USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Somerville, Mass.; the beautiful city of seven hills, its history and opportunities > Part 2
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The first school was on the peninsula, and the children of that day had a long and tedious walk in winter. In this school was taught the A B C's to Latin grammar.
TUFTS HOUSE, Sycamore Street.
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As it formerly appeared.
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SOMERVILLE BOARD OF TRADE.
The military prowess of those early pioneers has a promi- nent place in history, for they were men of intelligence, educa- tion, and piety, and the defence of home and religion was fore- most in thought. Military organizations were formed and fortifications erected as a protection from foreign foes, as well as Indians. Their various struggles with the red men and Frenchmen proved their valor.
In 1686 a royal edict appointed Sir Edmund Andros "Captain Generall and Govr. in Chief" over New England, which caused great unhappiness. He was given royal powers to choose councillors, make laws, and assess taxes; it consti- tuted Andros and councillors a court of justice and power over all matters military, thus annulling the charter of the Bay Company. This caused a revolution, lasting three years, end- ing in 1689 by the seizure and imprisonment of Andros, and the capture of the Castle in Boston harbor, and in 1692 the resto- ration of their old rights to the colonists. Andros declared all previous property titles valueless, and that "therefore all the lands of New England have returned to the King," and further, it was declared that "wherever an Englishman sets his foot. all that he hath is the King." Andros angrily asserted that "there was no such a thing as a town in the country, and that the ancient town records of titles were not worth a rush." In Somerville many estates were imperiled, one or two of them having been in the same family half a century. Some of the owners submitted to these cruel exactions, while others re- belled. With the seizure and imprisonment of Andros in 1689 ended the fraudulent title speculation.
Somerville is often referred to as the "City of Ten Hills," and it is especially notable that the so-called Ten Hills Farm should have kept the name given it by its first owner for 280 years. The name applied only to the 100 acres or so of the original grant, and the property within the bounds of the original Ten Hills Farm can be clearly traced in the records, through each conveyance, from aboriginal and royal grant to the present time.
It is noticeable that Ten Hills, if not continuously a guber- natorial domain, has in all times been held in some favor by governors and their relatives and associates : First, Winthrop,
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the first governor of Massachusetts, then his son, governor of Connecticut ; then the wife of Lieutenant-Governor Usher ; then by Robert Temple, son of the governor of Nova Scotia; then by Robert Temple, Jr., whose wife was the daughter of Governor Shirley; then by Royal and Russell, each a gov- ernor's councillor ; then by the heirs of the brother of Gov- ernor Ames. There is much of interest in connection with this old property that would delight and entertain any who would spend the time in a reading of old records.
For more than two centuries there has stood on Quarry Hill, on a spot that was once the brink of an old stone quarry, what is known as the Old Powder House, first a stone mill, and which is to-day one of the prized relics of "ye ancient times." Around it cluster history and legends of great interest. The knoll on which it stood was in 1685 allotted to Sergeant Richard Lowden, and after his death to Jonathan Foskett, who in turn sold it to "Jean Mallet" in 1703, who very likely built the mill. He died in 1720, leaving the stone mill to his son Michael, who in 1747 sold it to the state for a powder magazine.
The enactment March 31, 1774, of the Boston Port Bill, as a punishment to Americans for the destruction of the East India Company's tea, brought great distress through a suspen- sion of business. The home government action caused fric- tion, and thus commenced the struggle resulting in the Revo- lution. In preparing for the conflict, powder belonging to the several towns was stored in the old Powder House. Fearing for the safety of the powder, the town removed the same until, as subsequently reported by Major-General Brattle, there was left "the King's powder only."
The English Parliament and press during the winter of 1774-1775 discussed vigorously the dispute with the colonists, and most arbitrary measures were urged.' This caused great alarm among the colonists, and the Americans were prompt to secrete and protect military supplies, distributing the same among various towns, one of which was Concord. General Gage learned of this and determined on their capture, the colo- nists taking precautions to prevent the general's purpose. A company of thirty men arranged with each other to watch "two by two" the movements of the British; among these were
PROSPECT HILL TOWER
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William Dawes and Paul Revere. Several days previous to April 19, the unusual activity of the troops and fleet indicated an important movement, and a British soldier's wife carelessly divulged the order and communicated to the patriots the pur- pose to capture their military supplies. Dawes was sent by way of Roxbury and Paul Revere by way of Charlestown to alarm the inhabitants. Every school child is familiar with the famous ride of Paul Revere, who rode over our beautiful Win- ter Hill to Lexington, alarming the country of the impending danger. At the junction of Main street and Broadway stands a tablet commemorating that historic ride.
On the night of April 18, 1775, the British troops marched to the Back Bay, Boston, crossed to Cambridge, thence to Somerville, emerging upon Washington street, Union square, Bow street, Somerville avenue, and Elm street, thence to Con- cord. Their encounter with the Patriots at Lexington Com- mon and at Concord Bridge, and their disastrous retreat, are notable events in the world's history. Like a rabble rout, the British soldiers came down into Somerville, through Beach street, into Elm street. At the westerly corner of these streets was a grove, where minute men were secreted, who gave the troops a galling fire. The British who fell here were buried near the spot. The troops continued their retreat down Elm street and Somerville avenue, one man being killed near Cen- tral street, and near Walnut street another soldier fell. Down Washington street they went, skirting the foot of Prospect Hill, where occurred some of the hottest fighting of the day. The only Somerville citizen who fell on this day was James Miller, an old man and patriot.
History of the Battle of Bunker Hill is familiar to all, and Somerville beheld vivid scenes of war that day: incessant marching of troops towards the front over Washington street to Broadway; citizens of Charlestown fleeing from their burn- ing homes ; fugitives and wounded soldiers ; artillery bombard- ing : and finally the retreating colonists, who, victorious in de- feat, re-formed their forces on Prospect and Winter Hills in our city, expecting and ready for a renewal of the battle.
The siege of Boston began on the night of the Battle of Lexington, and, as reported by a British officer: "The rebels
VIEWS IN SOMERVILLE PARKS
CENTRAL HILL PARK
TUFTS PARK
PROSPECT HILL PARK
NO OLN PARK
BROADWAY PARK
-> 1905 ==
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shut up the Neck ... so that in the course of two days we were reduced to the disagreeable necessity of living on salt provisions, and fairly blocked up in Boston." The posting of troops in Somerville toward checking the enemy from leaving Boston, the building of fortifications near Union square, the first works thrown up by Americans in this war, forced the British to realize that a siege had actually begun.
Somerville in the interim between the Battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill was the centre of many events of interest. Here the first exchange of prisoners took place; the arrival of General Washington, the great commander-in-chief, led to the reorganization of the state and United States military organi- zations into an army with three divisions. The entire left divi- sion and half of the centre were within Somerville limits, and our hills were crowned with elaborate works and strong in- trenchments. Here for nine weary months was frequently heard the roar of cannon and mortars. The people hailed with rejoicing its cessation and the departure of the British army of occupation.
The Revolution over, industries and public improvements received the attention and energy of its people. For years be- fore and after the town was set off, brick-making, farming, and stock raising were extensively carried on. While many of the important industries started after the Revolution, or in the early years of the last century, are now almost forgotten, one still flourishes, the bleachery on Somerville avenue, incorpo- rated in 1821.
The Middlesex Canal, completed in 1830, was a wonder of that day, but, like the stage coach, gave way to the coming of the railroad. Ruins of this old canal are still discernible in some places in our city.
From Prospect Hill it was nearly ten miles to Boston proper, but in 1786 the bridge from Charlestown and in 1793 that from Cambridge were completed, and our town became little more than two miles from the city.
The first railroad through Somerville was the Lowell, opened in 1835. In 1836 the Charlestown branch was incorpo- rated, it being a branch of the Lowell. It was shortly after ex- tended to Fresh Pond, and in 1842 its franchise went to the
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Fitchburg. Our first passenger station in Somerville was on the Lowell road at Washington street, the first on the Fitch- burg at Kent street, in rear of the Franklin school.
In 1816 a beautiful estate on "Pleasant Hill" was sold to the Massachusetts General Hospital as a retreat for some of their patients, known as the John McLean Asylum, after its generous benefactor. This beautiful place has given way to railroad needs.
Few improvements were made in Somerville while a part of Charlestown, which caused at various times efforts to divide the two localities, which March 3, 1812, were successful. On March 5 the inhabitants of Somerville met "at the Prospect Hill School House" on Medford street, and organized the first town officers, as follows: Selectmen, Nathan Tufts, John S. Edgerly, Caleb W. Leland, Luther Mitchell, and Francis Bow- man : town clerk, Charles E. Gilman ; treasurer and collector, Edmund Tufts. The town expenses its first year were $250 for salaries and $5,652.08 for all other expenses. The town grew rapidly, and in 1860, the year previous to the Civil War, the town expenses had increased to $38,052.87. During these years many streets and highways were constructed and many town improvements were inaugurated.
THE CIVIL WAR.
At President Lincoln's call for 75,000 men to quell the ris- ing rebellion, one of the first companies to respond, ready to meet "leaden rain and iron hail," was the Somerville Light In- fantry, known as Company I, of the Fifth Massachusetts Regi- ment, Captain Brastow, and on April 19 this company went into camp, and a few days later were on the way to the front.
The call of the President June 28 for "300,000 more" caused the enlistment of ninety-two more. The selectmen im- mediately raised a full company known as the "Somerville Guard." The company's camp was on Prospect Hill for sev- eral weeks, and it was ultimately attached to the Thirty-ninth Regiment as Company E, and under command of Captain Fred R. Kinsley went to the front, where it "proved an honor to the Town and the State."
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FORSTER SCHOOL. Where town meetings were held
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Soon came another call for "300,000 more," and the old Fifth again responded. The Somerville Light Infantry, at first Company I, now became Company B, of the same regiment. Under the two "300,000 more" calls, Somerville furnished about 568 men, at a net cost for bounties and all other expenses of $32,764 and $13,062 for aid to soldiers' families. A sum- mary of the Somerville companies, their term of service and names of officers, is as follows :-
Company 1, Fifth Regiment, April 19 to July 31, 1861, Cap- tain George O. Brastow.
Company B, Fifth Regiment, May, 1862, Captain William E. Robinson. Ordered out by Governor Andrew, but, not be- ing needed, returned home.
Company E, Thirty-ninth Regiment, August 12, 1862, to June 2, 1865, Captain Frederick R. Kinsley.
Company B, Fifth Regiment, September 19, 1862, to July 2, 1863, Captain Benjamin F. Parker.
Company B, Fifth Regiment, July 25, 1864, to November 16, 1864, Captain John N. Coffin.
Company I, of the Fifth Regiment, joined the command of General Mansfield at Alexandria July 14. 1861, was reviewed by President Lincoln, and July 16 was ordered to Centreville. On July 21 it sustained well its part in the memorable action of Bull Run, fought after the regiment's time of service had expired.
Company B, Fifth Regiment, in its nine-months' campaign. left Boston October 22, 1862, and after a five-days' voyage ar- rived at New Berne, N. C. October 30 they embarked for Washington, N. C., whence they marched for Williams- ton. In December the company took part in the ex- pedition to Goldsboro, its object point being the de- struction of the Weldon Railroad. On December 14 On
it was attacked by the enemy, whom it repulsed. December 16 occurred the Battle of Whitehall, the Union forces being victorious. On December 12, under fire, they cut wires and destroyed the bridge over the Neuse river. After various marches, on May 22 they appeared before the strong works of the rebels at Moseley Creek, which they captured, with 200 prisoners and much munition of war. They returned to Boston June 26, and were mustered out July 2,
1485703
FIRST MEMORIAL ERECTED IN THE COUNTRY IN HONOR OF CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS, SOMERVILLE CEMETERY, 1863
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Company B, Fifth Regiment, was for the third time mus- tered into the service July 25, 1864, went into camp near Bal- timore, and did garrison duty at Forts McHeury and Marshall. They were mustered ont November 7, 1865.
Company E, of the Thirty-ninth Regiment, served three years, being mustered into service August 12, 1862. The men left for Washington September 6, and on September 9 were ordered to "Camp Chase." From then until the next July they were guarding the line of the Potomac and the city of Wash- ington. On July 9 it was ordered to Harper's Ferry, and thence to Maryland Heights. On July 13 it joined the Army of the Potomac, and was thence under constant marching orders until November 27, when it confronted the enemy at Mine Run. In May, 1864, it took part in the campaign of the Wilderness, where on May 5, 6, and 8 it had engagements at Brock's Pike and Laurel Hill, driving in the enemy, but finally meeting a superior number it was forced to fall back. On May 10 it was again under heavy infantry and artillery fire. and here Lieutenant Mills was wounded. The men marched to Spottsylvania, and on May 26 to Bethesda church, where, as skirmishers, they remained almost continually engaged until June 5. After various marches they arrived at Petersburg july 16, remaining exposed much of the time until August 18. when they joined the expedition against the Weldon Railroad, and immediately engaged the enemy, the action being con- tinued on August 19. In this battle Colonel Peirson was danger- ously wounded, Captain Fred R. Kinsley taken prisoner, and Lieutenant J. H. Dusseault wounded. After many skirmishes and arduous marches, on December ? they were again near the Weldon Railroad in action with the enemy and destroying the railroad. On February 6, 1865, their regiment held the right of the line in the advance at Dabney's Mills, where the enemy's works were taken and abandoned for want of support. On February 10 the company was in winter quarters near Hatcher's Run. In March the spring campaign opened, and on March 31 an attack was made at Gravelly Run. In this action Somerville's heroic son, Captain Willard C. Kinsley, was wounded, and died the next morning. On the next day, April 1, the Corps united with Sheridan's Cavalry at Five
SOLDIERS MONUMENT ON CENTDAY LITT
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Forks. It occupied a position near the centre of the line, and "this battle of Five Forks was the most successful one that the regiment was ever engaged in. Almost the entire force op- posed to us was captured, and their rout was complete." On April 9 it was at Appomattox Court House, where soon after its arrival hostilities suddenly ceased. On May 1 the regiment began its march to Washington under the command of Major F. R. Kinsley, the former captain of the Somerville Guard, who from the previous August had been a prisoner.
During the war Somerville enlisted 1,485 men, or 142 more than were called for, of whom ninety-eight were killed or died in the service, and about 250 were wounded, and many taken prisoners. The history of Somerville in the Civil War is one at which every citizen may point with pride.
Somerville has the first memorial in the country erected in honor of the brave soldiers who forfeited their lives during the Civil War. This monument was erected in the summer of 1863 by the Somerville Light Infantry, and stands in the Som- erville-avenue cemetery on a lot donated by Enoch Robinson. It has suitable inscriptions, and bears the names and rank of about seventy who gave their lives that the nation might live.
Somerville as a town from 1861 to 1822, when it became a city, laid the foundation for the great municipality it was des- tined to become. The four-years' war did not cause neglect on the part of those who were at home. The population was continually increasing, and permanent public improvements were being made to meet the needs of the town. In the years intervening from 1861 until 1822 many streets and avenues to other towns were constructed. Gas and water were intro- duced, sewers constructed, and horse railroads were built.
It became necessary for a better control of town affairs to establish a city form of government, and on April 14, 1821, an act of the Legislature to establish the city of Somerville was approved, and on April ?? the same was accepted by the voters assembled in town meeting. On December 4, 18:1, the first election occurred, as follows : Mayor, George O. Brastow; al- dermen, William H. Furber and George W. Hadley, of Ward One, Clark Bennett and Daniel E. Chase, of Ward Two, Jacob T. Glines and John R. Poor, of Ward Three, Person Davis and
DAVIS SQUARE, 1912
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John G. Hall, of Ward Four; common councilmen, Ezra D. Conant, Edwin A. Curtis, Michael Dechan, and Charles G. Pope, of Ward One, John T. Bolton, Owen S. Knapp, Patrick Rafferty, and George W. Wyatt, of Ward Two, Walter S. Barnes, Stewart French, Albert Kenneson, and Harry F. Woods, of Ward Three, Wesley C. Crane, Thomas H. Lord, Nathaniel Morrison, and Christopher E. Rymes, of Ward Four.
On the first Monday of January, 1872, the above-elected officers assembled in the old high school building on Highland avenne and were duly inaugurated. At this time the popula- tion was about 16,000. The important accomplishment of this government was the building of large trunk sewers from Craigie Bridge in Cambridge through Bridge street in Cam- bridge and Somerville avenue to Prospect street. This was a public improvement which contributed in making Somerville one of the healthiest cities in the commonwealth. The policy of constructing brick sidewalks was inaugurated; provision was made for a public library opened May 1, 1873. The widen- ing of Highland avenue to a uniform width of sixty feet and increasing the width of Somerville avenue were noticeable im- provements.
Mayor William H. Furber's administration, covering the years 1874 and 1875, was notable for the construction of Broad- way Park and widening Broadway, from Temple street to Benedict street. During the same period the police building on Bow street was erected, sewers were extended in many streets, and the electric fire alarm system was introduced June 17, 1874. Under an act of the Legislature passed in March, 1874, a section of land comprising some sixteen acres, lying in a hollow between Winter Hill and Mount Benedict, and ex- tending from Broadway to Mystic avenue, was acquired for a park, and the city secured, without cost, a strip fifty feet in width for an avenue on either side of the park lands, and the filling required for the park and the two avenues.
Mayor Austin Belknap served during 1876 and 1872. Under this administration the trunk sewer for the southerly side of the city, which had been laid in Beacon street, westerly to Kent street, was extended through Beacon street, Somer- ville avenue, Moreland and Elm streets to Davis square. The
SOMERVILLE HOME FOR THE AGED
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park on Broadway was completed in 1876, and dedicated as such by the city council with interesting and appropriate exer- cises. The law regulating municipal indebtedness became effective in 1876, and $45,130 was contributed to the sinking fund.
Hon. George A. Bruce was mayor during 1878, 1879, and 1880. During his administration the construction of the wide and substantial bridges over the Fitchburg and Maine and Lowell Railroads, and the bridge on Washington street over the Fitchburg road, and the one at Medford street over the Lowell removed objectional conditions and were notable public improvements.
Hon. John A. Cummings served as mayor during the years 1881, 1882, 1883, and 1884. During his administration the grading and improving of the city's land on Central Hill was begun. The battery standing on the brow, the mounting of cannons used during the War of the Rebellion, urged by Mayor Cummings, was partly constructed in 1884 and com- pleted during the administration of his successor. In 1884 was commenced the construction of the public library building on Central Hill, near the city hall.
Hon. Mark F. Burns served the city as mayor in 1885, 1886, 1887, and 1888. During his administration the city hall was remodeled, and the space vacated by the public library used for other purposes. The police signal system and elec- tric street lighting were first introduced. Under this adminis- tration the policy was established of constructing four-room schoolhouses, as well as large ones, of brick, and one of the first of these, erected on Cherry street, was appropriately named the Burns School.
Hon. Charles G. Pope served as mayor of the city during the years 1889, 1890, and 1891. An important feature of his administration was the introduction of a water service for the high lands of the city. By the erection of a tank thirty feet in diameter and 100 feet high, a static head of water was maintained, so that the highest land in the city, so desirable for building purposes, had ample pressure for domestic and fire purposes. In the year 1890 the heirs of Nathan Tufts gener- ously donated to the city 65,000 feet of land near Broadway
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and Elm street, with the Old Powder House thereon. By an act of the Legislature of 1891, authority to acquire land adja- cent to that donated was passed. During Mayor Pope's term much was done in the construction of Central Hill Park, and interesting memorial tablets were erected. Under the direc- tion of Mayor Pope, the Somerville Hospital was founded. Miss Martha R. Hunt, a highly respected resident, originated the idea and gave a generous sum of money. Under Mayor Pope's direction and through his active efforts, funds were se- cured, and the Somerville Hospital was organized under the laws of the state. Land was purchased on Crocker, Tower. and Crown streets, and suitable buildings erected. It was opened in 1893.
Hon. William H. Hodgkins served as mayor in 1892, 1893, 1894, and 1895. In May, 1892, the city council accepted the land contributed by the heirs of Nathan Tufts, and authorized the purchase of 129,497 square feet at the junction of Broad- way and Elm street. The entire tract forms a square of be- tween four and five acres, with the historic Old Powder House standing on a rocky eminence in its midst. City Engineer Horace L. Eaton laid out the grounds artistically, and in 1895 it was thrown open to the public and named the Nathan Tufts Park. March 3, 1892, was the semi-centennial anniversary of the incorporation of the town of Somerville. On account of the weather the event was observed on the following June 17 with interesting and appropriate exercises. During Mayor Hodgkins' administration many notable improvements were made. A special act of the Legislature was obtained authoriz-
ing a paving loan of $100,000, and a portion of Somerville avenue. Union square, and a portion of Webster avenue were paved with granite blocks, constituting the first paving of streets to take care of heavy teaming. Since that time similar paving has been laid in streets where it is impossible to main- tain a good macadamized road. In 189? the city and the West End Street Railway (now the Elevated Railroad) widened Broadway, constructing a parkway, and the street car tracks were laid through the centre. This improvement in the vi- cinity of Broadway Park was universally commended, and con- stitutes an imposing and pleasing entrance into our city on this
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