USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > East Boston > History of East Boston; with biographical sketches of its early proprietors, and an appendix > Part 44
USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > East Boston > History of East Boston : with biographical sketches of its early proprietors, and an appendix. > Part 44
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" The following song was sung by Mr. Andrews, enacting, as. Mr. Cook said, the stockbroker : -
"A STOCK SONG.
" DEDICATED, WITHOUT PERMISSION, TO THE HONORABLE THE BOARD OF BROKERS.
" Would you grow rich, my boys, thus did fathers advise, First go early to bed and then early arise, But such old fashioned counsel our urchins now mock, They may lay 'till 't is noon if they get up their stock.
Derry Down.
1835.]
A STOCK SONG. 493
" Come listen, then, while I develop the schemes That shall realize more than the wealth of your dreams, While in mud - India rubber - soft iron - land - air, I the various ways to make money declare.
Derry Down.
" Would you have your wealth handy, just under your eye, Mill Pond and South Cove shares are what you should buy, Where the flats are filled up, boys, their stock must be good, And like ducks you'll grow fat, if you dabble in mud.
Derry Down.
" Or here's the East Boston -for such schemes a model, They run up their stock, as they shake off their Noddle, With good name and great riches, they go like a clock, And your noddle you'll shake, if you don't buy some stock.
Derry Down.
" If land speculations are not to your mind, In Roxbury Rubbers a fortune you'll find, They rub out old scores - are worth more than they fetch, And, like India Rubber, do well on the stretch.
Derry Down.
" If under earth's surface your fortune you'd make, The Malleable Iron 's 1 the stock you should take, They have ' secrets worth knowing,' make razors from hoes, And shave with a hoop all they take by the nose.
Derry Down.
" Would you grow rich in air - buy up Lauriat's balloon, And you and your stock may rise up - to the moon ; Of this stock you may boast - it alone has the leaven Of making you rich while you are going towards heaven.
Derry Down.
" If you will deal in stocks - know most money is made By him who looks after his own stock in trade ; He who minds his own business will finally stand The best speculator there is in the land.
Derry Down.
" Salem and Boston -united by the old way, brought nearer by the new way - may they stand by one another al-ways.
" Mr. Saltonstall of Salem, said he was called upon unex-
1 Referring to the Malleable Iron Works on Meridian street.
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HISTORY. [1835.
pectedly, and did not intend to make a speech. He made a few remarks (of which, for want of papers, we have no notes), in which he spoke of the improvements of the present day as but the natural result of the early efforts of our fathers.
"He also spoke of the ancient anniversary celebrated this day, which, before it was abolished by our general court, was the oldest anniversary celebrated in the country. To-day com- pleted two hundred and five years since the first general court was held on board the Lady Arabella, at Charlestown. His sentiment was as follows :-
" Modern enterprise, modern improvement, modern institutions- the growth and expansion of the germ which was cherished and cultivated by the first set- tlers of Massachusetts.
" The toast-master announced the following toast :-
" The University - Our city schools send to it scholars fitted for its walls, and the city magistracy those best qualified for its highest honors.
" To this sentiment President Quincy replied. He said he would not say this was not Noddle's Island, but he would say he could hardly realize it. He had known Noddle's Island as a place to look at, but never to go to- a place where horses were kept in winter - from whence milk was brought in the summer - a place for sportsmen and sea-fowl -- and where one family might possibly live, provided the name of that family was Williams. Now, said he, we are here, as it were in the city itself, with houses and large establishments and every sign of prosperity. Suppose a man had gone to sleep two years ago and should wake up on this Island. He would be in the condition of Giles Jolter (he thought his name was) who went to sleep in his cart with the oxen attached to it; when he woke up, the oxen were gone. Says he, 'either I am Giles Jolter, or I am not; if I am Giles Jolter I have lost a yoke of oxen ; if I am not Giles Jolter, I have found a cart.' So would the citizen say, if this is Boston, she has found an island. Mr. Quincy said he had made a speech, but he did not intend to do it, and did not see how he had done it. [Gen. Sumner remarked, ' We go neck or nothing here, sir.'] The band, to hold along the joke, played the ' College Hornpipe.'
" Gen. Sumner remarked that many of the streets which have
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TOASTS AND REMARKS.
1835.]
been laid out on the Island have been called after distinguished gentlemen of the present day, and among them was, -
" Webster Street - Which surmounts the highest hill and gives the best prospect of the country.
" By President Quincy, -
" Daniel Webster - May he soon stand in its highest place, and give the best prospects to his country.
" Hon. S. C. Phillips of Salem being called upon, said he had been anticipated in what he might have to say by his friend (Mr. Salstonstall), who had, he believed, expressed the senti- ment of the whole population of Essex county. He said they now felt the nearer they were to Boston and the closer their connection with it, the more certain was their growth, prosperity, and welfare. Boston is the true metropolis of the Common- wealth - they could not wish to reverse the decrees of nature in this respect - they would not rob her of the honor if they could do it. He gave, -
" Boston and Salem - Brought nearer together by such improvements as we have this day witnessed ; may they become closely united by mutual interests, reciprocal good-will, and a common public spirit.
" General Sumner said a volunteer had been sent him from some old mouser of the public records, which he feared would not be understood unless he informed them that Mr. Maverick had a grist-mill on the Island, which he supposed was the first that was built, and supplied the whole colony.
" Maverick's Mill - Those who expect to get a good grist, must put corn in the hopper.
" Rev. Mr. Colman was announced by the toast-master as hailing from Franklin county. Mr. Colman said he hailed from Boston, and was born in State street. To show the great im- provements which have taken place in Boston in his day, he said he remembered when every building in State street was occupied by a private family. He fell overboard, and was barely saved from drowning, after having sunk the third time, where Henry Rice's store now stands, in Liberty square. He said it was nothing to boast of, to be sure, but nevertheless, he was the first individual who had the smallpox in Boston. He
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HISTORY.
[1835.
was carried to the pest-house, on what is now called Mt. Vernon. [We know an individual in this town, who was born in Pud- ding lane, now Devonshire street, who is fifty-eight years of age, and who had the smallpox in Boston when six months old. We think this must have been a prior case to Mr. Colman's.] Mr. Colman said, that formerly, all the buildings in Boston were three stories high or less. To show how recently four- story buildings were introduced, he himself laid some of the bricks of the first four-story building erected in Boston, - this was the store occupied so many years by T. K. Jones & Co. in Kilby street.
" Hon. A. H. Everett made some remarks in reference to the Malleable Iron Company and corporations in general. He held in his hand one of the German silver spoons (manufactured by Mr. Boyden of New Jersey, whose establishment has been pur- chased by the Malleable Iron Company), some of which are used at the table. He spoke in high terms of Mr. Boyden's enterprise and skill as a Boston mechanic, and concluded with the following sentiment : -
" Boston Mechanics - They know how to strike while the iron is hot.
" Mr. George Darracott made some remarks concerning work- ingmen. He considered professional men, who worked with their heads, as hard-working men as others. He said they were always ready, whenever called upon or occasion required, to render their useful services to the mechanics of Boston. He spoke in high terms of Hon. Thomas H. Perkins, - his liber- ality, enterprise, and public spirit, - and gave as a senti- ment, -
" The health, prosperity, and safe return of the Hon. Thomas II. Perkins.
" General Sumner cheerfully responded to that sentiment, and said, for himself, he would give to Mr. Perkins the ancient privi- lege of his ancestor, that of ' catching fowle in nets on Noddle's Island.'
" Mr. Henry Williams addressed the company in his usual frank and emphatic manner, and passed many eloquent enco- miums on Uriah Cotting, to whom this city was indebted for more improvements than any other man; for India wharf, Broad street, India street, Central wharf, New Cornhill, and
1835.]
TOASTS AND REMARKS. 497
the Mill-dam, - (General Sumner said he deserved a statue) - Yes, sir, a statue at the head of State street. Mr. Williams said he did not know as he had any right to speak here. (General Sumner said that the name of Williams, by President Quincy's authority, gave him a prescriptive right to do any thing he pleased here.) It's true, sir, my name is Williams, and so was his. (General Sumner said ' he was Old Harry, and you are Young Harry, that's the difference.') He spoke of Aaron Cooley, another Yankee boy, to whose enterprise and spirit is due the completion of the celebrated Fairmount Waterworks at Philadelphia. Cooley belonged to Longmeadow, and was an apprentice boy of Jonathan Dwight. On the completion of the Fairmount Waterworks, -in the midst of the hilarity of that occasion, -speaking of the dam he had projected and thrown diagonally across the Schuylkill, he said in his enthu- siasm, ' If they would find money, he would build a dam across the Atlantic.' He spoke also of the enterprise of Samuel S. Lewis, and concluded with this sentiment, -
" The true spirit of Yankee enterprise.
" Mr. Henry Rice followed him, and gave a short sketch of Uriah Cotting. He was a poor orphan, brought up by his uncle, and, at eighteen years of age, put all his property into a pocket handkerchief, and had twenty cents in his pocket. Mr. Rice gave some interesting historical reminiscences, and gave, as a toast, -
" The memory of Uriah Cotting.
" By William Hayden, Esq., city auditor, -
" France - The land of our ancient ally, the birthplace of our Lafayette ; she has proved that she can be just, in despite of idle appeals to her chivalry.
" By John Henshaw, Esq., -
" The people of Salem and Boston - They have tried all ways to get together but the railway, and after all, that is the best way.
" Mr. E. Hersey Derby, of Salem, gave some interesting reminiscences. He related that on one occasion, travelling from Salem to Boston with his mother, who was unwilling to cross the ferry, he reached Cambridge in season to dine, and got into Boston at nine o'clock at night. [The route by land, of course,
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HISTORY.
[1835.
at that time, was through Malden, Medford, Cambridge, Brook- line, and Roxbury.] General Sumner said he hoped his antipa- thies to ferries were not so great as his mother's.
" By E. Hersey Derby, of Salem, -
" The Salem Turnpike and the East Boston Road - Their interests being similar, may their success be equal.
" General Sumner said, we had had so many interesting tales of mothers and grandmothers, he wished, for the sake of those who feared the ferry would not be kept open in severe winters, that Mr. Henry J. Oliver was present to tell them a story about his grandmother's milk. 'Here I am, sir,' said Mr. Oliver, ' It was not my grandmother's but my mother's milk. My recollec- tion about hers is better than of my grandmother's. The story I suppose I am called on to relate is, what I said before the committee of the general court to show how little danger there was that the passage between the city and Island would be ob- structed, that my mother had her milk of Mr. Williams, from Noddle's Island, for forty-three years, and never missed it but three mornings in the whole time.'
" By Henry J. Oliver, Esq., -
" East Boston Company -- They have made the crooked paths straight, and the rough places smooth.
" By Mr. Motley, of Boston, -
"In 1630, the Mary and John brought over Rev. John Warham, John Maverick, and many godly families; they had some difficulty with Captain Squeb, who, like a merciless man, put them on shore at Nantasket, instead of Noddle's Island.
" The Judiciary - The sheet-anchor of the Constitution, and independent judges the cables which hold it fast.
" Mr. Gerard of New York being called, said he did not mean to make a speech, but he did mean to give a toast. But even in this he had fairly 'boxed the compass,' and his friends about him had driven him from every point. First, he said, he was going to toast - Old France - nice honor, good pay, - but he had been preceded by his friend opposite. Then he was going to toast the University, but had been driven from that also. He should not venture upon a political toast - those were dan- gerous - he did not know whether he was surrounded by Jack-
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TOASTS AND REMARKS.
1835.]
son men or whigs, and as for himself, he was neither whig nor tory, but what they called a scratch. He should not toast the East Boston Company - they had been toasted enough, as much as they deserve, and they deserved much, and whether they were offended or not he should not toast them. He said he saw gen- tlemen around him whom he well knew, - men of talent and reputation, known and honored at the South, and whose names belonged to the whole country. He saw smiles on their faces, generosity in their hearts, eloquence came from their lips, and a welcome from their speaking eyes. He would not give a politi- cal toast, he said, for fear he might offend some one, and on this occasion he would not cause an angry expression on a sin- gle countenance for the whole Island. He was not lost, how- ever, wholly. He remembered Boston yet, where he had long had many friends, and where he had always met with kindness. He would, therefore, give, -
" Boston - North, South, West, and East; prosperity in the centre.
" Mr. Colman made some further remarks, which we could not distinctly hear. We heard him say, however, that he might never meet the company assembled again ; when Gen. Sumner, with ready wit, which was displayed with admirable effect on this occasion, immediately said, he hoped the gentleman was not going to fall overboard again. 'If I should,' replied Mr. Colman, ' I hope some kind friend will resuscitate me.' 'Cer- tainly, sir, if I am by, I will help give you a rubbing,' responded Gen. Sumner. Mr. Colman then proceeded in his remarks, and concluded with a sentiment in reference to the moral improve- ment of Boston.
" Among the guests present were Com. Downes and suite. Frequent allusions were made to the navy and its respected officers, and several calls were made upon them by the com- pany. In answer to these, Col. Brodhead gave the following toast, as well as we can remember it: -
" The officers of the Nary - Their speeches, like the gallant Perry's, are uttered from the mouths of thirty-two pounders; their despatches like his, 'we have met the enemy, and they are ours.'
" Gen. Sumner remarked that the sentiment he was about to give would probably need some explanation. The fortification
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HISTORY.
[1835.
which had been mentioned as existing on another island, in 1630, was built at the public charge for the protection of the colony. It was called the Castle, and was required to be fif- teen feet square, ten feet thick, and to have a garrison of twenty men : -
" Modern Fortifications -- Which leave as much room as the ancient for the enemy without, but take somewhat more for the accommodation of the garrison within.
" Mr. Degrand, in the course of his remarks on stocks, said that all improvements were indebted to the public confidence, which was shown in the rise of the stocks of those who had be- fore engaged in them. When the stock falls, the project labors - when it is up, every thing goes on with spirit, everybody is generous, everybody is confident, and new enterprises are pro- jected as a natural consequence. I do not know but what I shall be considered as speaking in favor of my own profession as a broker. Gen. Sumner said he thought it rather 'smelt of the shop.' By Mr. Degrand -
" Speculation - The true magic of modern improvement - the mother of all such creations with which this country abounds.
" Mr. Degrand made some good remarks, of which we have no notes.
" Mr. Wilson, the road contractor, made some remarks on his work, which he thought he had accomplished with credit to the company and to his own credit. He said, as he was not used to public speaking, he hoped he should be excused from saying much. Gen. Sumner begged him to keep on; he said his speech was like his road, very well constructed, but only wanted a smoother surface.
" F. J. Oliver, Esq., gave as a sentiment, -
" The Operatives on the Island - Success commensurate with their exertions.
" By Judge White of Salem, --
" The union of Boston and East Boston -May the issue be a numerous and happy progeny.
" By Josiah Quincy, Jr., -
" East Boston, Mill Pond Wharf, and South Cove - Those who add on feel no jealousy for those who fill up. An increasing population of fifty per cent. in ten years affords ground sufficient for all their speculations.
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TOASTS AND REMARKS.
1835.]
" By Geo. Belden, Esq., -
" East Boston - The youngest branch of the Boston family - may she ever do credit to the honored name.
" By Samuel S. Lewis, Esq., agent of the Company, -
" Special Corporations - Democratic, both in principle and in practice - to the enactment of them by wise and liberal legislators is mainly to be attributed the present high character and prosperous condition of our State.
" East Boston - A stone in the Boston wall, raised by able workmen, and sustained by a never failing ' Lewis.' 1
" Volunteer, -
" We read in Scripture that, in ancient days, wise men came from the East, seeking that which is good; but in modern days, wise men go to the East on the same errand.
" Noddle's Island - Success to those enterprising individuals into whose nod- dles first entered the idea of turning this fair isle into a populous city.
" Volunteer, -
" East Boston - May the spirit of enterprise which marks its origin be ac- companied in its progress by the virtues which will make that enterprise a blessing to the Common wealth.
" Gen. Sumner now introduced a couple of bottles of super- lative old wine. He said that he intended to tell a large story about its being dug up in old Maverick's cellar, but he was afraid that the company would not believe him. He would, however, assure them that it was brought from Antigua by himself eighteen years ago, and to which place it was im- ported in 1790, making it forty-five years old."
The greatest enthusiasm prevailed on the occasion; the feast of reason and flow of soul there enjoyed will never be forgotten by those who participated in it. The prospects of the com- pany scemed brighter than ever, and a great impulse was given to the value and sale of its stock.
The hotel was exceedingly neat, light, and airy, and the grounds around it were laid out with great taste by R. H. Eddy, Esq., the engineer of the company. Every old tree which could be preserved was carefully protected and encircled with a
1 A Lewis is a machine used in raising heavy blocks of stone.
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HISTORY.
[1835.
grass embankment. The difficult problem of squaring the cir- cle was here successfully solved, for " Sumner square " had been laid out in a circle, bright with its fresh green carpet, and orna- mented with young trees. " Hotel square," on the south-east front of the house, had been gravelled, with a handsome ellipse covered with grass in the centre, and studded with trees and shrubs, and surrounded by an iron fence.
The well in the yard of the Maverick House proved insuffi- cient to supply the wants of the hotel, which was then full of company. Another well was accordingly dug in Havre street, below Maverick street, from which a lead pipe was conducted into the old well, thus furnishing an increased and sufficient supply of pure water.
On the Monday and Tuesday preceding the celebration, the Maverick House was thrown open for public inspection, and during both days was thronged with visitors. The newspaper, from which we have already quoted so much, gives a well- merited compliment to Major Barton and the arrangement of the house. It says: " Under the personal direction of Major Barton, the Maverick House (which was in a wholly unfinished state at the beginning of this year), has been completed in a style of neatness and convenience throughout, which is unsur- passed in any similar establishment in this country. From the kitchen to the attic story, on the walls as well as floors, in the selection of the furniture as well as in the many conveniences about the house, - the refined taste and correct judgment of
Major Barton are everywhere conspicuous. In the arrangement of every department of this extensive establishment, for we have taken some pains by his courtesy to look into them, we apprehend it would be exceedingly difficult for the most ex- perienced to object to things as they are, or suggest any prac- ticable improvement. So also in the appropriate use, the finish and furnish of each particular room, the most fastidious could hardly fail to approve the good taste, neatness, and the gen- eral air of comfortable ease and pleasantness which prevails throughout."
When the author first thought of preparing this book, he addressed a note to Major Barton, who had presided over the Maverick House with such eminent ability and success, and
1835.]
MAJOR BARTON'S LETTER.
503
who now is the efficient manager at the Coolidge Building, requesting some account of facts and incidents connected with his superintendence of the Maverick during its palmy days. He kindly furnished in answer some interesting reminiscences, many of which we give in his own words. After speaking of the celebration, which has just been described at length, he says : " During the following summer the Maverick House was filled to its utmost capacity with the beauty and fashion from every part of the Union. The house, with its commodious drawing-rooms, spacious halls, stairways, corridors, piazzas, etc. etc., was eminently adapted to the accommodation of gay company ; and every conceivable amusement was heartily entered into by the guests of the establishment, such as riding, boating, fishing, bathing, bowling, billiards, etc., during the day ; and hops, balls, concerts, moonlight excursions in the har- bor, tableaux vivants, supper and card parties in the evening ; altogether making the time pass like one continued gala-day, the whole seeming more like a fairy scene than a reality. The hotel was furnished by the East Boston Company in the most costly, elegant, and fashionable manner, and managed and conducted by their direction upon the most liberal scale; this was fully appreciated by a discriminating public, and seemed to be just what was wanted for the summer season.
" The appearance of things at East Boston has very much changed since then. In those days, from the Maverick House one might have an uninterrupted view of the harbor, South Bos- ton, and of the city proper ; on the west and north, of Charles- town, Bunker Hill monument, the navy-yard, Mystic river, and Chelsea ; and on the east, of Nahant, Point Shirley, Deer island, the light-house, and the boundless ocean in the distance. The view now is narrowed to the mere width of the streets, with stately buildings upon the opposite side, and with the sound of the anvil and of the hammer ' closing rivets up,' and the noise and hum of a bustling, busy population of some twelve or fifteen thousand. To show the rapid increase of population, I will quote from my son William's valedictory ad- dress at the Lyman school in 1841, he being then a lad thirteen years of age : 'I have been associated with this school from its very commencement, and was a member of it when we scarcely
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counted twenty ; look at it now, having upon its list more than ten times that number : all this, too, in the brief period of less than four years. We must look upon the rapid increase of this school as the certain index of the coming greatness of this por- tion of our beloved city.'
" The Maverick House became very popular, and was entirely inadequate to receive the vast number seeking accommodation there, and in the third season it was enlarged to more than double its original capacity. It was a favorite place for clubs, parties, and military companies to dine ; and thousands to this day maintain that those ' Maverick dinners' have never been surpassed, if equalled.
" My brother-in-law, Mr. Geo. W. Pearson (now of the Revere House, Boston) was my first assistant; although at that time quite young, he was very efficient, having been with me for several years previous. Messrs. Samuel L. White (now of the Everett House, New York), and James Stetson (now of the Astor House, and brother to one of the lessees of that popular hotel), were also my assistants. Mr. Horace Murdock was bookkeeper, Peter Pasterovitch, a Greek, was first cook ; but, not being equal to the duties of the station, he was succeeded by Ferdinand Gori (from the Tremont House) as chief, and Chas. Carroll (who is now, and has been from the opening of that house, the chief cook of the St. Nicholas Hotel, New York) was the second cook, and William Wells, pastry cook, baker, and confectioner. The head-waiter was Wm. Devereux (now de- ceased) ; he was succeeded by John Crane, now residing at East Boston. There were over fifty waiters employed con- stantly, many of whom were excellent. There was one who was familiarly known as ' old Peter;' he continued with me more than twenty years, faithful to the last; during the time he married one of the girls of the house, has brought up a fam- ily of children decently and respectably, has purchased a lot of land at East Boston, and has built a neat, comfortable house upon it, paid for it, and has money in the bank; he will be remembered by many who have dwelt at the ' Maverick.'
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