USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Milton > The history of Milton, Mass., 1640 to 1877 > Part 36
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For upwards of seven miles, through Norwood and Dedham to Paul's bridge, the river flows through a tract of low meadow land, called the "Great Fowl Meadows," from a peculiar grass that grew there, abounding in seed, which made it the choice feeding-ground for large flocks of birds and fowl. For about half a mile west of Paul's bridge the river forms the boundary between Milton and Hyde Park, and for a short distance east of the bridge; thence running through the southerly part of Hyde Park, it is fed by " Mother brook," which is formed by- diverting one-third of the water of Charles river from its natural course, and turning it through Dedham and Hyde Park into the Neponset. Leaving Hyde Park, the river takes a more easterly course, forming the boundary between Milton and Boston, and between Quincy and Boston, till it is lost in the waters of the bay.
TIDES.
The head of tide-water is at Milton Village, or Milton Lower Mills. Here the average high tide rises within four inches of the top of a triangular rock standing out from the bed of rocks at the end of the mill erected by Dr. Ware, and about ten feet distant therefrom, near the Milton end of the foot- bridge, and on its west side.
The ordinary rise of the tide from low to high water is about ten feet ; while the greatest known range between low and high water is nineteen feet five and a half inches. The top of the bolt sunk in the rock on the east side of the bridge shows the height of the tide of April 16, 1851, called the "light-house tide," which was the highest ever known, and is recorded as six feet eight and a half inches above average tide. This bolt was
359
BRIDGES.
bent over by the flood of Feb., 1886, but not displaced. Its exact height is preserved by other tide-marks near the river.
The white brick inserted on the east face of the chimney of the Milton chocolate building, about thirteen feet from the top, indicates the height of one hundred feet above ordinary high tide, or marsh level.
FISH.
In early times the river was full of fish of various kinds, which afforded a large revenue to the early settlers, and con- tributed in no small degree to the support of the inhabitants through the protracted wars of the last century.
Within the present century bass and alewives were abundant in the river, but all have now disappeared.
1771 June 10. Caught 2000 shad in one day in the seine. - 1772 June 25. Caught 6000 shad menhaden and bass. 1773 June 14. · Made a great haul of shad, caught 4000 sent 40 barrels to Boston. - S. Pierce's Diary ..
BRIDGES.
In the earliest times the passage over the river at the Lower Mills was by the ford, a short distance above the present bridge.
Near this point the first bridge was built, by Israel Stough- ton, in 1634.
1634 April 1st M' Israel Stoughton hath liberty granted him to build a Myll a Ware and a bridge over Naponsett Ryver, and to sell the Alewives hee takes att 58. the thousand. - Court Records.
It is highly probable that this was but a foot-bridge, as most of the inhabitants of Dorchester were several miles distant on the north side of the river, and residents on the south side were still farther removed, at or near the Plymouth colony, with only foot or bridle paths on each side. Besides, on peti- tion of Mrs. Stoughton, twenty years later, it was decided that, -
As the fording was hard and good for passing, she be discharged from keeping a horse bridge and be permitted to maintain a good foot bridge with a good rayle.
Doubtless the river was the chief passage-way to the mill for the people of Dorchester, while the travel between the
360
HISTORY OF MILTON.
Bay and Plymouth colonies was by the ford and the ferries, two of which had been established at the above date.
May 23. 1655. It appearing that the bridge over Naponsit Rivere is wholly ruined and that there is, as alledged, a necessity of a cart bridge over that river at some place near Mrs. Stoughtons Mill, the Court ap- pointed a committee of seven &c.
One of this committee was Richard Collicot, who had then built his house a mile from the river, on the Milton side; an- other was Mr. Dyar, of Weymouth; and a third, Mr. Bass, of Braintree. The said committee was delegated with full power to "select the place, complete the work, and make returns to the next County Court."
This committee -some of whom were especially interested for themselves and their several towns in securing a passage- way over the river which lay in their path to Boston -suc- ceeded in erecting a substantial bridge below the present one, of greater length, and running more obliquely across the stream. With partial rebuilding and frequent repairs this bridge stood more than a hundred years.
In the year 1765 the towns of Dorchester and Milton con- structed a new wooden bridge, with stone piers, where the present bridge now stands, but at a lower grade.
No further change was made until 1847, when stone arches took the place of the old structure, the bridge was raised four and a half feet, and was widened out beyond its former dimen- sions. One-half of the expense of this change, amounting to $1,346.30, was met by each of the towns interested. The fill- ing in, required to meet the new grade of the bridge and to give sufficient height to the railroad bridge, greatly reduced the rise of the hills on both sides of the river, and improved in no small degree the general appearance of the place.
In 1871 the sum of $10,000 was expended by Milton and Dorchester in widening this bridge, and in other improve- ments, which placed it in its present condition.
MATTAPAN BRIDGE.
As early as 1709 the river at Mattapan began to be employed in aid of industrial pursuits, and a cart-bridge was talked of to facilitate the work. There had been a bridge of some kind at this point for many years, probably a foot-bridge near the ford, to accommodate farmers in reaching the ox-pen.
In 1712 the selectmen of Milton " laid out an open high- way from the ox-pen to the river where a cart-bridge is to be
361
BRIDGES.
erected." The road may not have been built when it was laid out, but the present road to the bridge is in the same line as the one then projected. The bridge was not erected in 1712, but the old bridge may have been repaired by the mill-owners for their own convenience.
On the 18th of September, 1734, a highway was laid out over the bridge near Jackson's Mills, by order of the General Sessions of the Peace for the County of Suffolk. In the year 1736 a petition was preferred to said Sessions by Robert Spur and others, praying that said bridge might be made a county charge. In the same year, in consequence of said petition, Col. Dudley and others were appointed a committee, who re- ported "that it ought to be repaired at the charge of the county, which accordingly was done."
This bridge was rebuilt by Dorchester in 1760, at a cost of £34 6s. 1d .; when the selectmen applied to the Court of General Sessions for the payment of this sum and were refused, Jan. 2, 1761. The General Court was petitioned by Dorchester that this bridge be deemed a county bridge and be maintained at the charge of the county of Suffolk. The disposal of the peti- tion is as follows : -
IN COUNCIL, Jan. 2, 1761. Read and Accepted. Sent down for concurrence.
A. OLIVER Secretary.
IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Jan. 13, 1761. Read and nonconcurred, and ordered that the petition referred to be dis- missed.
Sent up for concurrence.
JAMES OTIS Speaker.
IN COUNCIL, Jan. 13, 1761. Read and concurred.
A. OLIVER Secretary.
Citizens of Milton appeared in favor of the petition with the plea -
That being acquainted with the upper and lower roads over Naponset River leading from Stoughton through Milton and Dorchester to Boston, we judge that four Creatures of the same strength will carry a load to Boston ye upper road over the bridge near Jacksons Mills as easily as five creat- ures will the lower road.
Stoughton, Medfield, Walpole, and Boston appeared as re- monstrants. In the remonstrance of Boston it is stated -
That by reason of the erection of the Slitting-Mill, in 1732, public neces- sity called for a new bridge at this point where a bridge had existed for
362
HISTORY OF MILTON.
fifty, sixty, or seventy years before, and the County of Suffolk constructed the bridge in 1736, for the benefit of the public having connection with the mill ; that not a dollar had been expended by the County in the repairs of the bridge from the day of its erection till it was rebuilt by Dorchester in 1760. - State Archives, Lib. 121, Fol. 377-379.
It appears, therefore, that after the bridge was built by the county, in 1736, it thenceforth came under the jurisdiction of the towns adjacent to the river, and was rebuilt and maintained by Dorchester and Milton. This condition of things remained till the bridge and its maintenance were assumed by the Brush Hill Turnpike Corporation, in 1805.
In 1848, this bridge " being in an unsafe and dangerous con- dition," the county commissioners laid out a quarter of a mile of the road, including this bridge and the Trench bridge, as a
PAUL'S BRIDGE
public highway, thus throwing it for support upon the towns abutting the river. In 1850 a new stone bridge was built over the river at this point. Milton's share of the expense was $670.
The new iron bridge now spanning the river at Mattapan was put in place and completed Oct. 28, 1869. For this, Milton paid $1,324.10, being one-half of the cost.
PAUL'S BRIDGE.
There was a bridge at the foot of "Fowl Meadows," for the benefit of the farmers in that section, at an early date, called "Hubbard's bridge." It was built by Mr. Hubbard, the second husband of a daughter of Israel Stoughton, who owned a large tract of land on the river, inherited from his father-in-law, Col. Stoughton. In 1759 the towns of Milton and Dedham rebuilt this bridge, the cost to be met in proportion to the province tax of each town.
1
363
BRIDGES.
In 1807 it was again rebuilt, on the same conditions ; but before this date it took the name of "Paul's bridge," from the owner of the adjacent lands on the Dedham side.
In 1849 the towns of Milton and Dedham erected a new stone bridge, which still stands, in good condition. Milton's part of the expense was $627.62.
GRANITE BRIDGE.
The increase of the granite business at East Milton and West Quincy created the necessity for a more direct avenue across the river to Boston ; to meet this necessity Granite bridge was built in 1837.
In 1848 two bridges were built by the Dorchester and Milton branch of the Old Colony Railroad over the Neponset, within the limits of Milton.
FAIRMOUNT BRIDGE.
A bridge across the river at Fairmount (now Hyde Park) was constructed in 1857, towards which the town of Milton paid $696.
CENTRAL-AVENUE BRIDGE.
Finally, the bridge at Central avenue was built in 1877, at a cost of $7,200, one-half of which was paid by Milton.
Thus it appears that the Neponset is bridged seven times within the limits of Milton, -twice for the railroad, and five times for the convenience of public travel between the towns. To this number the bridge at Fairmount may fairly be added, as it was constructed in part by Milton, while the territory belonged to this town, and still remains the passage-way over the river to the railroads for the residents of Brush Hill and vicinity.
NAVIGATION.
The river and landing-place, though now seemingly so quiet, in early days presented a scene of great business life and activ- ity. Before railroads were known, or bridges obstructed the passage of the stream, the head of navigation on the Neponset was a point of no little importance.
The centre of trade was the immense wholesale and retail store of Daniel Vose, a man of great business activity and capacity, and a leading man of his day. He was the factor of the farmers and producers for a wide section of country.
364
HISTORY OF MILTON.
Trains of baggage teams from interior towns and from Bristol County, bringing in the merchandise gathered from country stores, made this their terminus, and received in exchange for their articles of trade West India goods and other commodities. Butter, cheese, eggs, flaxseed, hoop-poles, etc., were the chief articles of traffic; in return for these the prolific store furnished everything, from a hogshead of molasses to a paper of pins. The sloops of Mr. Vose were running to Boston, Salem, Gloucester, and other places, to meet the demands of his business, which embraced, in addition to the store, a paper-mill, chocolate- mill, saw-mill, grist-mill, lumber-wharf, and distillery.
In the year 1777 the French fleet of thirteen large ships, under the command of Count d'Estaing, was supplied with fresh water for the return passage, from Neponset river. By contract with Daniel Vose it was taken from above the dam in butts, and conveyed by his sloops to the French ships, the French mariners, under their own officers, doing all manual labor.
In the year 1833 navigation in the river reached its climax. Seventy-four vessels, of an aggregate of six thousand tons, discharged their freight at the village, besides many others that came up the river empty, and loaded with granite.
Larger vessels are now employed in the lumber and coal trade, which, though less in number, aggregate even a greater tonnage. It is manifest that the tonnage of lumber, coal, and grain discharged at the landing-place and station in Milton increases with the increase of population and demand; and these industries now furnish the chief, if not the only, business in the navigation of the river.
On this little river, and within the borders of this town, started some of the industries which were most important to the welfare of the early inhabitants, and have ever since con- tributed to the happiness, the prosperity, and the wealth of our country and of mankind.
GRAIN BUSINESS ..
The first grain-store at the village was opened, in 1827, by William Hobart, of Braintree. His grain was shipped directly from New York, in schooners chartered by himself, which re- turned laden with granite. Joseph Young was the successor of William Hobart in the grain business. He carried it on for a few years, and sold to Jason F. Kennedy. Mr. Kennedy was followed by Samuel Everett, and he by George K. Gannett, when it passed into the hands of Samuel Gannett, the present owner. From year to year the business has gradually increased,
365
INDUSTRIES OF MILTON.
until, under the present management, it furnishes supplies of grain and hay through a wide section in Milton and the neigh- boring towns.
LUMBER BUSINESS.
Daniel Vose dealt in lumber, for the accommodation of his customers ; but the first special lumber wharf was established by Joseph Porter, a native of Wrentham, in 1824. He con- tinued in the business till 1834, and was succeeded by Samuel Everett and Clapp & Everett till 1839. General Whitney car- ried on a small lumber business on his own wharf prior to 1839. R. M. Todd and Seth D. Whitney purchased the lease of the wharf, and had the trade from 1839 to 1842, when Mr. Whitney retired, and Mr. Todd conducted the business alone for twenty- four years. In 1866 George K. Gannett was admitted as part- ner, and Mr. Todd retired Jan. 1, 1870. Jan. 1, 1871, Mr. Gannett sold to Lewis & Godfrey. Mr. Lewis retired Jan. 1, 1872. The business was continued by O. S. Godfrey till 1881, when his son Nathan became a partner, under the style of O. S. Godfrey & Son. Mr. Godfrey died in 1883, and F. M. Robin- son became a member of the firm, under the same name.
No. of lumber vessels in 1875, 13. | Brick vessels in 1875, 8. 66 66 66 1885, 7. 1885, 23.
Quantity of lumber and building material sold in 1875, $54,980.32
66
66 66 66
66
1885, $72,754.98
COAL BUSINESS.
Anthracite coal was first offered for sale in Milton by Joseph Porter, about 1830. The business was carried on by him and by Clapp & Porter till 1839. At this early date there was but little demand for coal; some years none was landed at the wharf. Messrs. Todd & Whitney began to deal in it in 1839, in connection with their lumber trade, and continued till 1842, when, the firm being dissolved, the business was carried on by Mr. Todd till 1857. Then George Gibson had the business for one year. In 1858 Mr. Todd took it up again. G. K. Gannett became partner with Mr. Todd in 1866 ; in January, 1869, they sold the coal business to E. D. Wadsworth, who kept it six years, and then sold to L. N. Godfrey. He sold to O. S. God- frey in 1878, who held the trade till his death, in 1883. Since that time it has been carried on by his heirs.
366
HISTORY OF MILTON.
Amount of coal sold in 1839
66 66 1845
.
about 66
300 tons. 550
66
66
66 1865
66
1,900
66
66
66 1874
66
7,855 66
66
66 1885
66
10,119
No. of vessels with coal, 1869
.6 66 66 1873
21
66
66
1885
25
In addition to the industries of Milton village already de- scribed, are the following now in operation: The carpentry of S. M. Severance, supplying occupation to from sixty to seventy-five men; the extensive establishment of Strangman & Co., embracing planing, moulding, sawing mills ; blacksmith, painting, and carriage business; two grocery stores, a drug- store, a gentleman's furnishing store, jewelry store, boot and shoe store, provision store, all of long standing; Strangman's harness-making shop, Chapman's paint-shop, and Crossman's extensive stables and shops. In olden times a single store located at the end of the bridge embraced many of these branches of trade, as will be seen in the note below.I
1 The following rhymed advertisement, presenting a real picture of the old-time country store, appeared in the " Norfolk Repository," published at Dedham in 1805. It is the production of Samuel Temple, a man of note in his day. He was the author of " Temple's Arithmetic " and the " Child's Assistant," both of which were popular in the schools of the times. The store of Mr. Temple stood not far from the tavern on the Dorchester side. He afterwards moved to Milton, and kept a drug-store, where he died, in 1815. The arch referred to was erected over the bridge at the dividing line between Dorchester and Milton, suggested by the attempt of the commissioners, Pinckney, Gerry, and Marshall, to ne- gotiate a treaty with France in 1798. It bore in letters of gold the following inscription : " We unite in defense of our country and its laws 1798." It was blown down in the gale of 1815.
ADVERTISEMENT EXTRA.
To be sold at the store opposite the Arch over Milton Bridge, the following articles viz :
Salt Pork and Powder, Shot & Flints Cheese, Sugar, Rum & Peppermints
Tobacco, Raisins, Flour & Spice Flax, Cotton, Wool and sometimes Rice
Old Holland Gin and Gingerbread Brandy & Wine, all sorts of Thread
Segars I keep, sometimes one bunch; Materials all for making Punch.
Biscuit and Butter, Eggs and Fishes Molasses, Beer and Earthen Dishes
Books on such subjects as you'll find A proper food to feast the mind.
Hard Soap & Candles, Tea & Snuff, Tobacco pipes perhaps enough ;
Shells, Chocolate Stetson's Hocs As good as can be (I suppose)
Straw Hats, Oak Baskets, Oxen Muzzles A thing which many people puzzles
Knives, Forks, Spoons, Plates, Mugs, Pitchers, Platters A Gun with Shot wild geese bespatters
Spades, Shovels, Whetstones, Scythes, & Rakes As good as any person makes
Shirts, Frocks, Shoes, Mittens, also Hose And many other kinds of Clothes
Shears, Scissors, Awls, Wire, Bonnet Paper Old Violin and Cat Gut Scraper
. . 15
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FIRST THINGS.
At East Milton there are one grocery and variety store, two grocery and provision stores, and one dry-goods store, together with the extensive granite business of West Quincy and East Milton, giving occupation to a large number of our citizens.
Near Blue Hill is the grocery store of Tileston & Aldrich, and the provision store of H. B. Tucker.
FIRST THINGS.
We are not unduly earnest to claim for Milton the "First Things " here spoken of. Until, however, other towns estab- lish a priority of claim Milton will stand first.
THE FIRST GRIST-MILL.
In 1633 Israel Stoughton petitioned the town of Dorchester for the right to erect a mill on the Neponset.
The town granted it, with the privilege of cutting timber on his plantation for building the mill on condition that he should construct a bridge over the river. In 1634 the General Court confirmed the grant. The mill was built the same year, on the site now occupied by the Stone Chocolate Mill. In the autumn of 1634 the waters of the Neponset turned the first wheel ever set up on its shores, and ground the first corn ever ground by water-power in New England. The mill proved of incalcula- ble advantage to the Dorchester plantation, and gave name and character to the locality.
Israel Stoughton, proprietor of the mill, was grantee of the land for a long distance on the Milton shore of the river. The timber for the mill and the bridge grew on his Milton farm.
Tubs, Buckets, Pails and Pudding Pans Bandanna Handkerchiefs & Fans
Shagbarks and Almonds, Wooden Boxes Steel Traps, (not stout enough for Foxes
But excellent for holding Rats When they ellude the Paws of Cats)
I've more than Forty kinds of Drugs Some good for Worms and some for Bugs Lee's, Anderson's & Dexter Pills Which cure at least a hundred Ills
Astringents, Laxatives, Emetics, Cathartics, Cordials, Diuretics,
Narcotics, Stimulants & Pungents With half a dozen kinds of Unguents
Perfumes most grateful to the Nose When mixed with Snuff or dropd on clothes
One Medicine more (not much in fame) Prevention is its real name An ounce of which an author says Outweighs a Ton of Remedies
I've many things I shall not mention To sell them cheap is my intention Lay out a dollar when you come And you shall have a glass of Rum
N.B. Since man to man is so unjust Tis hard to say whom I can trust I've trusted many to my sorrow Pay me to-day. I'll trust to-morrow
DORCHESTER, June, 1805.
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HISTORY OF MILTON.
The bridge united his property, and secured the benefits of the mill to the south side of the river as well as to the north. Jolmn Gill, who purchased of the heirs of Israel Stoughton the Milton estate, included in the purchase the grist-mill. This indi- cates a close connection between the mill and the Milton property. And this connection was affirmed by the authorities of Dorchester in 1662, when Milton was set off from that town, by adjudging that the grist-mill also be assigned to Milton as its taxable property.
In the year of our Lord 1887, and in each of the two hundred and twenty-five preceding years that have passed since the town was incorporated, this mill has paid taxes to Milton, while other mills that from time to time have been built around the grist-mill, and are covered by the same roof, are taxed to the town in which they stand. Thus, though the grist-mill stands on Dorchester land, it may fairly be adjudged as belonging to Milton.
THE FIRST POWDER-MILL.
In the custody of Edmund J. Baker, of Dorchester, may be found a deed on parchment, bearing date of August 22, 1673, from John Gill, of Milton, conveying to Rev. John Oxenbridge, pastor, Rev. James Allen, teacher, Robert Sanderson, one of the deacons of the First Church in Boston, also Captain John Hull and Freegrace Mendall, merchants of Boston, a tract of land situated at Neponset river in Milton, thirty rods long and six rods wide, together with one-half of the stream, for the purpose of erecting a powder-mill. The land thus conveyed is now occupied by the chocolate-mill of Mr. Pierce, and the grist- mill of Mr. Gannett, lying on the west side of Adams street and abutting the river.
These five individuals, in connection with Mr. Thomas Thacher, Sen., Mr. Humphrey Davie, and Mr. John Wiswall, Sen., formed a partnership, July 16, 1675, for erecting a powder-mill and carrying on the same at Neponset, in the town of Milton. John Wiswall brought into the company a tract of land, of about eight acres, lying along the north side of the river just below the bridge, now covered in part by the large chocolate-mill of Mr. Pierce.
The new company carried on their work of building and furnishing with so great despatch that in three months after the formation of the company everything was completed, as appears by the record :-
[Courts Records Vol. 5, Page 51.] Oct. 13, 1675. A mill for making powder being erected at Vnkety or Dorchester mill by particular persons,
369
FIRST THINGS.
and is now ready to worke with all materials, and there being danger in this time of warr of destruction by fire or otherwise to the sayd mill, whichi may be prejudicall to the publick as well as to pticular persons, all which the Court considering doe order that care be taken for a constant watch there for preservation of sayd mill and the greist mill adjoining thereunto, being of so great concernment both to the town of Dorchester and Milton and that two watchmen be appointed there one from Dorchester and the other from Milton for that end.
Nov. 3, 1675. This Court having ordered two watchmen from Dorchester and Milton to watch at Dorchester Mill and vnderstanding the vndertakers of the powder mill for the better diffence thereof are erecting a small stone watch-house at their own charges, on their request as being a publick con- cernment, this Court declares that the vndertakers of the powder mill may repair to any one majistrate who by the law is empowered to give warrant, to impress workmen to carry on publick works of which this is.
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