USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > South Boston > History of South Boston (its past and present) and prospects for the future, with sketches of prominent men > Part 14
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Their coffins projected from each side of the carriage. Following behind were deputy marshals and an immense crowd of men, women and children, eager to witness the death struggles of a human being.
In this manner they passed through the town, Tully repeatedly addressing those who crowded about the carriage. Crossing the old bridge, they passed up Fourth Street and along C Street to the gallows, which was built at the foot of Nook Hill, now the corner of C and Third Streets. On arriving at the place of execution, the marshal and his deputies, and the sheriff and the chaplain, ascended the stage. Tully then read a written communication, in which he confessed that he had been guilty of piracy.
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
He also spoke feelingly of the great kindness and attention he had received in prison. The criminals then knelt, and amidst the tumult of the immense crowd who surrounded the place of execution, Rev. Mr. Collier addressed the throne of Grace. He then took the culprits by the hand and bade them each farewell. At quarter past two Tully mounted the drop, and letting fall a handkerchief (the signal that he was ready) the drop fell and he was launched into eternity, without a struggle.
The marshal then made a suitable address to the immense gath- ering, and concluded by reading a respite for Dalton, by which the President deferred his execution till the 10th of January, 1814. He was, however, eventually sentenced to imprisonment for life.
The halter was then taken from his neck, a hat placed on his head instead of the white cap, and he was transported back to prison with the body of Tully, in the same carriage in which they had been taken to the gallows. No less than 10,000 spectators were present, and a much larger number would have attended if the weather had not been so intensely cold. So cold, indeed, was it, that several were frost bitten.
CHAPTER XX.
REMINISCENCES, 1804 TO 1830.
Many old residents of the district still living - Recollections of early South Boston -. Interviews with William Cains and James Wood - Former residents and business men - Where the houses were- War of 1812 cause of district's growth being retarded.
I N this opening year of the twentieth century South Boston is pleased at the fact that many of her residents who have enjoyed life a half or three quarters of the past century, are yet living and enjoying good health. There are five, at least, who have enjoyed a residence here of seventy-five years or more. They are William Cains, before mentioned, son of Thomas Cains, the pioneer glass manufacturer, eighty-seven years old, who has lived all that time in the peninsula district ; Alpheus Stetson, son of Alpheus M. Stetson, who was born in South Boston in 1820, and has lived the eighty-one years in the district ; William S. Locke, retired, who was born here in 1826, and has since been a resident of South Boston, excepting during the few years he was travelling in California; Anthony W. Bowden, seventy nine years of age, who has lived nearly all of that time in South Boston, and William W. Wright.
Three others who resided in South Boston prior to 1825, but who have passed away within a few years, two of whom did not see the dawn of the new century, were James Wood, Thompson Baxter and Michael Brady. Mr. Wood, who in his early life had been employed at Alger's foundry, casting guns for the government, died about three years ago ; Mr. Baxter died towards the close of the nineteenth century, and Mr. Brady, for many years connected with the Clinch school, died in February, 1901.
Three of these gentlemen, by their reminiscent conversations with the writer, have made it possible to publish interesting information con- cerning South Boston of seventy-five years ago.
William Cains, at the present time South Boston's oldest life-long resident, still possesses all his faculties and remembers distinctly South Boston of eighty years ago.
" South Boston," he says, "previous to 1820 was but very thinly settled. What is now Foundry Street was named for the many indus- tries of that class that started there, notably the Alger's.
" What is now Dorchester Avenue was a marsh from the water to Fourth Street, and beyond that, out to Milton, was the Dorchester Turnpike. First Street extended only from this marsh to near B Street,
137
HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
and Second Street but a little further. Land, where once was water, make the present streets of those names up to Dorchester Street. The way to Boston was over the South Bridge, where now is Dover Street Bridge.
" Near the present Dorchester Avenue and Preble Street was the toll house, where a cent had to be paid for each person passing, and three or four cents for wagons and carts. There was also a toll house at the bridge.
" Corner of Second Street and the marsh lived Daniel Bradford, and on the opposite corner was Mr. Dewire.
" It must be remembered that what is now Fort Point channel was much wider in those days, and the water's edge then was on a line with the present Foundry Street. Shortly after annexation this was partly filled in and Cyrus Alger built and extended his foundry. In later years, between Broadway and the North Free Bridge were the machine shops of Isaac and Seth Adams, Jabez Coney, the Wilmarths, and Mr. Souther.
" Nook Hill, the highest point of which was about on a level with the present Lawrence School, sloped down to the water on the north- east side, to Broadway on the southwest, to C Street on the southeast, and to beyond A Street on the northwest side. Originally, it used to be told me, the hill extended beyond A Street to the water's edge, or where now is Foundry Street.
"There was a big inlet running in from the harbor at about D Street and this crossed Broadway. I remember when Broadway, at D Street, was frequently covered with water and could be crossed only on planks.
"Fourth Street was the principal thoroughfare, extending from the bridge southeast as far as Dorchester Street. Beyond Dorchester Street, across from the end of Fourth Street, was a road about the same as the present East Fourth Street, extending only to G Street.
" Dorchester Street did not extend as far as the water, but a road diverted from it on a line about where is now Second Street, and at the end of this road was a large foundry, the first erected in New England. This foundry was the one started by Cyrus Alger and Gen. Winslow in 1809. It was on Second Street, about at the foot of E Street.
"The 'Old Road,' then, was what is now East Third Street from Dorchester Street, then along Emerson Street to M Street and then along what is now Fourth Street, to the Point.
" Hobb's Lane, afterward called by some people, Fish Lane, was from about opposite the old Hawes Church, through what is now the Lincoln School grounds, and to the water's edge.
"There was a short street, on a line where now is K Street, but extended only from the 'Old Road' to Fifth Street and the Hawes house was right on the corner, just where it is now. A continuation of
138
HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
this street, extending to the beach, was a road. This was known as the way to Powow Point.
"South Boston then did not include the Washington Village sec- tion, and the dividing line was just about where now is the corner of Dorchester and Eighth Streets. Out there where now is the Andrew School, Dorchester Street could be crossed only at low tide, the high tides covering a portion of the thoroughfare.
"South Boston was laid out in 1810, intended for an ideal residen- tial section. The War of 1812, however, upset all plans for the time, and the anticipated boom was delayed. After the war the country was poor and South Boston suffered considerably. Soon however, the people received new hope and the building of factories and dwellings. continued.
HAT FACTORY 92
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DORCHESTER BAY
PLAN OF SOUTH BOSTON IN 1825,
"The block of houses corner of A Street and Broadway was the only dwelling on the latter street until Mr. Wright's house near E Street. This was at the corner of Wright's Court, named after him. It is yet standing, although greatly changed in appearance. This was about 1818 and a few years later Mr. Page built a house near D Street and the court was named after him. Gerrish also built a house between B and C Streets and had quite a large brick-making establish- ment.
" About opposite Mr. Wright's house was St. Matthew's Episcopal Church. On the same side of Broadway, but near the corner of Dor- chester Street, were two houses, ten-footers, one of which was occupied by Thomas Thayer and family. Mr. Simpson also lived near Dorches- ter Street.
"At the junction of what is now Dorchester Street and East
HOLMES (G
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SOUTHER
BOSTON HARBOR
Ross
SI
APADE
139
HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
Broadway were two houses, one owned by Captain John Davis and the other by Thomas Hammond. The latter was nearer to G Street.
"This was all there was to Broadway,-a country road from the marsh to Dorchester Street, with very few houses.
"Fourth Street was the principal street in those days, and, especially below C Street. it was a hustling business section. Starting from the bridge, on one side, was the handsome residence of Cyrus Alger. His son, Cyrus, Jr., and a son-in-law, afterward occupied houses adjoining. All these are standing today, although in a dilapidated condition.
"On the corner where is now a carriage factory, was a brick build- ing in which old lady Hutchinson kept a knick-knack store, and opposite, on the southwest corner was Harding's house.
"On the opposite corner toward A Street, was the hotel of Davis Holmes, better known as 'Pa' Holmes, which was a popular resort for many. Then on the southeast corner, was a story and a half house occupied by Jabez Wilson who kept a drug store in front.
"Between A and Turnpike Streets, on the side with 'Pa' Holmes place, was a ten-footer owned by John McCarthy, then the establishment of William T. Andrews, who was a grocer, furniture dealer, coroner, carpenter and justice of the peace. Then came the three story house of David Gurney, and at the corner of A Street a three story brick dwell- ing house, owned by James Wright. In front and around it was a magnificent garden extending back to what is now Silver Street.
"On the opposite side of Fourth Street, between A Street and the Turnpike, was a building owned by John McAleer, who kept a grocery store. Mr. Hunting also kept a store on the other corner.
"Near Turnpike Street, next to the Hunting house, was a ten-footer occupied on the lower floor front as a bakeshop and grocery by John Emersley who lived in the rear. This house had a basement almost entirely under ground. The Hunting house was near A Street.
"On the westerly side of Fourth Street, were three small houses, ten-footers, owned by Owen McCabe, John McFeeley and Mrs. Mary Brown.
"At the corner of A and Fourth Streets, where Alderman Norris. now lives, dwelt a man named Francis Lamale. Above this were several small houses, in one of which was a hall, and above B Street, tenement houses.
"A little back from Fourth Street, near C Street, toward Fifth Street was the handsome home of Josiah Dunham, a prominent man in his day and who served the district in the Common Council and the Board of Aldermen. His rope walk was near by. A Mr. Johnston lived near Mr. Dunham.
"There were a few other houses between Turnpike Street and C Street, but unimportant and back from the street.
" Between C Street and Dorchester Street were but two houses, in 1815, the one owned and occupied by Abraham Gould near E Street,
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
and another where Master Woods lived near F Street. This was at one time known as the Pratt house. Mr. Woods was master of the first town school in South Boston, before the Hawes School was established. This first school was in a little building at the corner of the Old Road and G Street. The Woods and Gould houses were oblong in shape. The Woods house, still standing, was the first, in the nineteenth century, to be built in South Boston.
"About 1825 Mr. Cole and Mr. Harris lived near E Street.
"On Second Street, between C and D Streets, in a small house lived Captain Smith. It was not a street then, but the road leading to his house was where is now Second Street. He was a tanner by trade and had a son, Joseph Smith.
WOODS HOUSE. West Fourth Street, near F Street.
"South Boston, then, was famous throughout the city for many reasons. It was a new section, and in the peninsula there was an abundance of excellent drinking water, something that they did not possess in the centre of the town. In Boston the people had to depend on Jamaica Pond for water, that came through pipes and was pumped out. Often the pumps there used to get choked up with fish and it required much labor to draw a pailfull.
" A large trench of water was at the corner of D and and Second Streets. It was about twenty feet by six feet and six feet deep. All the ships used to be supplied from this trench, and afterward, when the brewery started there, the trench furnished its supply. The brewery was established in 1826.
" A Street sloped down to Fourth Street, and there were but few
14I
HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
families living there. Between Broadway and Fourth Street, there was John, Frank and William Lavery. John H. Lavery of today is a son of Frank Lavery. Mrs. Sommers also lived there.
" In ISI4, I am told, there were about forty houses in the district. Old St. Augustine's chapel, in the cemetery, was dedicated in IS19. For many years a priest sent from the church over town used to come to St. Augustine's church, but about 1830 the first parish priest was appointed, Rev. Fr. Drummond. He was a goodly man and quite young. In 1835 he went away and I remember hearing, in after years, of his noble work in Halifax where he attended cholera stricken people that came in the English ships, and one time he went five days without any rest. He died about IS70, at a good old age.
"There were but few Catho- lics in the district then, and Father Drummond's mission ex- tended out Dorchester as far as Milton. When the foundries and machine shops flourished, in later years, the Catholic population increased.
" From the close of the War of IS12 until the beginning of the Civil War, the manufactures so increased that South Boston was second to no other place in the country, in the way of indus- tries.
" The brick industry was an important one. In the block bounded by B and C Streets, Broadway and Fourth Street, were the several brick kilns of the Harris brothers. From these REV. FR. DRUMMOND FIRST CATHOLIC PASTOR IN SOUTH BOSTON. (Taven from a photograph of 1860.) kilns were taken the bricks that were used in erecting many of the dwelling-houses of Boston. It was a remarkable clay pit, but has since been filled in. Another brick kiln, corner of E and Fifth Streets, was owned by Mr. Osgood.
" Above Dorchester Street, on what is now Fourth Street, near the Bird schoolhouse, was a very old building occupied by John Bird. There was a beautiful garden surrounding the house and extending from the house down to Dorchester Street. Above that, on the same side, was Pope's house with farm surrounding it.
" Near I Street and the 'Old Road' were the houses of Mr.
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
Williams, Mr. Holmes and Mr. Howard, On Emerson Street, from I Street to the cemetery, was ' The Village.' Mr. Fenno lived on the 'Old Road,' between Dorchester and H Streets, as did also Mr. Souther.
" Between M and N Streets, on the south side, lived Mr. Whitte- more, a butcher, and Theophilus Carter. Below that there was no house west of P Street. Just beyond P Street was a ten foot building occupied by a man named Belzer. He had four sons. Further down was the Adam Bent house, one of the oldest houses in the district today, and below that, near the water, was the Phinney house. Mr. Cuddy lived south of the 'Old Road,' and near the Blake houses lived Abel Hayden and Nathaniel Hayden.
BIRD HOUSE.
" Near First Street, at the foot of K Street, Mr. Deluce kept a fish store about 1830, and he got up nice fish dinners for driving ยท parties. Ephraim Dodge kept a hotel at the end of Hobbs Lane and nearby was a bowling alley.
"Of the residents on Emerson Street, Romanus Emerson was probably best known. He was a hard working old farmer. Squire Harrington lived near his friend Emerson. Other residents in ' The Village' were the Deluces, well known, one of whom was the first undertaker in South Boston, and Mr. Briggs lived in a handsome house on Hobbs Lane."
143
HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
Mr. James Wood, two years before his death, reviewed briefly, for the writer, South Boston as it was in 1824.
" There were scarcely two hundred buildings in the district at that time" he said. "On Fourth Street, between the bridge and G Street, there were about fifty houses in all, but three above Dorchester Street. On Broadway there were only fourteen houses from Turnpike Street to I Street. On A Street there were ten houses; on B Street five, on C Street three, on D Street two, on E Street three, one of the latter called Foye's block. F Street had one house, that at the northeast corner of Broadway. It was known as the Williams house.
ADAM BENT HOUSE. FOURTH. NEAR Q STREET.
( Built in 1810.)
" On Dorchester Street, north side, there were about ten houses, mostly occupied by ship carpenters. Squire Woodward's house on east side of Dorchester Street, between Broadway and Fourth Street has since been moved and is now on East Fourth Street to the west of the Bird school, between Dorchester and G Streets.
" On Emerson Street, (the Old Road) was ' The Village.' Between Dorchester and I Streets there were about five houses; between I and K ten, now mostly rebuilt ; the last one to be destroyed was the Har- rington house, opposite the old Hawes church.
144
HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
" A little west of the Harrington house was the home of Romanus Emerson after whom the street was named. Then there was the house of Job Souther.
"On Fourth Street, south side, between P and Q Streets, was the house of Adam Bent and then there was Mr. Phinney's on Q Street. Mr. Belzer occupied the third of this cluster of houses. Beside the Bent, Belzer and Phinney houses there was but one other east of K Street, that of Samuel Blake, corner of Broadway and P Street. About 1825 three or four houses were built south of the ' Old Road,' near L Street.
ST. AUGUSTINE'S CHAPEL AND CEMETERY IN 1828.
" There was a little fort, bounded by P and Q Streets, Second and Third Streets, known as 'The Battery.' It seems a pity that this should not have been preserved.
" The principal industries at that time were iron and glass work and ship building. There were four glass factories, two flint, one crown, and one bottle glass. Ship building was a leading industry. Wheelwright's, at the foot of Dorchester Street, was one of the largest. Capt. Noah Brooks was the superintendent. There were many fine ships built there, one of which, the Henry Lee, I saw launched about 1827 or 1828.
" Later on there was another shipyard west of Fourth Street, near the bridge, where William Stetson built many fine vessels, the largest
I45
HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
of which was the ship Tarquin, 500 tons. In later years there was the vard of the Briggs brothers, at the foot of F Street, where were built a large number of fine vessels, one of which, the Southern Cross, was a noted one in her day. Mr. Briggs afterward removed to K Street.
"The Dunhams, Josiah, Sr. and Jr., did a big business at rope making. Their establishment was a large one near C Street.
" In my early days I remember three school-houses, two primaries, one kept by Mrs. Cole, near the bridge, and later removed to Fourth, between B and C Streets. The other primary school was that kept by Mrs. Thayer, one of whose sons became a noted Universalist minister. The grammar school was the Hawes' school.
" Noted men of that time, besides those mentioned, were Jeremy Drake, who, I think, was connected with the Franklin bank, and Deacon Alvan Simonds, for many years cashier of the Mechanics National bank, when it was located in South Boston.
CUTTING DOWN LEEK HILL.
" Cotton & Hill's chain factory started business about 1830 and was located corner of Third and F Streets.
" In the old school days we used to enter the primary school and after going through there would be promoted to the fourth grade of the Hawes' grammar school. There were four classes in one room, and of these the first class was divided into two divisions. Entering the fourth class the pupil advanced to the third, then the second, then the second division of the first class, and finally to the first division, and then graduated.
" Children were not allowed to attend the Hawes' school until the age of seven, and boys were not admitted after fourteen and girls not after fifteen.
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
" Graduating from the Hawes' school next came the high school. Very fine, intelligent scholars were graduated from there.
" From the schoolroom in the old Hawes' school, in those days, we had an unobstructed view away out to Washington Village, no build- ing intervening except St. Augustine's chapel, in the cemetery."
There were but two physicians in South Boston previous to 1830, which may be an indication that the health of the people was quite good. They were Dr. James Clark, who lived near the Heights, and Dr. Ebenezer Stevens, who kept an apothecary store on Fourth Street, near the Turnpike.
Of the carpenters, or housewrights, as they were then called, who did much in erecting the houses in South Boston, there were William Andrews, Luke Ashley, Daniel Bradford, George Carpenter, Ivory Churchill, Seth Cole, Francis Deluce, Lewis Fairbanks, Lewis Gardner, John Hanson, Joseph Harris, Henry Hayden, Royal Oliver, Stephen H. Pierce, Benjamin Pike, Jacob Pike, Levi Pike, William Robinson, William Ross, Ebenezer Sherman, Matthew Sprague and Daniel Tisdale.
John Deluce was the first undertaker in the district.
Josiah L. C. Amee, with the title of General, was a sailmaker, and a brother-in-law of Josiah Dunham. He was chief of police of the town at one time and lived on Broadway, opposite to what is now Station 6. Rev. John L. Blake, pastor of St. Matthew's church, lived on Broadway, was a member of the school committee in 1829, and published several school books. Joseph Holbrook was a master builder and did a big business. Seth Stowell was toll gatherer at the south bridge and his was a familiar face to people of South Boston.
CHAPTER XXI.
SOUTH BOSTON, 1830 TO 1850.
Rapid increase in population in the twenty years-Several streets extended - New survey of streets made -- Old Colony railroad incorporated and the first depot built in South Boston - Change of location granted for the depot and a railroad bridge built across the channel - Evan's bridge - Hawes' school established -South Boston Samaritan Society - Lyceum hall- Mt. Washington hotel - Line of coaches to the city --- Hotel property becomes the Perkins Institution for the Blind - Early banks, some of which fail after brief existence - Pulaski Guards - Mattapan Literary Associ- ation - South Boston becomes a ward by itself - Agitation started for the removal of the city institutions - South Boston neglected by the city government occasions strong feeling among the inhabitants - Mass meeting held - Memorial to the city government setting forth the needs of the district - Improvements begun as a result of this memorial - Introduction of water - Streets levelled and paved.
S OUTH Boston's population increased rapidly between 1830 and 1850. Numbering about 2,200 in the former year there were 13,309 inhabitants at the beginning of the last half of the nine- teenth century, equal to an increase of 505 per cent.
Shortly after the opening of the North Free Bridge, residents from the city flocked to South Boston in large numbers. These included business men, men of wealth, and those who wished to retire to private life, as well as large numbers of workingmen.
With the increase in the number of foundries and manufactories the employees desired to live nearer their work and accordingly removed to South Boston, making their homes near the Turnpike. From the South Bridge to C Street was the most thickly settled portion of the peninsula and here also were the stores in great variety.
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