USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Walks & talks about historic Boston > Part 38
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one of the best workmen of that time. When the bankers present were told that the bill was printed they were fright- ened and one old merchant asked, "If Dwight Boyden's sig- nature is printed, 'what are our checks worth?'" This din- ner was divided into four courses and dessert. In the four courses were 37 different kinds of food and the dessert con- sisted of four varieties of pears and five varieties of grapes. The St. Michael's pears and the grapes were from the gar- dens and graperies of S. G. Perkins, N. Bridge, and S. R. Johnson. About 120 persons, mostly merchants, were pres- ent. His Honor, Mayor Josiah Quincy, presided and among the gentlemen present were Judge Joseph Story, Daniel Web- ster, Edward Everett, Benjamin Gorham, John Reed of Barnstable, the three last named being then members of Congress, Peter Brooks, Major Barton, David Sears, Harri- son Gray Otis, Samuel Appleton, Thomas Perkins, James Perkins, Andrew E. Belknap, Josiah Bradlee, Amos Lawrence, Nathan Appleton, Edmund Dwight, Robert G. Shaw, Patrick T. Jackson, William Appleton, William Lawrence, John C. Jones, Thomas P. Wales, James K. Mills, Dr. George C. Shattuck, Joseph Coolidge, Ebenezer T. Andrews, Giles Lodge, Richard D. Tucker, Daniel P. Parker, Israel Munson, John Hurd, Jr., Edward Tuckerman, Richard Fletcher, Henry B. Rogers, George and Thomas Searle, Joshua Clarke, Geo. W. Pratt, James Reed. James W. Page, Jeremiah Fitch, John C. Lee, John A. Lowell, Charles Bradbury, Frederick Tudor, Daniel Safford, Isaac Stevens, E. A. and W. Winchester, Joshua Davis, Benjamin B. Mussey, Samuel H. Babcock, David Denny, Joseph B. Bradlee, Cornelius Coolidge. Thomas Nutmarsh, Montgom- ery Newell, Elisha Parks, Lorenzo Draper, Nathaniel R. Sturgis, William Thompson, Benjamin Loring, Ebenezer Chadwick, Samuel Fales, David Lowe, Israel Bangs, Arthur French, W. Tuckerman, Isaac Mclellan, Francis Skinner, Henry Gassett. Jacob Hall, Charles Well and John L. Gard- ner. It was surely a worthy list of names.
In his speech Edward Everett said, "I will, with your leave, propose a toast: 'The Memory of Columbus! The father of American travelers who thought the world too narrow for him even before he was sure there was any other, who crossed the unknown Atlantic for a trip of pleasure and discovered a new continent for his watering place.'"
In the days of Dwight Boyden and John L. Tucker, the
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service in the dining room was as elaborate as the steps and figure in an old fashioned minuet. When this hotel was built it was the finest public house in America. Among the early guests at this house were Thackeray and Charles Dickens, the great English authors ; Charles and Fanny Kemble, and Presi- dent Andrew Jackson. John Wilkes Booth, the actor, was there shortly before he assassinated President Lincoln.
A little farther out on Tremont Stret, between West and
Tremont Street, Looking South, in 1860
Mason Streets, stood a famous block of buildings known as "Colonnade Row," so called because in front of the doors was a porch, supported by Corinthian columns. The block was designed by Charles Bulfinch, the well known architect of the State House, and who designed other famous buildings.
It was erected in 1810 and here for many years resided many of Boston's wealthiest citizens. The house shown on the left hand side of the picture was for many years the home of Amos Lawrence of the great dry goods firms of A. & A. Lawrence Co., a very wealthy man, and a great
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philanthropist, who died in this house in 1852. The site, on the corner of West and Tremont Streets is now occupied by an elegant business structure known as the Lawrence Build- ing, and the estate is still in the possession of the Lawrence family. After Lafayette's visit to America in 1825, this por- tion of Tremont Street, was known as "Lafayette Place," which name it retained for many years. Today the Mall on the Common stretching southward from Park Street along Tremont Street, is called "Lafayette Mall".
Tremont House-1860
Where the Hotel Touraine now stands was once the home of the Adams family and on the hotel building a tablet with this inscription:
On this site stood the Residence of JOHN QUINCY ADAMS Sixth President of the United States Here his son Charles Francis Adams was born in 1817. Minister to England 1861-1868
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Capt. Dalton's House, Site of Boston Postoffice
Church Green, 1850
Rew South Church
This is an excellent picture of what was known as the "New South Church," as it appeared sixty years ago. The site is the junction of Summer and Bedford Streets and as far as can be learned the first owner was Richard Tuttle, who set up a windmill on the property, which was then quite near the water. For a long time Bedford Street was known as Blind Lane. When it was widened and laid out as a residen- tial street, this little narrow neck of land was called "Church Green." Our forefathers always selected most eligible sites on which to erect their church edifices, and as they considered this a fitting location for a church in days to come, it received its name, "Church Green," which it has ever since retained. The town owned the lot, but in 1715 deeded it to petitioners wno proposed to build a church there to be called the "New South." The father of Samuel Adams, the Revolutionary patriot, lived on Purchase Street, near Congress, and was one of the signers of the petition. A church was built there and finished in 1719, and is described by a contemporary as "a convenient wooden building with a handsome steeple finished after the lonick order, in which is a bell."
Rev. Peter Thatcher, who was, settled in Weymouth, was called to the pastorate and the action stirred up quite a com- metion in that staid old town, and also among some of the members of the "New South." There was no opposition to Mr. Thatcher as a man, or to his preaching, but it was a matter of conscience on the part of the members referred to. They considered it immoral for a wealthy church to take away the minister of a smaller and poorer church. This was one of the opponent's arguments : "Weymouth, in God's sight. is as precious as Boston, and the souls there of as great worth as the souls here. And to the common objection that it is a pity that Mr. Thatcher, being so bright a light, should smoke out his days in such obscurity, we answer, first, bright lights shine brightest in the darkest places, and, secondly, bright lights are the obscurer for burning in a room where there are more nd as bright." The vote inviting Mr. Thatcher to be- come pastor, was carried by a majority of one. There was no objection to Mr. Thatcher's ability or morals, but it seemed
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to be a question of principle, as already stated, in the minds of quite a number, and when it came to installing him as pastor, there was a great uproar, and the exercises were car- ried out with great difficulty. The opposition organized a new society, and built a fine brick church on Hanover Street, known as the "Cockerel Church," which they dedicated in 1721. The church edifice represented in the cut, was the suc- cessor of the one in which Rev. Mr. Thatcher preached. It was built of Chelmsford granite in 1814, and was designed by Charles Bulfinch, the architect of the State House. Its loca- tion was commanding and ideal, being surrounded by fine residences, and it was considered one of the finest churches in the town. Its graceful spire rising 190 feet above the side- walk was a noted landmark far down the harbor. The spire seen in the background on the left of the picture was that of the Rowe Street Baptist Church, which stood on the corner of Bedford and Rowe (near Chauncey) Streets, whose pastor in 1858, when this picture was taken, was the Rev. Baron Stow, D. D., one of the great lights of the Baptist denomina- tion. From the church portico of the "New South" one might gaze at the blue waters of the harbor, then scarecly a stone's throw away. Here, as elsewhere, business pressure proved relentless and the grand old structure was torn down in 1868.
Watching the Departure of the British from Boston-1776
Dlo Boston Theatres
The Puritan atmosphere of early Boston was decidedly unfavorable to theatres and theatre going. But the town grew rapidly, a new and different, and, according to the re-
The Federal Street Theatre
ligious standard, of those days, a more worldly element was added to the population, and this class of citizens demanded amusement, particularly that afforded by the drama. The first Boston Theatre was built in 1794 and stood upon the corner of Federal and Franklin Streets. At that time that section of the city was rapidly becoming the fashionable resi- dential quarter. It was called the "Federal Street Theatre." The original building was burned down, but was rebuilt in 1798, in a more substantial manner and until it was razed in 1852, it continued a most popular place of resort. In 1805 the name was changed to the "Boston." In 1828 it was re-
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named "The Old Drury" and the name was again changed to the "Odeon" in 1835. Connected with the theatre was a large and handsome ball room, tea and card rooms and a kitchen. Many famous actors, whose names are still familiar to old theatre goers, have acted their parts on the stage of that old theatre.
It is not generally known that J. Howard Payne, the au-
The Haymarket Theatre and Tremont Street from West Street to Mason Street-1790-1800
thor of "Home Sweet Home," was a playwright and an actor. By the death of his father he was forced to leave college and went upon the stage and played a most successful engagement at this theatre. His talents attracted attention from promi- nent men, and we are told that through the influence of Dan- iel Webster and Washington Irving he was given a Consul- ship at Tunis where he died.
In 1821, the great English actor, Edmund Kean, made his appearance in Boston. He acted in Shakesperian parts. "Hamlet," "King Lear," and "Romeo." Nothing like his splendid acting had ever been seen in Boston, the house was crowded at every performance, hundreds turned away.
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Accompanying cut is from an interesting water color by Alexander Robertson, which is now the property of the Bos- ton Public Library. On the right of the picture is Boston Common, the entrance being indicated by the tall arched gateway. Near this gate stood the "pillory" and the "whip- ping post" which were placed here when they were removed from State Street. Beyond the further line of trees on the Common a glimpse may be had of the Charles River. The building on the right and in the background is the residence of William Foster; the site is now occupied by the Hotel Pelham on the corner of Tremont and Boylston Streets. The two-story and half building in the centre of the picture is "Hatch's Tavern," now the southern corner of Mason and Tremont Streets and the low building behind it is a carriage factory. Rising high above these buildings is the "Haymar- ket Theatre" as it appeared in 1798. It was a very exclusive theatre, intended for the "bon ton," but it was too ambitious for that day. It had a brief existence, for the Federal Street Theatre was a formidable rival and did some novel adver- tising. The town at that time could not support two large theatres. It stood on a lot a little south of the Colonnade building. In its day it was the largest and best arranged theatre in the country.
THE NATIONAL THEATRE.
This theatre began its career at a much later date than the "Federal Street" and the "Haymarket" and was located on Portland Street near Traverse Street. The first building erected on this site for amusement purposes was called the "American Amphitheatre" and was used for small indoor circuses and occasional theatrical performances. This was in 1832 and a few years later it was leased by William Polly, who had been manager of the Tremont Theatre, which thea- tre he left. considering he had been unjustly treated by the proprietors. He started this new theatre as a rival and called it the "Warren." This new venture was most liberally patron- ized, and Mr. Polly was obliged to rebuild and enlarge it in 1836, and he then called it the "National." There were ex- cellent performances at this theatre and the audiences were always large. So successful did it prove that Mr. Polly could have retired at one time with a very considerable for- tune. It continued to be a very popular place of amusement until 1852, when it was destroyed by fire. Two of the great-
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est actors of those days, Macready and Hackett, played very successful engagements there. The plays of Shakespeare, "Hamlet," "Macbeth," "Richard the Third," "The Merchant of Venice," "Romeo and Juliet" and "Much Ado About Nothing," were given and always to large audiences. "Othello" proved to be the most popular and the most profitable of the Shakesperean plays. The second National Theatre was burned in 1863 and was never rebuilt. The last theatre never enjoyed the popularity of its predecessor. It had many managers who struggled in vain to make it pay expenses.
BOSTON THEATRE.
The present Boston Theatre opened its doors to the public on Monday evening, September II, 1854. It was a successor to the old Federal Street Theatre (once called the Boston Theatre), whose building had been sold. The committee chosen to select a site for the new Theatre consisted of John F. Bates, Gardner Brewer, Otis Rich and John E. Thayer. The Company was incorporated on May 15, 1852, with a capital stock of $200,000. The site on Washington Street was valued at that time at $164,000. Today the property is assessed for $825,000. It has been rumored that this famous American playhouse will be demolished. It has rounded ou+ over 60 seasons, and Boston theatre goers will watch its pass- ing out with deep regret.
THE BOSTON MUSEUM
We think we can safely assert that the favorite theatre of the better class of Boston citizens and of playgoers generally was the Boston Museum. It held its high place in their re- gard all through its long and able management. It first opened its door June 14, 1841, in a building on the corner of Bromfield and Tremont Streets where now stands the Pad- dock Building. It was at once a popular place of resort, and to meet the demands of an increasing population the attrac- tive building on Tremont Street between Court and School streets was erected and the first performance was given there November 2, 1846. From that date the Museum enjoyed uninterrupted prosperity, and it is said never knew an un- successful season. In 1847 the great comedian, William Warren became connected with the Museum, and made his first bow in the well known comedy of "Sweethearts and
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Wives," and became an unusual favorite. In 1851 Mrs. Farren made her first appearance and Mrs. J. R. Vincent in 1852. These three sterling actors shared the love and respect of Bostonians and playgoers both on and off the stage for many years. The list of "Stars" who appeared on the boards of that theatre is a long one and includes the names of nearly all the great actors of the last half century.
Boston Museum-1850
Albert uu. Wann
Late of Company A, 45th, and Historian of the 45th Mass. Regt., M. V. M.
TO MY COMRADES OF THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.
There's a picture gallery in my mind, hung with many paint- ings rare,
And in the calm and quiet days I often linger there ;
They are Memory's treasures, gathered from out life's rugged way,
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And were painted by the Master hand, whose work will ne'er decay.
There's a cherished, hallowed corner where I spend many pleasant hours,
A group of kindred souls I see in manhood's opening powers ; With flashing eyes and kindling brows and faces to the light, They pledge their lives to Freedom, to Country and the Right! 'Twas when the lurid cloud of war held the land in its embrace,
There was grief and fear in many hearts and blanched was many a face;
For that gallant Union Army, that marched forth in proud array,
Was driven back from Richmond's gates after many a bloody fray. -
But there were eyes of faith that saw beyond defeat and strife, When from Slavery's ashes there should rise a purer Nation's life,
For at the helm of State there stood one grand. majestic form, With heart and lips from malice free, serene in calm and storm.
As Moses in the olden time came forth to lead his race, So God sent Abraham Lincoln to fill his time and place ;
With purpose high, and honest heart and courage, strong and true,
He leaned upon the Almighty arm and safely led us through !
His calls for men, like trumpet tones, rang clear from East to West,
A million freemen answered him of our bravest and our best ; They left their homes and kindred dear, the Union to uphold, That precious legacy bequeathed by patriot sires of old!
How well they fought and suffered is known to every one, How generous in the Victory when the giant task was done! And now "Old Glory's" brilliant folds, in peace, float every- where,
And Comrades of the "Blue" and "Gray" their country's great- ness share.
Events Preceding the Civil War
Abraham Lincoln was nominated for President by the Republican Convention at Chicago in June 1860. That Pres- idential campaign was without doubt the most exciting and the most memorable in the history of the country. There were two principal parties in the field.
First. The Republican, who declared freedom to be the normal condition of all territory and that slavery can exist only by authority of municipal law. Abraham Lincoln was its standard bearer.
Second. The wing of the Democratic Party led by John C. Breckenridge, who declared that no power existed that might lawfully control slavery in the territories; that it ex- isted in any territory in full force, whenever a slaveholder and his slaves entered it; and that it was the duty of the National Government to protect it there.
Only the politicians of the two parties named seemed to have any decided convictions on the great subjects which had agitated the country and which were the points at issue. It was a desperate conflict from July to November and grew more intense as it approached its culmination at the polls. The election of Mr. Lincoln revealed the existence of a thor- oughly organized conspiracy against the life of the Republic, widespread, powerful and malignant.
One of the principal conspirators, William L. Yancey, made a pilgrimage through the Northern States, for the purpose of vindicating the claims of the Southern extremists, concerning state supremacy and the extension of slavery and spoke in the "Cradle of Liberty,"-Faneuil Hall. He was listened to patiently and respectfully and returned to his Southern home to arouse the masses of his section into rebellion. Another Southern leader, Wise, of Virginia, after the election of Mr. Lincoln, said: "The South will not wait until the fourth of March, we will be under arms before then."
Following the intelligence of Mr. Lincoln's election the Legislatures of several Southern States passed the ordinance of Secession. South Carolina led the way. Within her bor-
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ders were the most active and violent conspirators. Amidst the wildest rejoicings she formally seceded December 20th, 1860.
Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida at once joined in the movement. A few months later, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Arkansas and Texas fell into line. This revolt covered a territory of over a million square miles. They formed themselves into a new association which they called the Southern Confederacy, and declared their intention to maintain by arms what they had done. On March 28th, 1861, was printed a report of a speech made at Savannah, Georgia, by Vice-President Alexander H. Stephens of the Southern Confederacy, in explanation of the new Confederate Constitution, in which he defined the position of the Confed- eracy towards slavery as follows :
"The new Constitution has put to rest forever all the agitat- ing questions relating to our peculiar institution. African slavery as it exists among us is the proper status of the Negro, in our form of civilization." Referring to the Confederacy he went on to say :
"Its corner stone rests upon the great truth that the Negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery, subordination to the superior race, is his natural and moral condition." This, our new government, is the first in the history of the world, based upon this great physical, philosophical and moral truth. The truth has been slow in the process of its development, like all other truths in the various departments of science.
The Negro, by nature, or by the curse against Canaan, is fitted for that condition which he occupies in our system. For His own purposes God has made one race to differ from an- other, as He has made 'one star to differ from another star in glory.'" It is but fair to state here that while this speech was applauded by his hearers, it aroused much bitterness against Stephens among many Southerners who did not take such an extreme view.
The threatening war cloud hung over the land when Presi- dent Lincoln was inauguarated and took the oath of office. A plot was laid to assassinate him on his way to the Capital. On the sixth of April, 1861, to the Commissioners of the Se- ceding States, who called upon him, Secretary of State Seward said that the Government would not acknowledge them in their official capacity; that in the events which had recently occurred he saw "a perversion of a temporary and
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partisan excitement to the purpose of an unjustifiable and unconstitutional aggression upon the' authority of the Fed- eral Government, and not a rightful and successful revolu- tion, and an independent nation with an established govern- ment." To the Virginia delegation who called upon him about the same time, President Lincoln was equally plain and explicit. When asked what course he intended to pur- sue toward the Confederate States, he replied that he should adhere to the plan marked out in his inaugural. The power confided in him he should use to hold, occupy and possess property and places belonging to the Government. If an assault was made upon Fort Sumter, as had been threatened, he should use every means at his command to repossess it. In any event he should repel force by force.
Major Robert Anderson was in Fort Moultrie in Charleston Harbor, with a mere handful of men, two companies of the First United States Artillery and nine musicians, a total of seventy-five enlisted men. On the night of December 26, 1860, he transferred this force to Fort Sumter, spiking the guns of Fort Moultrie as he left. The State authorities at once seized upon Fort Moultrie and all the other forts in the harbor, except Fort Sumter, and also took possession of the U. S. Arsenal, Post Office and Custom House in the City of Charleston. They threw up fortifications on Morris Island, extinguished the coast and harbor lights, and removed the heavy buoys from the channel to prevent the sending of supplies and reinforcements to Fort Sumter. Towards the close of his administration, President Buchanan made a little show of loyalty, and upon the departure of some of the con- spirators from his Cabinet, replaced them with true Union men, among them the Hon. John A. Dix, whose famous mes- sage will long live in American history: "Shoot the first man who hauls down the American flag." An effort was made to send supplies and reinforcements to the suffering garrison at Fort Sumter. The steamer "Star of the West," was de- spatched from New York, and arrived off Charleston, Janu- ary 9, 1861. Just as she was entering the inner harbor all the soldiers were sent below, leaving only the working crew on deck, nd she endeavored under the guise of a peaceful merchant vessel to reach Fort Sumter.
But the deception was of no avail. The insurgents were awaiting her arrival. The Charleston Mercury had been ad- vised of her sailing and the object of her voyage. Secretary
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Thompson, a member of President Buchanan's Cabinet, over his own signature, said: "As I was writing my resignation, I sent a despatch to Judge Longstreet that the 'Star of the West' was coming with reinforcements." He ordered a mes- senger to telegraph the State authorities at Charleston, "Blow the 'Star of the West' out of the water," but the messenger was more loyal than his master and withheld the despatch. When the "Star of the West" was within two miles of Forts Sumter and Moultrie, and wholly unsuspicious of danger, a masked battery on Morris Island, only three-quarters of a mile distant, opened fire upon her.
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