through the south- west part of the town, affording water power for mills, and trout for the disciples of Walton. Affluents of the Ipswich River also origi- nate in the easterly part of the town.
The principal rock is calcareous gneiss and sienite. The soil is generally a very dark loam, with sandy or light soil in some parts, but generally good farming land. The farms, in 1885, numbered ninety ; and their aggregate product was $123,124.
There is a variable quantity of manufacturing done in lumber, leather, boots and shoes, food preparations and a few other articles. The valuation in 1888 was $480,949; and the tax-rate was $10.70 on $1,000.
The population, at the census of 1885, was 604, with 130 dwelling- houses. Burlington and Havenville are the villages, the first having the post-office. There are graded schools, with five school-houses, val- ued at about $3,000. A public library, sustained by the town, con- tains above 3,000 volumes.
This town was taken from Woburn and incorporated on February 28, 1799; and in 1800 a portion of it was annexed to Lexington. Congregational church was organized here in 1735. The meeting- house was erected two years earlier. The venerable edifice is still standing in good repair, though it has been somewhat remodelled. The old oak frame and the boarding of hard pine are the same as when built 156 years ago.
Eighty-two men, a large number for this small town, were fur- nished for the late war, and nine were lost.
James Walker, a president of Harvard College, was born here. Rev. Samuel Sewall, author of the history of Woburn, was the min- ister for Burlington, and a resident for many years. Samuel Sewall has been town clerk for upwards of twenty years.
Burlingville, in Millbury.
213
BURNCOAT POND- CAMBRIDGE.
Burncoat Pond, in Leicester. Burrageville, in Ashburnham.
Burtt's, a village in Tewksbury.
Buttermilk Bay, the northeastern waters of Buzzard's Bay, between Wareham and Bourne.
Buzzard's Bay, a body of water in the southern part of the State; also a village in Bourne.
Byfield, a village in Georgetown; also one in Newbury.
Calf Island and Little Calf Island are on the north side in the outer group of islands marking Boston Harbor.
California, a village in Clinton.
CAMBRIDGE (I. Cantabridgia), the seat of Har- vard College, is an opulent and ele- : gant city, forming the southeastern extremity of Middlesex County, of which it is the semi-capital. Somerville lies along its northeast side ; Boston, on the eastern, southeastern, southern and southwestern sides (Brighton district) ; Watertown, on its extreme northwestern side ; Belmont on the west, and Arlington on the northwest. Charles River forms the entire eastern and southern boundary lines.
The extreme length of the territory is nearly four miles by one and three fourths. The assessed area is 3,487 acres. The population, in 1SS5, was 59,658. The number of dwelling-houses in 1888 was 9,927, and the valuation $62,450,040, with a tax-rate of $15 on $1000. The city consists of four sections (or villages without unoccupied spaces between), - North Cambridge, Old Cambridge (centre), East Cambridge, and Cambridgeport ; and these, with Mount Auburn, are the post-offices. East Cambridge is connected with Charlestown by Prison Point Bridge, and with Boston by Canal or Craigie's Bridge and the viaduct of the Boston and Lowell Railroad. Cambridgeport is united with Boston by West Boston Bridge, a broad and well-made thoroughfare, 6,190 feet in length, and having a draw for passing vessels, - and by the Harvard Bridge, a new and admirable structure of iron, 2,169 feet long and 70 wide, and resting upon 23 stone piers ; with a revolving draw for vessels, 34 feet wide. Another drawbridge further up the river opens a direct way to Brookline, and three or more connect the city with the Brighton district of Boston. In addi- tion to Charles River, a broad and navigable tidal stream, which winds gracefully around its southern frontier, the city has on its southwest border an important natural body of water known as Fresh Pond, con- taining 175 acres, and affording, not only ice for storage and a broad area for skating in the winter, but also a supply of water for the city
1
214
GAZETTEER OF MASSACHUSETTS.
throughout the year. It still sends out a small tributary called "Alewive Brook " (anciently Menotomy River), which flows along the northwestern border of the city into Mystic River.
The surface of Cambridge is for the most part level, and, in some sections on the margins of the streams, low and marshy; but there are slight eminences, - as Dana Hill, between Cambridgeport and Old Cambridge, and the grounds of the Observatory in the western section, which present admirable sites for building, and command delightful views. The soil is rich and moist, clay being abundant; and the flora is remarkably varied and luxuriant. The principal thoroughfares are Main Street, Harvard Street, Broadway, radiating from West Boston Bridge through Cambridgeport; and Cambridge Street from Craigie's (or Canal) Bridge, through East Cambridge, to Harvard Square in Old Cambridge; North Avenue extending thence to North
THE OBSERVATORY, CAMBRIDGE.
Cambridge ; Concord Avenue, to Belmont ; and Brattle and Mount Auburn streets, to Mount Auburn and Watertown. These broad and beautiful avenues are shaded with ancient elms, and lined, mostly, with elegant mansions that, in many instances, have lawns and gar- dens ornamented with shrubbery, statuary and fountains. Over these highways cars are constantly running for the accommodation of the people. The city has over 85 miles of streets; and of these, more than half are adorned with shade-trees. The Boston and Lowell Railroad passes through East Cambridge, having also a station at North Cambridge ; while the Fitchburg Railroad, entering the city on the north side, has its "Cambridge " station; another at North Cambridge (" Brickyards "), and on the west, Fresh Pond, Hotel and Mount Auburn stations. On the south side, just across the Charles, the Boston and Albany Railroad has Cottage Farm station. The Grand Junction Railroad sweeps around the east side and to the New
215
CAMBRIDGE.
York and New England Railroad in Brookline, thus connecting all the roads.
The citizens of Cambridge are intimately allied with those of Bos- ton in respect 'to business pursuits and social life. They are very generally urbane, patriotic and progressive; and are educated and intelligent to an unusual degree. Many of them are engaged exclu- sively in literary pursuits ; and a large number of families reside here for the educational advantages which the city and the university afford.
The manufactures show great variety. Along the water-front are groups of rolling-mills, founderies, boiler-works and machine shops. Around the west-end cemeteries and at other points are granite and marble-cutting yards. At the north are the brickyards ; on the north- east the tanneries. At East Cambridge are two large glass factories, this business having begun here in 1815. The Riverside and Uni- versity presses turn out from their printing houses and binderies large quantities of books of the best workmanship, their product in 1885 reaching the value of $1,814,762; the iron and other metallic goods manufactured amounted to $2,369,438 ; the wooden goods, to $1,472,579 ; leather, $544,120 ; and food products, $1,595,989 ; the aggregate manufactures of the city reaching the value of $15,502,373. In the eastern and northern parts of the city are the numerous soap factories and meat-packing establishments, a sugar refinery, a great cracker and cake factory, an extensive fire-proof safe, a rubber, chair and furniture, piano and organ, factories, and numerous other indus- tries. At the extreme southerly point of the city are a picturesque group of buildings, consisting of shops and observatories, where Alvan Clark and Sons construct the telescopes for which they have a world-wide reputation. In the agricultural line, market gardening is followed by a few persons, and much attention is given to the culti- vation of fruits; yet beauty more thau profit seems in general to in- fluence the proprietors of the soil. The city has seven banks of dis- count, one co-operative bank and four savings banks; the aggregate deposits of the latter being, at the close of last year, $6,945,354.
Beside the old city hall at Cambridgeport, which had become in- sufficient for government purposes, there is a new and beautiful city hall constructed of brown and light-colored stone, of simple but elegant architecture, presented by Mr. Frederick Rindge, of San Francisco, a native of the place. The same gentleman has also pre- sented a fine building for the library; the latter, in 1885, containing about 20,000 volumes. An institute named in honor of Thomas Dowse sustains a course of public lectures annually. There is also a horticultural association, with several others having libraries ; and the usual social, political, business and religious organizations. Though so near a city of great journals, the place sustains several of its own; as the " Daily Crimson ; " the " Chronicle," the " Gazette," the "News," and "Real Estate Advertiser," the "Press," the " Trib- une," - weeklies, with "Our Mutual Friend," and "Psyche," which are monthlies; then there is the "Latin School Review," also a monthly, established in 1886, and edited by the pupils of the school;
1
216
G.IZETTEER OF MASSACHUSETTS.
together with the collegiate journals -the " Harvard Advocate " and the "Harvard Lampoon" - which are bi-weeklies. The city schools are in the highest degree of efficiency, of the usual approved grading, and also include normal and training schools for teachers. They occupy 35 buildings, valued, with appurtenances, at nearly $900,000.
Harvard University (earlier, "Harvard College," as it is still familiarly called), founded in September, 1636, is not only the oldest, but perhaps the best endowed and most extensive institution of the kind in America. The college lands, lying in a compact body, but divided into spaces of various form and extent by fine, shaded avenues, embrace an area of about sixty acres, and are occupied by as many buildings. In closer proximity, in the college yard of 22 acres, stand the substantial structures used for lodgings, recitations, museum,
GONE HALL, HARVARD COLLEGE.
library, law-school, public worship and other purposes. On the same grounds, east of these stately buildings, are the residences of the president and some of the professors, surrounded by shrubbery and embowered in ancient trees. One of these halls dates from 1682, and Holden Chapel from 1741. In addition to this group of classic halls and private residences, the university has, on the north, the Lawrence Scientific School, the Museum of Comparative Zoology, the Divinity Hall, the Sanders Theatre and Memorial Hall, and other noble build- ings, surrounded by lofty elms ; and on an eminence half a mile to the west, on Garden Street, is the Cambridge Observatory, with its grand refracting telescope ; and another interesting appurtenance of the col- lege, near by, is the Botanic Garden. The noted University Annex for Women, so highly regarded, was founded in 1879, and has beauti- ful grounds and buildings not far from the college grounds. The commodious edifices of the Dental School and of the Medical School are in Boston, where the greatest facilities of illustration and practice, in offices and in the several hospitals, are conveniently at hand.
217
CAMBRIDGE.
This university is worthy of its name, making provision, as has been observed, not only for the study of what are called the learned professions, - divinity, law and medicine, - but also for that of dentistry, mining, agriculture and other liberal arts and sci- ences. The university libraries aggregate upwards of 350,000 bound volumes and some 300,000 pamphlets. The number of stu- dents is about 1,300, with an increasing average. Near by, and closely associated with the university, is the elegant group of build- ings belonging to the Episcopal Theological School; and adjoining the college grounds is the pleasing establishment of the New Church Theological School (Swedenborgian), recently removed hither from Boston.
There are thirty-six religious societies in Cambridge having houses of worship. The Trinitarian Congregationalists have five churches ; the Episcopalians, six ; the Baptists, eight; the Method- ists, six ; the Roman Catholics, four; the Unitarians, two; the Uni- versalists, three ; a non-sectarian society, Appleton Chapel, belong- ing to the university. The Reformed Episcopalians hold meetings
HOME OF THE POET LONGFELLOW, CAMBRIDGE.
in a hall. Of these the First Parish (Unitarian) was organized in 1636; the First Church, or Shepard Memorial (Trinitarian), organ- ized at the same time (or in 1628) ; the First Baptist, in 1817; the Trinity Methodist Society, 1823; First Society (Universalist), 1822; Saint Peter's (R. C.), 1849 ; most of the others being more recent. Christ Church, on Garden Street, erected in 1761, has a pleasing chime of bells. The St. John's Memorial Chapel, though not large, is, in point of symmetry, grace and finish, one of the most beautiful Gothic structures in the country. The Shepard Memorial Church is one of the largest and most costly of the edifices, being valued at $115,000; while the Old Cambridge Baptist edifice, on
.
218
GAZETTEER OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Beck's Park, erected in 186S, is valued at $120,000, and is well re- garded as an ornament to the city.
Old Cambridge is a vicinity of patriotic memories. On the Com- mon stands the fine architectural monument of granite, sur- mounted by a statue, erected to the memory of the 470 men lost in the late war, out of the 3,600 furnished by this city for the army and navy ; while in her beautiful Memorial Hall, near by, the univer- sity honors the list of her fallen brave in the same war. On one si le of the Common stands the famous " Washington Elm," under whose shadow the " Father of his Country " took command of the Conti- mental army on the 3d day of July, 1775; on Brattle Street is he "Craigie House," the fine old mansion which was his headquar- ters while in Cambridge, now for many years the home of the poet Longfellow and his family. On Main Street, Cambridgeport, is the Ralph Inman Place, the headquarters of Gen. Israel Putnam dur- ing the siege of Boston. The several parks of the city,- Cambridge
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.