USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lexington > History of the town of Lexington, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1868, Volume I > Part 48
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1 Every corporate town was entitled to elect a Representative to the General Court by Article 2, Chapter 1, of the State Constitution, the representation being based upon the number of ratable polls.
Article 12 of the Amendments to the Constitution made a new method of repre- sentation, based upon the number of ratable polls, it being ratified November 14, 1836.
Article 13 of the Amendments to the Constitution based the representation upon the number of inhabitants in towns, it being ratified April 6, 1840.
Article 21 of the Amendments to the Constitution created districts, it being rati- fied May 21, 1857.
Chapter 308, Acts of 1857, apportioned the number of Representatives for each county, and the County Commissioners established Burlington, Bedford, and Lexington as the 18th Middlesex District.
Chapter 103, Acts of 1866, apportioned the number of Representatives for each county, and the County Commissioners established Lexington, Bedford, Burlington, and Carlisle as the 21st Middlesex District.
Chapter 15, Acts of 1876, apportioned the Representatives for each county, and the County Commissioners established Lexington, Burlington, Bedford, and Billerica as the 18th Middlesex District.
Chapter 256, Acts of 1886, apportioned the Representatives for each county, and the County Commissioners established Lexington, Lincoln, Concord, Bedford, and Burlington as the 19th Middlesex District.
Chapter 509, Acts of 1896, apportioned the Representatives for each county, and the County Commissioners established Arlington and Lexington as the 13th Middle- sex District.
Chapter 497, Acts of 1906, apportioned the Representatives for each county, and the County Commissioners established Arlington and Lexington as the 29th Middle- sex District. Ed.
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MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS
A. Tower was Councillor; and in 1884-85, Augustus E. Scott was Senator.
Delegates
JONAS STONE was Delegate to the First Provincial Con- gress, 1774, and the Second and Third, 1775.
Rev. JONAS CLARKE was Delegate to the Convention which formed the Constitution in 1779; BENJAMIN BROWN, a Delegate to the Convention which ratified the Constitution of the United States, 1788.
NATHAN CHANDLER was a Delegate to the Convention to Revise the Constitution in 1820; and JOEL VILES in the Con- vention to Revise the Constitution in 1853.
CHAPTER XXII
TOPOGRAPHY 1
Situation and Extent - Soil and Productions - Hills - Health of the Place and Longevity of its Inhabitants - Roads and Railroads - The Great Bridge - Manufactures.
LEXINGTON is a post-town in the County of Middlesex, situated in latitude 42° 26' 50" North, and in longitude 71° 13' 55" West. It is about eleven miles west-northwest from Boston, about six miles easterly from Concord, and about fifteen miles southeast by south from Lowell. It has Win- chester, Woburn, and Burlington, on the northeast; Bedford and Burlington, on the north; Lincoln, on the west; Waltham, on the southwest; and Arlington, on the southeast. The township, like most of those in the neighborhood, is some- what irregular in its shape, and contains about nineteen square miles, or 12,160 acres. It is generally more elevated than any adjoining town,2 unless it be Lincoln, and hence the water from Lexington runs in almost every direction. As it is the watershed, the streams are small, and they find their way to the ocean through the Shawshine, Mystic, and Charles Rivers. The water power in the town is inconsider- able, and what there is, is remote from the centre. In the easterly part, at the outlet of the Great Meadow, so called, was erected the first mill in the township, probably as early as 1650. It was then owned by Edward Winship, of Cam- bridge, and was given by his will to his son Edward, and remained more than a century in the family.3 There is another and more valuable privilege on Vine Brook, near the boundary of Burlington, though it is at present unimproved.
The township is generally uneven, furnishing a pleasant variety of hill and dale. Though the surface is frequently broken, the soil for the most part is productive. The rock form-
1 This is taken from the chapter in Hudson's History headed "Miscellaneous." Ed.
2 The elevation of the road-bed of Massachusetts Avenue at the junction of Waltham Street is 223.6 feet. (United States Geological Survey.) Ed.
3 See Reminiscences of the Fur Industry, by G. O. Smith, Proc. Lex. Hist. Soc., Vol. II, p. 171. Ed.
MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE FACING LEXINGTON COMMON
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TOPOGRAPHY
ation, through a great part of the township, is a species of greenstone; and though it often crops out of the ground, the rock is so irregular and the sides so precipitous that the soil is deep, and often capable of cultivation up to the very face of the ledge. The presence of this rock indicates a hard, but at the same time a warm and productive soil, well adapted to grass and fruit trees.
There are many good farms in the town, and their value is greatly enhanced by the peat swamps,1 which are found in almost every neighborhood. These swamps, when properly drained, constitute some of the most valuable land for culti- vation, and at the same time serve to fertilize the rest of the farm. The material taken from the ditches is extensively used as a manure, and will of itself pay the labor of draining. Lexington, as a whole, may be considered a first-class agri- cultural town, and has been somewhat distinguished for its hay, fruits, and other agricultural productions; but more particularly for its milk dairies, which send to market 350,000 gallons of milk annually.2
The village of Lexington is pleasantly situated on land comparatively level; and though it is elevated more than two hundred feet above tide water, being surrounded by hills more or less distant, and having meadows on either hand, it has the appearance of being rather low. It is eleven miles from Boston, five miles from Waltham, Woburn, and Bedford, and four miles from Burlington and Lincoln. In the centre of the village is the Common, a triangular plot of ground, situated at the junction, and lying between the roads leading to Concord and to Bedford. It contains about two acres, and is perfectly level, with the exception of a gen- tle swell rising some five or six feet in a circular form, on the southerly side, on which is situated the Monument, erected to the memory of the first Revolutionary martyrs.3 The borders of the Common are skirted by rows of elm, ash, and other ornamental trees.
Following Massachusetts Avenue towards Boston, the houses grow more sparse for about three fourths of a mile, when they become more frequent; and one soon finds himself
1 Several attempts have been made to convert these peat deposits into a mer- chantable fuel, but thus far without much success. Ed.
2 This was in 1867. See the Milk Business, by G. O. Smith, Proc. Lex. Hist. Soc., Vol. II, p. 187. Ed.
3 Several other commemorative tablets are now on the common. Seep. 551. Ed.
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HISTORY OF LEXINGTON
in the midst of another village, known as East Lexington, fully half as populous as the Centre. Both villages are adorned with ornamental shade trees, which extend to every part; and in several places on the main street, huge and ven- erable elms attract the notice of the traveller. The character of the soil is such that both villages are, in a remarkable degree, free from those pests of many country villages - mud and dust.
Though Lexington has no elevations which would justify the appellation of mountains, yet there are within her limits a great number of hills, which command extensive prospects and present fine landscape views. These elevations are generally more or less abrupt, showing fragments of green- stone in their more precipitous sides, and having their sum- inits crowned with the same kind of rock in a more smoothed and flattened form.
In the centre of the town, within five or six rods of the Common from which it is separated by the street, rises "BELFRY HILL," so called, from the fact that a structure was formerly erected on this hill, in which the church bell was hung.1 This elevation, which is nearly hidden from the street by the houses and shade trees, is about forty feet above the Common, and standing in a bend of the road, presents a good view of the village, and of the roads approaching it on every side.
MERIAM'S HILL, situated about eighty rods northeasterly of the village, is elevated seventy or eighty feet above Main Street, and affords a good view of the central part of the town. The village from this eminence2 presents a fine appearance. The lofty elms and other ornamental trees, which skirt the streets and shade the dwellings, give to the village an aspect peculiarly rural; and when the trees are in full foliage the prospect is one of great beauty, exhibiting in one view neat, commodious, and even stately dwellings, embowered in shady groves, with fertile fields and wooded hills in the background.
HANCOCK HEIGHT. About one hundred and twenty rods northeasterly of Meriam's Hill, and forming a part of the same swell of land, rises abruptly one of the most conspicuous
1 This has now been restored. See chap. XXIV, p. 490. Ed.
2 Since Mr. Hudson's writing, this hill has been built upon with many attract- ive residences. Ed.
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TOPOGRAPHY
elevations in the town. The altitude of this hill' is greater than any other in the township, except the highest portions of the range between Monument 2 and Lincoln Streets; and, rising from a lower level, and standing out isolated and alone, on the margin of the valley of Vine Brook, with an elevation of about one hundred and seventy-five feet above it, this hill has a grand and imposing appearance, and affords a magnificent prospect. Standing on its summit, you have almost the whole northern and eastern part of the town in full view.
Nor is the prospect confined to the township. The village of Burlington and the city of Woburn, with the high grounds beyond, bound your prospect on the northeast. On the east you have the hills in Winchester, Mount Gilboa, and other high lands in Arlington in view; and between these, a part of Somerville, the towering shaft on Bunker Hill, and a portion of the city of Boston may be seen, reflecting the rays of the rising or setting sun. To the southeast, the eye takes in the Blue Hills in Milton, the elevated lands in Newton, Prospect Hill in Waltham, and the high grounds in Weston. Towards the west and northwest the prospect is still more extensive. Passing over the village of Bedford, the high lands of West- ford, Groton and the intermediate towns, the eye rests upon the lofty Wachusett in Princeton, the first land which meets the eye of the mariner as he approaches the coast. Farther to the north, you behold the Watatick in Ashby, and the hills in New Ipswich; and still farther, in the State of New Hampshire, the grand Monadnock, with brow half seen, and half concealed in clouds, fixes and bounds the view.
This hill is nearly devoid of wood, having only a few stunted pines and cedars upon it. But it has one feature which is somewhat characteristic of a mountain, - a pond of lasting water upon its side, about twenty feet below its summit, containing from one to two acres. This hill had acquired the insignificant name of "Granny Hill," but the inhabitants in town meeting assembled, in November, 1867, gave it the more worthy name of "Hancock Height," in honor of their first permanent minister, and his grandson, Hon. John Hancock, of Revolutionary memory, whose
1 Three hundred and sixty feet according to map of the United States Geological Survey. Ed.
2 Now Massachusetts Ave. Ed.
1
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HISTORY OF LEXINGTON
association with and regard for the town are well known and recognized.1
DAVIS'S HILL,2 situated about half a mile northwesterly from the Common, is a fine elevation of land, rising about one hundred and forty feet above the meadow which lies at its southeasterly base. This hill is less abrupt and broken than Hancock Height, having in many parts a tolerably good soil, which has been cultivated nearly to its summit. This elevation, like the others in the neighborhood, overlooks the village, and affords much the same prospect toward the north and west as the one last mentioned. This range of high land continues to the southwest, and though it has several depressions, it rises, after passing the road to Con- cord, to an elevation greater than any land in the town. The highest parts are covered with a good growth of wood.
FISKE HILL, situated on the road to Concord, about a mile and a third from the village, is elevated at least one hundred feet above the valley with which it is surrounded, and fur- nishes an extensive view to the north, west, and south. The old road, over which the British passed in their expedition to Concord in 1775, wound its way up the sides of this hill, and passed the ridge not far below its highest elevation. Near the summit of this hill, Colonel Smith attempted to rally his flying troops and make a stand against his pursuers. But his efforts were fruitless. His troops were soon put to flight, and he was severely wounded.
There are several hills of considerable elevation in the southerly part of the town, near the old Concord Turnpike, which command views more or less extensive.
LORING'S HILL,3 about half a mile southerly from the centre of the town, rises somewhat abruptly from the meadows which skirt Vine Brook, to the height of about one hundred and fifty feet. It is covered with wood; and the underbrush having been removed, it affords a delightful
1 Regardless of the vote of the town, the name in common use to-day is Granny Hill, while "Hancock Height " is seldom heard. Granny Hill is used by the United States Geological Survey. The name originated from "Granny" Harrington (Abi- gail), widow of Henry Harrington, who lived on the easterly side of the hill now known as Grant Street. She died January 23, 1820, aged 94 years. Ed.
? Now known as Robinson Hill. Ed.
3 The United States Geological Survey map gives the elevation as three hundred and sixty feet. There is but a few feet difference in elevation between Loring Hill and Granny Hill. Ed.
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TOPOGRAPHY
ramble for those who seek the cooling shade, to meditate upon the beauties of nature.
There is a range of high lands on the southerly side of the great road leading to Boston, commencing a little south- easterly of the Town Hall, which, though interrupted by several depressions, extends into Arlington. The swell above the old Munroe Tavern is considerably elevated, and over- looks the village and a large portion of the town. It was on the northern declivity of this hill that Lord Percy placed one of his field-pieces on the 19th of April, 1775; and from this spot threw his shot in every direction, where he could discover any of the Americans assembling, - one of which perforated the meeting-house on the Common. The elevated portions of this range, southwesterly of the village of East Lexington, command a prospect of great extent and rare beauty. Not only the northeasterly portion of the town, but the city of Medford, with its numerous dwellings and public buildings, are displayed to view. Nor rests the prospect here; the city of Lynn, and the dark blue ocean beyond, whitened by the sails of the hardy fishermen and the enterprising merchants, give variety and grandeur to the scene.
MOUNT INDEPENDENCE, near the East Village, rises ab- ruptly about one hundred and thirty feet above the main street. It is nearly opposite the church, and commands a full view of the village, and the high lands on the opposite side of the broad meadows which spread out on each side of Mill Brook. The prospect from this hill is truly delightful, and the people in that part of the town have shown their good sense in giving it a name worthy of its character and the town where it is situated. On the 4th of July, 1824, a piece of ordnance was presented by a citizen of the village, for the use of the inhabitants; and the name of "Mount Independence" was given to this hill, under the folds of the Stars and Stripes, and amid the roar of cannon and the huz- zas of the citizens. It was near the foot of this hill that the British on the morning of the 19th of April, 1775, committed one of their first acts of aggression, by disarming one of the Lexington Militia (Mr. Benjamin Wellington), who was on his way to join his fellow townsmen in arms at the Common.
Farther to the south, this elevated range 1 rises still higher,
1 The town has had brought before it at intervals a proposition to construct &
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HISTORY OF LEXINGTON
with a more extended prospect, particularly to the south and east, enabling the eye to take in Newton, and the great extent of beautiful country intervening. At the lower end of the East Village, this range is considerably depressed, but soon rises again as it approaches the line of Arlington, giving a good view toward the north.
Being an elevated township, the water is pure and the air salubrious; and hence Lexington in all periods of her history has been regarded as one of the most healthful places in the vicinity. This fact is so well known and acknowledged that invalids from the city frequently resort here for the improve- ment of their health. The topography of the country, the rural scenery, the orderly quiet of the place, and the purity of the atmosphere render Lexington a desirable place of residence.
The sanitary character of the town may be seen in the longevity of its inhabitants. In 1776, among the recorded deaths were one person aged 88 years, one aged 84, three aged 83, and two aged 79. Between 1779 and 1790 inclusive, there were one aged 96, one aged 95, one aged 93, two aged 92, three aged 90, one aged 88, and four aged 85. Nor was this longevity confined to the last century. In 1819, there were among the recorded deaths, one person aged 99, one aged 942, and two aged 94; and in 1822, two aged 92. In the Church Records of 1835 is the following entry: "Deaths during the preceding fifteen years, three hundred and twenty-one. Over 80 years of age, forty; over 90, ten; 95, one; 99, one."
In 1854, there died in Lexington persons of the following ages : one of 80, one of 87, one of 90, one of 92, and one of 95; in 1855, one of 86, one of 88; in 1856, one of 93, one of 81, one of 80; in 1858, one of 82, one of 83, one of 88, and one of 91; in 1860, one of 82, one of 83, and one of 88; in 1861, two of 80, one of 81, one of 86, and one of 92; in 1862, one of 85, and two of 86; in 1863, one of 83, and one of 87; in 1864, one of 83, and one of 87; in 1865, one of 80, one of 82, and two of 84; in 1866, two of 80, one of 91, and one of 93. One other case deserves mention. Mary Sanderson, great- grand-daughter of William Munroe, the original emigrant, died October 15, 1852, aged 104 years and 5 days.
Lexington, from its geographical position, has been pretty boulevard along this range, from Lexington Centre to Arlington Heights. No de- finite action has as yet resulted. Ed.
473
TOPOGRAPHY
thoroughly cut up by roads. Before railroads diverted the travel, there were three great thoroughfares from Boston into the country, running through the entire length of the town: the Concord Turnpike through the southern, the Middlesex Turnpike1 through the northern, and the Old Concord Road 2 through the central part of the town. These, with the roads to Bedford, Lincoln, Weston, Waltham, Watertown, Woburn, and Burlington, brought a large amount of travel through the place. Stages were run daily, and large teams from the northern part of the State, and from New Hampshire. and Vermont, to and from Boston, could be seen upon the roads almost any hour in the day.
But the introduction of railroads has diverted all the long travel from the town; and were it not for the increased local travel, our roads would be left almost desolate. Seeing this diversion of travel, the people of the town felt the necessity of doing something to prevent the population, as well as travel, from leaving the place. Railroads being the order of the day, that mode of communication seemed to be the only thing which would keep Lexington within the list of prosper- ous towns and connect her with the commercial metropolis. One of her most enterprising citizens, Benjamin Muzzey, Esq., took the matter in hand, and by his zeal and persever- ance, he was enabled, by the aid of others and the liberality of our citizens, to build a railroad connecting Lexington with Boston.3 This road has been a blessing to the town, and the people owe a debt of gratitude to the memory of him by whose zeal and energy this has been obtained.
Lexington, considering her territory, has a large extent of roads to support. The aggregate length of her roads is about sixty-five miles - making at least three hundred acres de- voted to public ways. The town is not particularly burdened with bridges, having only two or three of any magnitude. But the greatest grievance which the town has ever suffered
1 Owing to the destruction, many years ago, of the bridge over the Concord River, this old turnpike has long been abandoned as a through road to Lowell. It consti- tutes, however, as does also the Concord Turnpike, one of the many beautiful drives in Lexington. Ed.
2 Both these roads to Concord have been in large measure superseded by the "State Road," which, leaving Massachusetts Avenue in East Lexington, follows Middle Street, midway between the older avenues, to a point beyond Fiske Hill, where it rejoins Massachusetts Avenue. Ed.
3 See Origin of the Lexington and West Cambridge Branch Railroad, by George Y. Wellington. Proc. Lex. Hist. Soc., Vol. III, p. 58. Ed.
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HISTORY OF LEXINGTON
has been the support of the "Great Bridge," so called, be- tween the city of Cambridge and the town of Brighton. After paying tribute to the town of Cambridge about a century and a half, in 1859, by the effort of the Chairman of the Select- men, an act was obtained from the Legislature, exempting the town from any further support of a bridge eight miles dis- tant from them, and one over which they rarely, if ever, trav- elled.
Lexington is almost entirely destitute of manufactures.1 In the easterly part of the town, the dressing of furs 2 used to be carried on to some extent; but at the present time that has ceased.
1 The M. H. Merriam Company has a factory for leather findings on Oakland Street, and the Jefferson Union Company one for steam fittings on Grant Street. Ed.
2 See Reminiscences of the Fur Industry, by George O. Smith. Proc. Lex. Hist. Soc., Vol. II, p. 171. Ed.
CHAPTER XXIII
STATISTICS 1
Origin of the name "Lexington" - Population - Valuation - Slavery.
WE have already seen that Lexington was incorporated, March 20, 1712, Old Style, which, by our present mode of reckoning, would be March 31, 1713.2 It took its name from Robert Sutton, who bore the title of LORD LEXINGTON.3 The family of Lexington, of which Sir Robert was, in the female line, the representative, was of considerable antiquity and note in England. Robert Sutton, Baron de Lexington, lived in the time of Henry III and died June 4, 1250, without issue.
1 Taken from Mr. Hudson's chapter headed "Miscellaneous," the statistics of population and valuation being brought down to 1910. Ed.
2 It may be interesting to some to state the occasion for the change from Old to New Style. The Julian Year consisted of three hundred and sixty-five days and six hours - making the year too long by about eleven minutes. In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII attempted to reform the Calendar. From the time of the Coun- cil of Nice to the time of Gregory, this excess of eleven minutes amounted to ten days. In order to obviate this error, it was ordained that the year 1582 should con- sist of only three hundred and sixty-five days, and that ten days, between the 4th and 14th of October, should be thrown out of the Calendar for that year; and also, to prevent any further irregularity, that no year commencing a century should be leap-year, excepting each four hundredth year; whereby three days are abated every four hundred years, that being nearly equal to eleven minutes for every year during that period, leaving an error of only one day in fifty-two hundred years.
The Calendar before the days of Gregory was called the "Julian," after Julius Cæsar, who regulated it, and has since the change been commonly denominated "Old Style," and the Calendar of Gregory has been denominated "New Style." Though the New Style was at once adopted in Romish countries, such was the prejudice of Great Britain to the Romanists that it was not adopted by her or in her Colonies till 1752. Previous to that year, two methods of beginning the year prevailed in England; the ecclesiastical and legal year beginning on the 25th of March, and the historical year on the Ist of January. The change of Style adopted by England in 1752, fixed the Ist of January as the commencement of the year, and abolished the distinction between the legal and historical year.
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