USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Medford > History of the town of Medford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement in 1630 to 1855 > Part 36
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at the rate of 45s. for 6s. of specie, and middle tenors at IIS. 3d. for 6s." Mr. T. : " Well, that's all right ; and you may have her for £237, - pay down." So the bargain closes. When a boy went to buy a penknife, whose cash price was 12d., the following conversation ensued : Boy : "I want a good penknife, sir." Shopkeeper: "Is your pay ready ? " - " Yes, sir." - "What is it?" -- "It's pay." - "Well, then, the price is 24d." The boy then asks, "What will it be in pay as money ?" Answer : "16d." - " What will it be in hard money?"-"12d." If a young lady went to purchase a dress, and, having looked and chosen, she asked the price, she was answered by the usual question, "What's your pay ?" She answers : " Part in pillar-pieces at 6s. each, part in 'pieces-of-eight' at 4s. 6d., and" the rest in cobb money at 6s. 8d. ounce."
These were every-day occurrences. What would the farmers and merchants, the boys and girls, of our day think, if they could not make a purchase without all this bewildering mixture of prices ?
When dollars came into common use, all calculations were simplified. The sign ($) used to express dollars was composed of two letters, U S, signifying United States. The S was first written ; and then over its face the U was drawn, thus $. Our present currency consists of paper- bills of $ 1,000, $500, $100, $50, $20, $10, $5, $2, $1. Gold, $40, $20, $10, $5, $3, $212, $1. Silver, $1, 50c., 25c., IOC., 5c., 3c. Copper, one cent.
We take leave of the currency of our ancestors, which prevailed in Medford, and which has taught us so much about them, with a few lines, in which some unknown disciple of Thalia has uttered his financial joy (1750) : -
" And now, Old Tenor, fare you well ; No more such tattered rags we'll tell. Now dollars pass, and are made free ; It is a year of jubilee. Let us, therefore, good husbands be ;
And good old times we soon shall see."
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CHAPTER XVIII.
MIDDLESEX CANAL.
THE Middlesex Canal, the first canal in New England, was an important public work in its day, and contributed much to the prosperity of this town. The citizens of Medford were among the first movers of the enterprise ; and the canal rendered great service to ship-building, which was at that time the prominent business interest of the town.
In May, 1793, a meeting was held by a number of gentle- men, to arrange for the building and opening of a canal con- necting the waters of the Merrimac with Boston Harbor. There were present at this meeting, from Medford, the following named gentlemen : Benjamin Hall, Willis Hall, Ebenezer Hall, Jonathan Porter, Ebenezer Hall, jun., Andrew Hall, and Samuel Swan. After organizing by the choice of Benjamin Hall as chairman, and Samuel Swan as clerk, a committee was appointed to procure an Act of Incorporation from the Legislature. This charter was signed by John Hancock, Governor, June 22, 1793.
For ten long and weary years the corporation struggled on, until 1803; when the canal was opened for navigation ; and this, after one hundred assessments, amounting to $1,455.25, had been laid on each share, making the whole cost of the canal $1, 164,200. The canal passed through the entire length of Medford, and had two locks within our borders ; one exactly on what is now Boston Avenue, and on the north-west side of the river, and the other near the entrance of Mystic Avenue from Main Street. This last was called a side-lock, and was used principally for transferring ship-timber from the canal to the river through what was called the "Little Canal." Boston Avenue, from High Street to Mystic River, is laid out upon the same grounds over which the canal passed. Many now living, as they go in their carriages over these grounds,
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can remember the boats with merchandise, and the packets with passengers, as they were actively plying up and down the canal.
The stone abutments now supporting the bridge over Boston Avenue were laid, in 1800, for the Middlesex Canal. At this point the locks were built to let down the boats to a lower level. The Medford boys of these days, as the writer can testify, greatly enjoyed getting on the boats above the locks, and being let down to the next grade. From the point where it crossed Mystic River in West Medford, the canal took a north-easterly course, just north of the "Chemical Works," crossing South Street, and thence following the line of what is now Summer Street to Main Street, passing between Winter Hill and Mystic Avenue to Charlestown Neck.
The writer remembers, that, when he was a boy, the whole village was startled one morning by the news of a break in the banks of the canal in West Medford. It drained all the water in the canal between Woburn and Medford, and nearly filled the river with the gravel washed down the descent. The effects may be seen to this day between the bridge on Boston Avenue and the residence of Gilbert Lincoln.
The business of the canal, previous to the opening of the Boston and Lowell Railroad, was quite large. In addi- tion to the freighting, there was a small packet drawn by two horses, which ran daily on the canal, and was, in its time and way, one of the most comfortable and enjoyable means of travelling the writer ever experienced.
But the enterprise languished in competition with the speedier means of transportation afforded by the Lowell Railroad. In 1851 the corporation voted to surrender its charter, and close its business, which was done in 1852. At this writing (1886), there are but few traces visible of the old Middlesex Canal.
The solid stone arch bridge built by Peter C. Brooks, about one hundred rods north of the head of Boston Avenue, and over this canal, still stands a monument to mark its course. We hope it will always be allowed to remain.
LIGHTERING.
This name was applied to a freighting business, carried on extensively through Mystic River, between Medford
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and Boston. The craft generally used were sloops ranging from fifty to one hundred tons burden. They were intro- duced for the transportation of bricks, and afforded the only mode of transfer before Charlestown Bridge was built. Mystic River, to our fathers, was bridge, turnpike, and railroad. When adventurers settle in a forest, it is the first wisdom to fix themselves near a river ; because a river is an easy highway, always kept in good repair, and free from all taxation. The business of lightering employed · many men, and the inhabitants at first used these sloops as passenger-packets to Boston and Salem. So important had become this mode of conveyance for bricks, merchan- dise, and people, that, when a petition was started for per- mission to build Charlestown Bridge, Medford opposed it with unanimity and zeal, "because it would destroy the lightering business." The result was much as our citizens had foretold : brick soon began to be carried by oxen in carts, thus saving both the loading and unloading in the sloop, where many were necessarily broken.
The labor of lightering was very hard ; for, at times, it became necessary for men to walk on the banks, and thus tow the sloop by means of long ropes. This toil was often undertaken in the night, and during stormy weather. Wood and bark were freighted from Maine, and rockweed from Boston Harbor. A business that was suspended during two or three months of each year, on account of ice, was not attractive to those who wished steady em- ployment, and was not likely therefore to secure the best laborers.
MILLS.
The building of a mill required more iron and stone work than our fathers in Medford were at first prepared to carry through : they therefore adopted the Indian's mill, which was a rock hollowed out in the shape of a half-globe, and a stone pestle. The mortar held half a bushel, and the pestle weighed forty or fifty pounds. A small, flexible tree was bent down, and the pestle so tied to its top as to keep it suspended immediately over the mortar. When the pestle was set in motion, the elastic spring of the tree would continue its blows on the grain for a minute or more.
They found a mill driven by wind cheaper than one driven by water : nevertheless, the water-power here was
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sufficient, and so convenient that it soon became service -. able. April 20, 1659, Thomas Broughton sold to Edward. Collins, for six hundred and fifty pounds, "his two water -.. mills, which he built in Mistick River." They were then occupied by Thomas Eames.
There was a mill a short distance below the Wear Bridge ; but who built it, and how long it stood, we have not been able to discover. In 1660 Edward Collins con- veyed a "gristmill on the Menotomy side" to Thomas. Danforth, Thomas Brooks, and Timothy Wheeler. This, mill was previously occupied by Richard Cooke.
There was a mill at the place now called the "Bower,"; about one mile north of the meeting-house of the First Parish, carried by the water of Marble Brook. The banks,. race, canal, and cellar are yet traceable. This was used for grinding grain and sawing timber. It was on land now' owned by Mr. Dudley Hall.
The remains of another water-mill are still visible on land now owned by Mr. W. A. Russell, near the north- west border of the town. It was carried by the water of Whitmore Brook. This mill must have been among the earliest in Medford.
The first action of the town respecting mills was May 30, 1698, and the record reads thus : " Put to vote, whether the inhabitants of Medford will petition the General Court: for liberty to build a gristmill on the river, near and above Mistick Bridge. Voted in the affirmative." This was, not successful ; nor was the following, -Nov. 26, 1700 : "Whether the town will petition the General Court for- liberty to build a corn-mill in their town, at Gravelly Bank: near Mistick Bridge. This was voted in the affirmative."
When the circular stone windmill, now standing on Quarry Hill, in Somerville, was built, the inhabitants of Medford carried their grain there. Before the Revolution,. the mill was converted into a powder-house, and was used as such.
1730 : Mr. John Albree built a mill upon his own land, on a branch of Marble Brook. It stood about six rods west of Purchase Street, where it joins the land of Mr. A. D. Puffer. The supply of water was small, as the present banks indicate. There Albree, and his only son Joseph, wove cloth by water, prepared wool for spinning, and had lathes for turning wood. His house of two stories, which he built, stood about six rods north-east from his mill.
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The mill stood more than forty years, and was once used for the manufacture of pomatum and starch.
1746: This year the tide-mill, near Sandy Bank, was built ; and it was the first of the kind in that part of the town. As it is now standing, it may be worth while to state a few facts touching its origin. Articles of agree- ment were concluded, Feb. 20, 1746, between Richard Sprague, cooper ; Samuel Page, yeoman ; Simon Tufts, Esq., physician ; John Willis, yeoman ; Stephen Hall, trader ; Stephen Bradshaw, yeoman; Simon Bradshaw, leather- dresser ; and Benjamin Parker, blacksmith, -on the one part, all of Medford, and owners of land; and, on the other part, Stephen Hall, Samuel Page, and Stephen Willis, of Medford, husbandmen, and Benjamin Parker, of Charlestown, housewright, as undertakers. They of the first part give the portions of land they own lying be- tween the market and Cross Street, on condition that they of the second part will open a straight road, two rods wide, from the market to Cross Street, and build a stone bridge over Gravelly Creek. This was introductory to building the tide-mill. Benjamin Parker gave the land on which the mill was built, - thirty-one feet long, and twenty-five wide. John Willis and Benjamin Parker gave liberty to the undertakers to cut a ditch from Gravelly Creek to the mill, and to build a dam. Dr. Tufts, John Willis, Samuel Page, Thomas Oakes, and Nathaniel Hall bind themselves never to obstruct the free flow of water to the mill. The undertakers then bind themselves "to erect a good gristmill on the spot of land above mentioned ; and said mill shall be ready to go at or before the last day of September next." As guaranty for each party, they "bind themselves in the penal sum of five hundred pounds."
The mill was completed, and answered its purpose. It afterwards came into the possession of Timothy Waite, jun. He sold it to Seth Blodget, March 9, 1761. Mr. Blodget sold it to Matthew Bridge, Oct. 18, 1780. Mr. Bridge sold one-half of it to John Bishop, April 7, 1783 ; and sold the other half to John Bishop, jun., April 29, 1784. John Bishop sold the whole to Gershom Cutter, who sold to Samuel Cutter, who sold to George T. Good- win, who sold to Joseph Manning, to whose heirs it now belongs.
This mill has had various fortunes, and, by turns, has
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done all sorts of work. Whether it has been most success- ful grinding grain or mustard-seeds or paints, or in sawing mahogany and turning wood, we know not. It has now had an existence of a hundred and forty years, and gives the promise of much good work in the future.
May 10, 1766 : It was again suggested "to build a grist- mill near the great bridge." But it was not done.
May 12, 1791 : The town voted "not to allow any one to build a mill near the great bridge."
TAVERNS.
For more than a hundred years, all the land travel to Boston from Maine, from the eastern parts of New Hamp- shire and the north-eastern parts of Massachusetts, passed through Medford ; and its distance from Boston made it a convenient stopping-place for travelling traders. Hence the need of public houses. No town in the State, of its size, had so many in number or better in quality; and they were all placed conveniently on the great thorough- fare.
In early times no one could "keep tavern " without a special license from the court. The form was as follows : " Nathaniel Pierce, of Medford, is permitted to sell liquors unto such sober-minded neighbors as he shall think meet, so as he sell not less than the quantity of a gallon at a time to one person, and not in smaller quantities by retail to the occasioning of drunkenness."
The first tavern of which we have any record was built by Major Jonathan Wade, about 1690, and kept by Na- thaniel Pierce. It stood a few rods south of the bridge, on the corner of Main and Union Streets, and for more than a century offered its accommodations to the public. It was bought by Colonel Royal, and had on its sign a repre- sentation of Admiral Vernon. Its owner wished to let it ; and his advertisement, dated Dec. 26, 1743, reads thus : " Any persons beforehanded, so as to lay in a good stock of liquors and other necessaries for a tavern, may meet with proper encouragement from Isaac Royal, Esq." Accompanying the above was this notice : " A person has a handsome mourning-coach, with a pair of good horses, to let out to any funeral, at ten shillings, old tenor, each funeral." This house acquired great popularity, espe- cially when kept by Roger Billings, in 1775. It was after-
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wards kept by Mr. James Tufts and son. It became a private dwelling about half a century ago, and so con- tinued till its destruction by fire, Nov. 21, 1850.
The "Fountain House," next in order of time, was built as early as 1725, and yet stands, a comfortable resi- dence. Being well placed on the great thoroughfare between Salem and Boston, it had extensive patronage. It aimed to be a little superior to other houses. Its sign represented two men shaking hands, who were called palaverers ; and hence the house first wore the name of Palaver Tavern. It was later called Fountain House, from having a new sign, representing a fountain pouring punch into a large bowl. The two large elm-trees in front had each a platform in its branches ; and these platforms were connected with each other and with the house by wooden bridges, and were used much in summer as places of resort for drinking punch and cordials. Tea-parties were sometimes gathered there. The last of these trees, well remembered by many, fell under the axe in 1879. It was of immense size, and the necessity of its destruction was much regretted by the public. But it had become honey- combed by decay, and its situation on the street rendered it dangerous to passers.
The third tavern built in Medford stood on the west side of Main Street, about eight rods south of the bridge, and was the largest in town. It was built by Mr. Benjamin Parker, town-treasurer, as early as 1745; and was sold by him to Hezekiah Blanchard, who added a large dancing- hall to it, and called it " Union Hall." He left it to his son Hezekiah, who continued it a tavern till his death.
The fourth tavern was at the foot of Rock Hill, now known as Marm Simond's Hill, at the West End, and sometimes called the Rock - Hill Tavern. Among its keepers were Messrs. "Usher, Wesson, Frost, and Put- nam." It was a favorite resort for teamsters, and gained great popularity.
The new house, built by Mr. Jonathan Porter in the market-place, was opened as a tavern, but did not long continue as such.
The " Medford House," standing on the north-east cor- ner of Main and South Streets, was built by Mr. Andrew Blanchard in 1804, and attained great popularity under its first keeper, Mr. Jaquith. It was furnished with four bowling-alleys, which proved too great a temptation to
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J. L. TAYLOR.SC.
FOUNTAIN HOUSE.
HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 389
some. At a later period the house came into the posses- sion of a company of gentlemen who were resolved to have it kept on temperance principles. This plan proved more moral than profitable ; and it passed from the hands of the company into the possession of Augustus Baker, an Italian.
It was on one occasion intimated to Baker that he watered his liquor too freely ; to which he replied, " More water, more conscience." He was succeeded by A. J. Emerson, followed by Peter Garvey. Under these land- lords, the Medford House has enjoyed a good reputation as an "hostelry," especially for the excellence of its table.
The taverns of olden time were the places of resort for gentlemen ; and one consequence was, good suppers and deep drinking. They also performed the office of news- papers. In 1760 Medford passed the following vote :- "That their names, posted on the several tavern-doors, shall be a sufficient notice for jurors." Saturday afternoon was the time when men came from all quarters of the town to see and hear all they could at the tavern. For many years the favorite arena was at Mr. Blanchard's, where politics and theology, trade, barter, and taxes, were all mixed up together over hot flip and strong toddy.
The taverns served also as places for marketing. Dur- ing most of the winter they were filled every night with farmers from Vermont and New Hampshire, who had brought their pork, butter, grain, seeds, and poultry to market. Most families supplied themselves through these opportunities, and purchased the best articles at moderate prices.
Landlords could not grow rich very fast on country custom. The travelling farmer brought all his food for himself in a box, and that for his horse in a bag. He therefore paid only twelve cents for his bed, and as much for horse-keeping. It was not uncommon to have six days' expenses amount only to two dollars !
Taverns seemed to subserve all purposes. Auctions, theatricals, legerdemain, caucuses, military drills, balls, and dancing-schools, all came in place at the tavern. Es- pecially sleigh-riding parties found them convenient. Med- ford was just about far enough from Boston to tempt a party to a ride on a pleasant moonlight evening. Scarcely one such evening passed without witnessing a gathering of young people, who brought with them their "fiddler," or
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engaged the services of Greenough, a noted colored fiddler of Medford, danced from seven to ten, and then took a hearty supper, and reached Boston at twelve. New forms of trade and amusement have almost wholly displaced these former custons.
Medford was favored in its tavern-keepers ; but journey- ing in former days, one found queer specimens of humanity among this unique class. Generally, they were only varia- tions of Yankee Doodle. Some landlords were so full of sunshine that it was June all the year round : others had minds so frost-bitten that there was no hope for you, except in the January thaw. Here was one so anxious to oblige, that he would spring to throw a lasso round the moon, if you wished it ; and there another so cross, that putting a question to him was like squeezing a lemon.
At the present time there are three hotels in Medford, though but little patronized by the public in the manner which gave life and prosperity to the inns of the olden time. These are Hawes's Hotel in the Square, the Mystic House near the trotting-park, and the Medford House on Main Street.
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MED-FORD
HOUSE
MEDFORD HOUSE, [1825.
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CHAPTER XIX.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
FIRST MEETING-HOUSE.
DURING the first years of their residence in Medford, our pious ancestors were not sufficiently numerous and rich to support a minister of the gospel; hence they joined the churches of Cambridge, Charlestown, Watertown, Woburn, and Malden. That they had preaching in the town at funerals and baptisms, is most probable; but the loss of our earliest rec- ords prevents our stating First Church. Erected 1696. any specific action on the subject till about 1690, when the desire to build a meet- ing-house became strong and effectual. They worshipped in private rooms ; and we find a vote of the town to "pay Thomas Willis thirty shillings for the use of his rooms for one year."
Jan. 17, 1693, we find the following record : -
" At a general town-meeting of the inhabitants of Medford, being fifteen days warned, voted that there shall be a meeting-house erected, to be finished the first of October following, on the land of Mr. Thomas Willis, near the gate by Marble Brook, on a rock on the north side of Woburn Road. It shall be seven and twenty feet long, four and twenty feet wide, and fifteen feet between joints."
The committee to whom was intrusted this important .work, "with full power to act therein," were Caleb Brooks and Thomas Willis, "to be joined by the selectmen, Joseph Hall and John Tufts." Owing to some obstacles, the house was not built at the time first specified ; and the next move- ment towards it we find in a vote passed Sept. 13, 1695.
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At this time "a subscription was opened, and one pound was subscribed by the following persons : Thomas Willis, Caleb Brooks, Stephen Francis, Stephen Willis, John Fran- cis, John Whitmore, John Bradshoe [Bradshaw], Jonathan Tufts, John Hall, jun., Nathaniel Hall, Stephen Hall, sen., John Willis, Stephen Hall, Percival Hall, Ebenezer Brooks. Twelve shillings were subscribed by Eleazer Wier and Na- thaniel Waite, and six shillings by Samuel Brooks." At this meeting, the town voted, unanimously, that "every person who refused to subscribe should pay twelve pence per head, and one penny on the pound, towards the build- ing of the meeting-house."
Sept. 23, 1695, it was voted "to give sixty pounds for the erection and finishing of the house ;" but on Nov. 4, 1695, the town took a new step, as follows : "The inhab- itants, being now met and assembled, have voted and agreed to have a pulpit and deacons' seats made, and the body of seats and the walls plastered with lime." On ac- count of these additions to the house, they agreed to give eighty pounds.
The meeting-house having been completed in May, 1696, five gentlemen - viz, Peter Tufts, John Hall, sen., Caleb Brooks, Stephen Francis, and Stephen Willis - were chosen "the committee to place the inhabitants in the meeting-house ; the selectmen first to place the commit- tee."
The spot on which the first house stood is now occupied by a cottage, in West Medford, at the corner of High-street Court. This spot, consecrated by the prayers and worship of our ancestors, is about twenty rods east-north-east from the crotch of the two roads, - one leading to Woburn, the other to Arlington.
The meeting-houses of this period were generally square, or nearly so. Some had spires, and were of two stories, with galleries. The one in Medford was nearly square, of one story, and without spire or galleries, but its windows secured with outside shutters. The roof was very steep, and the humble appearance of the house (twenty-seven by twenty-four) can be readily imagined ; and, if it had been made with walls unplastered, its cost probably would not have exceeded sixty pounds. Twelve shillings were annu- ally paid "for keeping the meeting-house."
Instead of pulpits, many houses had tables, from which the sermon was preached, and around which certain privi-
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leged persons, besides the deacons, were permitted, by a vote of the town, to sit.
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