Somerville, past and present. An illustrated historical souvenir commemorative of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the establishment of the City Government of Somerville, Massachusetts. Edited by E. A. Samuels ... and H. H. Kimball

Introduction

. I N placing this volume before the public, the editors desire to express their gratitude for the kindly encouragement, the more than liberal support they have received from the people of Somerville. A work of such magni tude as this, one involving such a great amount of detail labor, could not well be prepared without the generous assistance, the hearty co-operation of a large portion of the community ; and that such aid has been given us, together with a generally expressed approval of our undertaking, we gladly put upon record. In addition to much other valuable assistance that has been received, many important papers have been prepared for us, and they present a fairly complete resume of the history of the city's various institutions. The scholarly contributions of Charles I). Elliot, George I. Vincent, Joshua H. Davis, Frank E. Merrill, John S. Hayes, Albert F. Winship, - William E. Brigham, J. O. Hayden, and many others will receive the approval of all who are interested in Somerville's history, and they will serve as an invaluable basis for the work of the future historian.

To the " Somerville Journal," the " Somerville Citizen " and John K. Whiting we are indebted for several of the illustrations we have used, also to Mr. Gordon A. Southworth for the portraits of " Citizens for whom Som erville Schools were named," and for reports containing their biographies. The typographical and artistic features of the volume speak for themselves : it has been our constant aim to secure the best available work, and we hope that our efforts will receive the approbation of the public. Somerville is a municipality of diversified interests, and of many social centers. Hence, he who is prominent in one section may, perhaps, be almost unknown in others. It would seem desirable, therefore, that the various interests, business, official and social, should have ample represen tation, and, acting somewhat on the principle outlined by City Librarian John S. Hayes in one of his admirable reports (1893), that we should "Re ject nothing that relates to Somerville, or her children, and should gladly preserve everything that comes to us which will aid the future student in obtaining a correct idea of how the present generation employed its time," a generous number of portraits of citizens who have become prominent in some walk in life is presented.

It is a collection of which any city may well be proud, and it will be treasured not only by the present but by generations to come. Greatly to our regret, historical sketches of some of the organizations were not received in time to obtain a place in this volume, but a reasonably full showing is made of the almost numberless associations for which this city is distinguished Edward A. Samuels. Henry H. Kimball. CONTENTS. SOMERVILLE'S HISTORY.

Chapter I

.......... 17 Origin and Settlement. — Grants, Etc. — Deed from Web-Cowet and Squaw- Sachem. — Early Topography. — First Settlers. — Governor Winthrop's Ten Hills Farm.

Chapter II

. . . . . . . . . .26 Early Events. — Pasturing and Herding. — Characteristics of Early Immigrants. — Machinery of Primitive Industries Set in Motion. — Establishment of Town Government of Charlestown. — Municipal Regulations. — Personæ non Gratæ. — First Highways. — The Stinted Common. — Churches and Schools. — Petition of Ezekiel Cheever. — The First Town School. — Military Organizations and Fortifications. — King Philip's War. — Indian Allies.

Chapter III

. . . . . . . . -34 Advent of Andros and Consequences to the Colonists. — Titles to Estates Imperiled. — Ten Hills Farm and its Owners. — A Favorite Home for Governors. — "The Blessing of the Bay" Built and Launched. — Captain Robert Temple. — Slave Holders in Somerville. — The First Privateer in America. — Colonel Samuel Jaques. — The Old Powder House. — Jean Mallet. — A Tragic Lpzgend.

Chapter IV

. . . -45 Friction Between the Colonies and Home Government. — Preparations for the Great Struggle. — Seizure of Powder. — First Hostile Demonstration of the Revolution. — The Whole Country in Arms. — Resignation of Lieut.- Governor Thomas ( (liver. — Arbitrary Measures of the British Government. — Secretion of Arms and Distribution of Military Supplies by the Colonists. — Hostile Steps taken by the British. — The Patriots Warned. — Paul Revere's Ride. — Battle of Lexington. — Roads in Somerville Traversed by British Troops. — Battle of Bunker Hill. — Vivid Scenes.

Chapter V

. . . . . . . . . -57 The Siege of Boston. — Entrenchments Made. — Exchange of Prisoners. — Battle of Hog Island. — Gage's Proclamation of Amnesty. — Fortifications on Prospect and Winter Hills. — Arrival of Generals Washington, Putnam and Lee. — Declaration of the Continental Congress. — Descriptions of the Patriots' Camps. — Sufferings of the People and Troops. — First Unfurling of the New Flag of the United Colonies. — Seizure of Dorchester Heights. — Evacuation of Boston by the British.

Chapter VI

. . . . . . . .70 Designed Isolation of New England. — Surrender of Burgoyne. — Hessian- Prisoners Quartered in Somerville. — Ball and Supper given by General Riedesel's Wife. — Poor Barracks for the Prisoners. — Scarcity of Fuel. — Rf:moval of the Prisoners.

Chapter VII

. . . . • • ■ • -77 Revival of Industries after the Revolution. — Brick-making in Somerville. - Celebrated Farms. — The Bleachery. — The Middlesex Canal. — Completion of Bridges to Boston. — The First Railroad through Somerville. — Establishment of the McLean Asylum. — Robbery of Major Bray. — The Ursuline Convent and us Destruction. — Town Improvements. — Establishment of Schools. — Beginning of a Fire Department. — Separation of Somerville from Charlestown.

Chapter VIII

. . . . . . - • .86 Town Beginnings. — Expenses of Early Town Government. — Highways Described. — Gr< iwtii of the T. iwn. — Survey of the Town. — Railroads and their Ext ension. — Horse Railroads Opened. - Industries of Early Somerville. — Fire Department and its Growth. — Organization of the Somerville Light Infantry — Schools and their Development. — Churches.

Chapter IX

. . . . . . • • .105 Somerville's Response to President Lincoln's Calls for Men. — Appropriations by the Town for Soldiers and their F'amilies. — Bounties Offered. — Somerville Light Infantry. — Somerville Guard. — Volunteers forthe War. — State Bounties. — Officers of Somerville Companies in the War. — Service during the War of the Companies from Somerville. — The Martyr Roll.

Chapter X

. . . . . . . . . .118 Improvement of Highways. — Gas Introduced. — Water Supply. — Sewfrs. — Great Improvements. — Central Hill Park. — Horse Railroads. — The Town Farm. — Attempts to Divide the Town. — City Charter and Hall. — First City Election.

Chapter XI

. . . . . . . . . .126 Appreciation in Value of Real Estate. — Great Increase of Houses. — Steam Railroads. — Extension of Street Railways. — West End Railway — Widening of Somerville Avenue and Broadway. — The Broadway Park. — The Miller's River Nuisance. — Annexation to Boston Discussed. — Parks and Boulevards. — Tufts College. — Old Landmarks. HISTORY OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT.

Chapter XII

. . . . . . . . -145 First Board of Officers. — Statistics of Population, Valuation, etc. — The .Miller's River Nuisance. — Great Improvements Made. — Mayor Furber's Administration. — Erection of New Police Building. — Construction of the Broadway Park. — Great Sanitary Improvement. — Mayor Belknap's Administration. — Construction of Large Sewers. — Completion of the Public Park. — First Contribution to the Sinking Fund. — Administration of Mayor Bri - 1 . — Reconstruction of Bridges. — Administration of Mayor Cummings. — Crew Improvements on Central Hill. — Erection of New Building for the Public Library.

Chapter XIII

......... 153 Administration of Mayor Burns. — The Water Supply. — Application of the Sinking Fund. — Reduction of the City' Debt. — Introduction of the Police Signal System and Electric Street Lighting. — Construction of New Schoolhouses. — Administration of Mayor Pope. — Introduction of a High Water Service. — The Old Powder House. — The Somerville Hospital Organized and Established.

Chapter XIV

. . . . . . . . -15s Administration of Mayor Hodgkins. — Establishment of the Nathan Tufts Park. — Celebration of the Semi-Centennial Anniversary. — Paving Important- Thoroughfares. — Erection of the New High School Building. — A New City Hall Advocated. — Erection of a New Central Fire Station. — Great Improvements Made in Various Directions. — Administration of Mayor Perry. Changes at the City Hall. — Important Improvements in the Sewer System. — High Credit of the City. — Functions of Different Boards of the City Government-. — Scope of City Charter. HISTORY OF THE SCHOOLS.

Chapter XXIII

......... 2S2 HISTORY OF THE CHURCHES. East Somerville Baptist. — First Baptist. — Randall Memorial Free-Will Baptist. — Perkins Street Baptist. — Union Square Baptist. — Winter Hill Baptist. — Broadway' Congregational. — Day Street Congregational. — First Congregational (Unitarian). — First Orthodox Congregational. — Highland Congregational. — Prospect Hill Congregational. — Winter Hill Congregational. — St. Ann's (Catholic). — St. Catherine's (Cathoiic). — Emmanuel Episcopal. — St. Thomas Episcopal. — St. James Episcopal. — First Methodist-Episcopal. — Park Avenue Methodist-Episcopal. — Union Square Pri sbyterian. — First Universalist. — Third Universalist. — Winter Hill Universalist. — Evangelical Association Church.

Chapter XXIV

......... 331 CHARITABLE AND SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS. Somerville Hospital. — Hospital Ladies' Aid Association. — Somerville Associated Charities. — Samaritan Society. — Somerville Day Nursery. — Wii.lard C Kinsley Post 139, G. A. R. — Wii.lard C. Kinsley Relief Corps. — Woman's Christian Temperance Union. — Fireman's Relief Association. — Somerville Young Men's Christian Association. — Masonic: Somerville Royal Arch Chaiter; Orient Council; John Abbot Lodge; Soley Lodge. — Odd Fellows: Somerville Encampment; Winter Hill Encampment; Caleb Rand Lodge; Oasis Lodge; Paul Revere Lodge. — Rebekah Lodges : Ivaloo Lodge; Ramona Lodge; Erminie Lodge. — Odd Ladies: Constellation Lodge; Longfellow Lodge. — Ancient Order of United Workmen : Somerville Lodge. — Knii ;hts < if Honor: Mt. Benedict Lodge; Cameron Lodge. — Knights of Pythias : Arcadia Lodge. — Royal Arcanum: Somerville Council; Elm Council. — Somerville Light Infantry. — Central Club. — Sons of Maine Club. — Daughters of Maine Club. — Heftorean Club. — Hillside Club. — Webcowit Club. — Winter Hill Club. — Conversation Club. — Somerville Literary Association. — Suffrage League. — Society of St. Vincent de Paul. — Little Sisters of the Poor. — Friendly Helpers of the Poor. — Reminiscences of Somerville. — Home Circle: Washington Council; Harmony Council; Somerville Council; Loyal Orange Institution: Mt. Horek Lodge.

Chapter I

Origin and Settlement. — Grants, Etc. — Deed from Web-C'owet and Squaw- Sachem. — Early Topography. — First Settlers. — Governor Winthrop's Ten Hills Farm. Somerville was formerly a part of Charlestown, that honored ancestor of the towns of the Mystic valley, — and whose bounds originally ran "eight miles into the country from their meeting house," and included Woburn, Stoneham, Winchester, Burlington, a part of Arlington and Med ford, Somerville, Maiden, Everett and the Bunker Hill peninsula, and whose early history is the heritage of each. New towns one after another were broken off from the old, the last being Somerville in 1842, and in this account the name Somerville is used in narrating the events which have occurred within its limits, since its first settlement. The title of the white man, whether Spanish, French, Dutch, or Eng lish, to the home of the Indian, rested usually in a royal grant; "by turf and by twig," and in the name of their king and religion they took posses sion, seldom consulting the aboriginal owner.

The title to the territory of Somerville has this royal authority and more. First, in the grant of James I to the Plymouth Council of all lands between 40° and 480 N. latitude from sea to sea. Second, by grant of the Plymouth Council, March 19, 1628, to the Massachusetts Bay Company. Third, by royal charter, March 4, 1629, to the Massachusetts Bay Com pany, which confirmed the grant of 1628; and fourth, a title not every colony can claim, a deed from an Indian sovereign, " Squa-Sachem." Other grants covered the territory and caused much trouble. The Plymouth people had already, in 1622, granted ten miles along the shore and thirty miles inland, to Robert Gorges ; he dying, his brother John, in 1624, leased to John Oldham and John Dorrill all land between the Charles and Saugus Rivers, for five miles up the Charles, and three up the Saugus.

And again John Gorges, in 162S, deeded to Sir William Brereton all the land between Charles River and Nahant, for twenty miles inland. '7 SOMERVILLE. PAST AND PRESENT. But little came of these later grants, unless possibly Blackstone, the first settler of Boston, and Thomas Walford, the first settler of Charlestown (on the peninsula), claimed under them. These conflicting grants caused the Bay Company to strengthen their claim by actual occupation, and they accordingly sent settlers to several localities within the disputed territory, Charlestown being one. Among the instructions from the Company, written from England in 1629, to Mr. Endicott, is the following: — " If any of the Salvages pretend right of inheritance to all or any part of the lands granted in our patent, we pray you to endeavour to purchase their title, that we may avoid the least scruple of intrusion."

Under these instructions several deeds from the Indians were secured, the one covering Somerville land being from Squa-Sachem, who on the recent death of her husband became chief of her tribe. The deed begins as follows : — "The 15th of the 2d Mo. 1639. " Wee, Web-Cowet, and Squaw Sachem do sell vnto the Inhabitants of the Towne of Charlestown all the land within the lines granted them by the court," and closes with "wee acknowledge to have received in full sat isfaction, twenty and one coates, ninten fathoms of wampum, and three bushels of corne." " In witness whereof we have here vnto sett our hands the day and yeare above named." Early Descriptions and Topography Descriptions of this part of the country sent to England by the early comers, often read like advertisements of modern Eldorados.

They were generally directed to intending settlers, and usually with the desired effect : after reading they emigrated ; for health and plenty stood on the shore, and with open arms welcomed each new arrival. The sea, the rivers, the woods, and the fields were great natural store-houses, stocked abundantly with fish and fowl, furs and fuel, fruits and flowers ; the air and water were the purest; "New England's air was better than old England's ale," and as one writer said, "We are all freeholders, the rent day doth not trouble us." If all that was written were true, this must have been a paradise to the sportsman, farmer, and lover of nature. Yet there was much that was true in their high-colored, curious de scriptions. Mr. Graves, the earliest civil engineer in Charlestown, writing in 1629 or 1 630, thus describes the topography of this section : " It is very beautiful in open lands, mixed with goodly woods, and again open plains, in some places five hundred acres, some places more, some less, not much trouble some for to clear for the plough to go in ; no place barren but on the tops of the hills.

The grass and weeds grow up to a man's face in the lowlands, and by fresh rivers abundance of grass and large meadows, without any tree or shrub to hinder the scythe." Thomas Cunningham. ASA DlJRGIN The peninsulas of Charlestown and Boston, when settled, were much alike in shape. From the mainlands on either side they reached out toward each other and shut in the great basin of Back Bay. They were attached to the mainland by low, narrow necks, which being overflowed, made each an island at highest tides. From Charlestown neck, the marshes extended to the shores of Miller's and Mystic Rivers, and from the foot of Prospect Hill round to the foot of Convent and Winter Hills: Asylum Hill was a peninsula at high tide. Several creeks and brooks now mostly extinct, meandered from the higher land, across these marshes to the adjacent rivers.

Chief of these was Miller's, first known as Gibones' River from Captain Edward Gibones who lived on its shores, probably near Cobble Hill. A later name for this was Willis' Creek, or Wills' Creek ; and one French translation makes it " Crique de Vills." It was probably called Miller's River, and Cobble Hill, Miller's Hill after Thomas Miller, who owned land in that locality. This rivulet had its source in old Cambridge, South of Kirkland Street ; thence in earlier days it flowed, a pellucid stream through sandy upland, and sedgy meadow, to its mouth near the Charles. A branch of Miller's River began its course not far from the Old Folks' Home on Highland Avenue, crossing Central Street near Cambria, and School Street near Summer, joining the main stream not far from Union Square. East of Miller's River, and flowing into the same great Charles River or Back Bay basin, was Crasswell Brook, named after one of the early owners ; its outlet still exists, and forms part of the city boundary ; a ditch through the McLean Asylum grounds marks approximately a part of its old course.

Washington Street bridged it, and its source was probably not far from the junction of Cross and Oliver Streets. Passing over " the Neck " we come to Mystic River, into which five streams poured their constant tribute. The first, opposite Convent Hill, was perhaps never named, and was possibly of no great length or importance. The next was probably the " Winthrop Creek " of the old records, named for the Governor and more recently known as Bacheilor's Creek. It marked the easterly boundary of the grant of Ten Hills Farm to him. Its source was not far from Gilman Square ; it wound its way easterly, crossing Broadway near Walnut Street, and thence across the Park and through the marshes to the river ; all west of Middlesex Avenue is now filled. Following up the shore to where the new Trotting Park now is, we come to Winter Brook ; like the hill, called so, no man now knows why ; its source was in Polly Swamp, not far from the junction of Lowell and Albion Streets ; thence it flowed northeasterly, crossing Broad way near the railroad bridge, and Medford Street (in Medford) just north west of its junction with Main Street, probably where the present water course, its successor, is bridged.

Further on was Two-Penny Brook ; I might have said is, if a sedgy ditch cut to straight lines, can be called a brook ; it rose near the old school on Broadway, opposite the Simpson estate, flowing through the College and Robinson estates, under the Lowell Railroad, along the easterly border of the brickyards, to the river ; forks of each of these brooks started near the foot of Powder House Hill. The fifth stream was Alewife Brook, our western boundary, then called by its Indian name, " Menotomy " River. This name has many spellings in ye ancient record, one or two of which commenced with a "W." It has also been known as "Little" River. This is the outlet of Fresh Pond, and there is much of interest connected with it. Into Alewife Brook ran another, from near Davis Square, westerly into Cambridge, entering Alewife Brook near the former tanneries on North Avenue, whence in later times it has been called Tannery Brook ; the Somerville part of it is now a covered drain.

The hills of those old days are fast disappearing as well as the rivers, both in name and substance. Within a year or two the " high fielde " of the original settlers, the " ploughed hill " of the Revolution, better known in our day as " Nunnery " or " Convent Hill " or " Mount Benedict," will be a memory only. Asylum Hill, which was the Miller's Hill, or Cobble Hill of a hundred years or more ago, has the seal of destruction set upon it. The historic heights of Prospect Hill, the Mount Pisgah of the Revolution, have long since gone to bury the less historic shores of Miller's River. Winthrop Hill, on the Ten Hills Farm, and the other eminences near it, are but scarred relics of their former picturesque beauty. Winter Hill, strange to say, so far as is known, has suffered no change since " long ago," either in height, contour or name ; like Winter Brook, the origin of its name is in obscurity; whether named for a person, or a season, is an enigma.

Walnut Tree Hill, now College Hill, has probably seen little change in shape since the Indian roamed over it. Wild Cat Hill, on the borders of Alewife Brook, from the remotest day until recently, has remained to thrill the mind with the possible cause for its name ; but now it is degraded to a city gravel-bank, and will soon be gone. Quarry Hill, smooth and polished, with little left of its antique charm, yet remains crowned by its old tower, which, though architecturally modern ized with cut stone archway and window, is still a historic inspiration. Strawberry Hill, where is and where was it ? Possibly and probably, if old records are correct, in which there is but one mention of it, east of Beacon Street and north of Washington Street, a part of it still remaining on the Norton's Grove estate in Cambridge.

Spring Hill in name is recent, probably, and in shape much as of yore, as is Central Hill, which on some old Revolutionary maps is styled " Middle Hill." In the foregoing, the endeavor has been made to retrace the natural features of the town, and the old naming with which the earlier residents were familiar, as well as that of more recent times. First Settlers. Probably the first white men who wandered over Somerville soil were Standish and his exploring party from Plymouth in 1621. Seven years later came a party of settlers from Salem, prospecting for John F. Nickerson Cromwell G. Rowell a place to locate in. These were " Ralph Sprague with his bretheren Richard and William, who with three or four more " . . . " did in the sum mer of anno 1628, undertake a journey from Salem, and travelled the woods above twelve miles to the westward, and lighted of a place situated and lying on the north side of Charles river, full of Indians called Aberginians," . . .

" and upon surveying, they found it was a neck of land, generally full of stately timber, as was the main, and the land lying on the east side of the river, called Mystick river." Here on the peninsula they settled and built, and others came soon after. In 1629, "it was jointly agreed and concluded, that this place on the north side of Charles river, by the natives called Mishawum, shall henceforth, from the name of the river, be called Charlestown " ; and in this connection it may be of interest to recall that the river was named by Captain John Smith, in 1C114, after H. R. H. Charles, Prince of Wales, afterwards Charles I, who. Smith says, "did change the barbarous names of their principall Harbours and habitations, for such English, that posterity may say King Charles was their Godfather."

Among the first of the Charlestown settlers to locate on Somerville territory were John Woolrich, Captain Norton, Edward Gibones, Mr. William Jen nings and John Wignall ; followed a little later by Richard Palsgrave, Edward Jones and others, and by the Governor, John Winthrop, in 1631. It may be proper here to give a sketch of these pioneers of our town. John Woolrich or Wolrich was an Indian trader; he "built and fenced a mile and a half without ye necke of land in ye maine, on ye right hand of ye way to Newe Towne," which would be somewhere on the northerly side of Washington Street, beyond the Fitchburg Railroad bridge ; perhaps not far from Dane Street. He was prominent in affairs, and was a representative to the General Court in 1634. Of Captain Norton, accounts are somewhat conflicting : in one reference he is called John, in another Francis ; one record is that he was killed by the Indians in 1633, another makes him join the church in 1642, marry in 1649, and die in 1667.

There may have been two Captain Nortons. Major-General Edward Gibones, the most distinguished of our early citizens, excepting Governor Winthrop, was a young man recently converted and admitted to the church ; he ultimately rose to the rank of Major-Gen eral in the militia, being "a man of resolute spirit" and "bold as a lion." He represented Charlestown in the General Court, in 1635 and 1636, and died in 1654. Of William Jennings and John Wignall but little is recorded. Richard Palsgrave was the first physician of Charlestown, living in the town several years, and died about 1656. Edward Jones was an inhabitant in 1630, and removed to Long Island in 1644. Palsgrave and Jones each built three-quarters of a mile beyond the neck, on the northerly side of Washington Street, "right before the marsh," probably opposite the Asylum grounds.

John Winthrop, the first Governor of the Massachusetts company that came over here (Craddock never came), was granted the Ten Hills Farm of six hundred acres in 163 1 ; it extended from the Craddock Bridge, near Medford Centre, along the Mystic River to near Convent Hill, and em braced all the land between Broadway, Medford Street and the River. This was the Governor's farm where he built, lived, planted, raised cattle, and launched the first ship in Massachusetts, the "Blessing of the Bay," July 4, 1 63 1. Governor Winthrop was the ancestor of the late Hon. Robert C. Winthrop. He was a man of liberal education and sterling worth, a devout Christian and an honor to the Colony ; he died in 1649.

Chapter II

From Settlement to the Revolution Early Events. — Pasturing and Herding. — Characteristics of Early Immigrants. — Machinery of Primitive Industries Set in Motion. — Establishment of Town Government of Charlestown. — Municipal Regulations. — Personæ non Gratæ. — First Highways. — The Stinted Common. — Churches and Schools. — Petition of Ezekiei. Cheever. — The First Town School. — Military Organizations and Fortifications. — King Philip's War. — Indian Allies. Charlestown's settlers in 1629 were in all ten families, not including Thomas Walford and wife, whom they found already there living in " his pallisadoed and thatched house," and not including servants of the Bay Company. Their first winter was full of discouragement ; provisions were gone and disease so prevalent that " almost in every family lamentation, mourn ing and woe were heard " ; " many perished and died."

Added to this, the water became bad and brackish, and Indians threatening; many left Charlestown and removed to Boston, where the water was better. The arrival of Capt. Pearce with a shipload of provisions, however, inspirited them anew, and was hailed with rejoicing and thanksgiving. The first inhabitants built around Town Hill, now Bow Street, near Charlestown City Square. They were allotted grounds for planting on other parts of the peninsula, which they were required to fence ; but the grazing ground for their cattle was here in Somerville, or "without the neck," and Somerville was in those early times known as the " Cow Com mons," and later, as the " Stinted Pasture." The rights of pasturage were apportioned among the citizens in 1656, and perhaps before. A herdsman, as early as 1632, was appointed to " Keepe the Milch Cattle of this Towne, in a herd without the necke of land upon ye maine till the end of Harvest, and hee is to drive them forth every morning and bring them into Towne every evening."

The herdsman sounded his horn from Town Hill each morning, to call the cattle together, in readiness for Alvano T. Nickerson. Samuel W. Holt PRESEA^T. 29 pasture. In 1633, the salary for this official was "fifty bushels of Indian corne." A fence with a gate was early ordered and built across the Neck, from Mystic River to Charles River basin, to keep these cattle, and perhaps wild beasts, from straying into the town ; for wolves were common then, and bounties given for their destruction. In the course of time, about the whole of Somerville was enclosed with fencing; fencing or "paling," as it was called, extending all along the Cam bridge line, and between the common pasture and the Ten Hills Farm, with gates at the highways. In speaking of highways it is but natural again to recall the first engineer in these parts, Mr. Thomas Graves, who came in 1629, and who, it is supposed, laid out all earlier streets, and other works of improvement in Charlestown.

It is claimed that he was the (afterwards) noted Admiral Thomas Graves of the English Navy. It is quite fair to presume that he traced the routes for our infant thoroughfares, Washington Street and Broadway. Those early emigrants were a sturdy, tireless race ; their energy knew no obstacle. Roads were laid out, watering places located, landings built, bridges thrown over streams, and, where too wide for bridges, ferries estab lished. Those to Boston and to Maiden (the latter called "Two penny ferry") remained until after the Revolution, the only direct means of communication between those places. All kinds of business and trades were soon started, mills built, one at Charlestown Neck opposite Miller's River as early as 1645, lime kilns set up, fish-weirs established, ledges opened, and all the primitive machinery of industry set in motion.