In the year 1769 Mr. John Bishop sold to Mr. Noah Floyd one acre of land on the south side of the road (

The present number of the Register is issued from the new home of the society, 10

THESE water-works are those built a half century ago by the (then) city of Charlestown for its own supply, and located mainly within, and traversing the entire length of, Medford. The Register has already described a portion and, as then intimated, now completes the story.

The Mystic lakes of today, with their surroundings, would have an unfamiliar look to Medford people of sixty years agone. There was then really but one, and that was known as Medford pond, though the Narrows, or Partings, did all nature could to make two of it.

The city of Charlestown, in its quest of a water supply, took it over, and then were begun, in 1862, the changes that resulted in the two lakes of the present time. At that time the shores of the pond were well wooded, and the white oaks there growing were utilized for the piles, that were driven fourteen feet and cut off level three feet below the surface of the ground. Upon these the masonry of the dam was built, while a double row of sheet piling was driven, within which the concrete core or backbone of the structure was filled, and back of this, the slope. Even the old Middlesex canal, discontinued ten years before, was laid under tribute, as the puddle of its old embankments near by, made up fifty years earlier, consisting of one-eighth clay mixed with sand and gravel, was used in this work. The granite for the overfall had been quarried at Chelmsford, as had been the stone for the canal's aqueducts. At this stage of the work labor troubles were evident, as one hundred and thirty men struck for twenty-five cents addition to the daily wage.

On June 2, 1863, Albert Whiting took charge of the masonry construction. His experience on the dry docks at Norfolk and Charlestown, and at Fort Independence, qualified him for this important work. On the tenth of June the northeast corner-stone of the dam was laid, but we find no record of any formal ceremony, other than the placing of a small vial containing the names of Charlestown's mayor, water commission, engineers and contractor in the lewis hole of the lower stone. In sealing the vial, a new cent of that year's coinage was embedded in the wax; not a heavy investment, rather an expression of old-time sentiment that still obtains at corner-stone layings. We hardly think any vandals will undertake to make away with this particular coin, as has been attempted in our own and neighboring cities.

The basal construction at this point was found difficult, as a centrifugal pump discharging four hundred and fifty gallons per minute failed to keep the excavation dry.

A year and a week elapsed ere the work was complete. The demand of the men in May, 1863, seems to have been acceded to, as we find that on April 9, 1864, another strike occurred, and that ten days later the men returned at the same wage as before, $1.50 per day. On May 2, 1864, their pay was raised to $1.65, and even this did not conciliate, for on June 1 another strike occurred. The laborers then got notice that the permanent men would get $1.66 and the transients $1.50 per day. The dam was finished on June 17, 1864, just eighty-nine years after Bunker hill day, and the pond began to fill. Water was not the only thing to rise, as we note that on July 1 the laborers' pay was increased to $1.80 per day, and no strike is mentioned. These were the days of the Civil War, when the high cost of living was equally apparent with present-day experience.

At 1.30 A. M., September 30, 1864, the stop planks were put permanently into the dam and the water allowed to rise to the required elevation. This changed the entire shore line, shape and extent of the upper lake, and as the water backed into the tributary Aberjona, the mouth of that stream (sometimes called Symmes' river) became fixed at the bridge below the Bacon mills. There was a water privilege that was rendered useless by the construction of the Mystic dam. The proprietors of course claimed damage and made show of resistance, but one day a keg of powder placed under the old structure wrecked it, and although a steam engine was placed in the mill, no work of account was thereafter done, and the buildings were gradually removed. Incidentally we note that, owing to the scarcity of cotton, caused by the Civil War, a substitute therefor, made from flax, and called flax cotton or fibrilla, was being made or experimented with and machinery installed for that purpose. And so closed the history and usefulness of this old mill privilege, first established on the grant to Rev. Zechariah Symmes by his son William as a fulling mill. During that last winter the writer worked in the old mill with his father, who was present and witnessed the destruction of the dam by explosion of powder. Perhaps, at the present writing, the only living witness of the somewhat dramatic scene is Mr. Griffin, the old retired gate-tender at West Medford, better known as Faithful Mike. (This digression may, as a matter of history, be added to page 395 of Brooks' History of Medford.)

Today, extending from the parkway, there may be seen in excellent preservation the embankments of the canal, and at their end, beneath the water, the lower courses of the aqueduct masonry, a reminder of the canal's prosperous days. These mark the channel of the Aberjona as it was prior to the raising of the lake, but elsewhere the course is now a matter of conjecture, unless, indeed, old maps or plans may be in evidence.

More or less litigation resulted from the flowage, but this was nothing new, as witness case of Symmes vs. Dunster, Broughton and Collins in 1656 [Register, Vol. XIII, p. 12], when the Mystic was first dammed. While this work was in progress some information relative to the lower lake was obtained, which we quote:—

An experiment was made by Engineer Buchanan to ascertain the depth at which the water in the lower pond becomes salt. A copper wire coated with silver was suspended from a float anchored in 54 feet of water. The wire was allowed to remain in the water 24 hours, and was found to be very slightly discolored from 18 or 19 to 21.57 feet below. At 21.57 the corrosion increased for 4 feet, then very rapidly disappeared leaving it bright copper. This agrees with the report of Mr. Baldwin which was at 19.4 below the surface of the pond.

That the work of building this dam, with its waste weir, conduits and gate-house was substantially performed is evident even to the casual observer. Though disused since 1897 it is well cared for, and the new lake thus created is kept at the normal height.

Just here we digress a little from our subject, to quote from Mr. Brooks' History of 1855:—

The lands on each side are slightly elevated, and in future times will doubtless be filled with country seats.

In the fall of 1862, as I was taking a stroll about the town, I happened to be on that part of College hill now the site of the reservoir at the time of the arrival of a party of gentlemen who climbed the hill and gathered themselves around a wheelbarrow that stood there with a shovel laid across it. I saw at once that something unusual was in progress. I was informed of its nature when one of the party, after making a few remarks concerning the object in view, thrust the shovel into the earth and broke ground for the construction of the reservoir to be used as a part of the water-supply system to be constructed by the city of Charlestown. After depositing his shovel of earth upon the barrow he passed the shovel to his next neighbor and it passed from hand to hand until all but one had made their little speeches and deposited their shovels of earth upon the barrow. The last gentleman then came forward and as he took hold of the barrow to wheel away the load said, The city of Charlestown has a big job on its hands in providing for a water supply, but our Uncle Samuel has a bigger one on his hands in putting down this rebellion and I am going to help him. He wheeled the barrow a short distance and dumped the load.

He went to the front and never returned—was killed in his first engagement.

There are yet some in Medford who can vividly recall town events of sixty years ago, but there are few who have written the story. Mr. Brooks' history had then been published but two years, and he was resident in the town of his boyhood. His was one of the earliest town histories, and despite some inaccuracies was one of the best. Up to 1857 no one had the courage to start a weekly paper in Medford by which current events might be chronicled, but on January 8 of that year there appeared the first of the Medford Journal, a paper devoted to news, literature, science and art.

Mention has already been made of this in the Register, with a review of its initial number. During its all too brief existence occurred the annual town meeting, commonly styled the March meeting. This was held on the ninth day of the month (Monday, of course), and the Journal appeared on Thursday. The editor said:—

The business of the town was transacted with great unanimity and good feeling and despatched with great celerity, but with due regard to the important interests involved.

Thirty thousand dollars was to be raised by taxation, and twenty-five cents for each ratable poll appropriated for the support of the town library. The budget for that year was

$5,000 for new schoolhouse, south side of river.

8,000 for support of schools.

1,500 for support of poor and almshouse.

2,050 for fire department.

1,500 for salaries and fees.

2,000 for interest on town debt.

2,500 for highways, bridges and street lamps.

3,000 for miscellaneous and contingent expenses.

2,000 for outstanding and accruing demands.

325 for reservoir on

The balance in the treasury was $16,551.17, and the town debt $39,000.

There was then no town hall project on hand, but this town meeting was numerously attended, and the Journal editor gave the town clerk, Joseph Hall, credit for furnishing an early and reliable report, and devoted two columns to remarks of his own relative to the proceedings.

Apparently the usual appropriations were readily made, and that for the new schoolhouse (still in service and known as the Cradock) only amended that it be built by a mechanic resident in town. The growth of the South and

Sixty years ago a little book of two hundred and twenty-eight pages was published by a lady who soon after became, and for some years was, a resident of Medford, the preceptress of the famous Mystic Hall Seminary, Mrs. Eliza T. P. Smith. In her preface she says:—

Most of the articles in this little volume were kindly contributed by the respective writers expressly for this purpose, and these writers include some of the most distinguished in the land. ... The editor has interspersed some trifles of her own, which she hopes may be leniently regarded. The volume is intended as an agreeable and instructive Miscellany, for presentation, free from all sectarian prejudices, and such an one as may contribute to the moral and intellectual progress of Young America.

The title of the book is The Little Republic Original Articles by Various Hands, edited by Mrs. T. P. Smith, from the press of Wiley & Putnam, New York, and is dedicated, on a special page, to her father. The initial article is an ode of one hundred and twenty lines, entitled Justice, by John Quincy Adams, former President of the United States. Mrs. Sigourney, Ex-Governor Briggs, Bayard Taylor, Elihu Burritt, and eminent clergymen (including Dr. S. F. Smith, author of America), are among the twenty-one contributors. The trifles mentioned number thirteen, the first being fifteen pages of prose on Self-Culture, and the last in verse, as follows:—

Wordsworth.

Another trifle was her Echo Song, with introductory note-

On the shores of the Adriatic the women come down to the shore at nightfall and sing, then listen for a response from their husbands and friends on the water, that they may be guided home by the sound of their voice.

Her verses beginning

The book is finely gotten up (in the style of its time) in red embossed cover, the central feature of each being a wreath-encircled lyre imposed upon a scroll, pen, and sprays of flowers, the front figures in gold. Each page is bordered with wavy ruled lines, and each of the articles begins with ornamental capitals and have head and tail pieces of intricate geometrical design. The author and editor was the daughter of Ebenezer Smith, and became the wife of Thomas P. Smith, who in 1852 erected the Mystic Hall building at West Medford, and whose death soon after was a loss to Medford.

Mr. Smith contributed two articles, one A Word to Mothers, to the book.

Three years since, in Vol. XVII, p. 34, the Register gave an account of the Branch, quoting from various authentic sources, and venturing a prophecy which now seems likely of fulfilment.

With the impending possibility of discontinuance of passenger service, interest in the road is aroused, and it is difficult to answer all queries or to obtain correct information relative to its earlier days. The earliest of Medford's histories deals with it but briefly, only fourteen lines, but gives a view of the terminal station on

On Patriots Day, fortunately aided in weather conditions, a modern Paul Revere rode over the historic route to Lexington as a part of

Invitations having been extended to the four cities and towns to co-operate, a committee therefor was appointed by Medford's mayor. His selection was Alderman Dowell of the city government, Superintendent Nickerson of the School Department, Comrade Oscar Allen of the Grand Army, President Curtin of the Board of Trade, and the President of the Historical Society as chairman. This committee met with that of

James H. Phelan of the Boston Committee personated Revere and started from the patriot's house in

Life on the Nile, and Excursions on Shore Between Cairo and Asouan, also A Tour in Syria and Palestine in 1866-67, is the title of a little book in our public library that was printed for private distribution. On a flyleaf the following is written in ink: To the Medford Public Library from Wm. Wilkins Warren,

In 1883 a third edition of Mr. Warren's was published. A copy of this, with illustrations, has just come into the Society's library by courtesy of his nephew, Henry W. Hart.

In 1884 Mr. Warren published his autobiography (forty-five pages), with the genealogies of affiliated families (Bennett, Schouler, Russel, Wilkins and others), the former containing interesting side-lights on Medford history.

On page 217, Brooks' History of Medford, is a view of his boyhood home when in Medford.

Eight years ago this quotation appeared in the July Register—

It occurred that on the very day on which that July, 1909, Register was issued the daily press told the story of Bleriot's flight over the English channel, thus early realizing the conquest of the air.

The possibilities in submarine boats have developed rapidly and their consideration forced upon the attention of the world. Twice the merchant under-sea boat Deutchland made the passage across the Atlantic to our shores, returning with valuable cargo, and awakening in thoughtful minds the query, What next? The answer was not long delayed. The ruthless use of the U-boats in the war by the Germans, and the torpedoing of unarmed vessels and without warning, has forced our nation into the World war, now three years in progress. And so it comes that we wait anxiously some new and opportune invention to overcome the deadly menace that in those few years agone seemed but a possibility. From whence shall it come, from air or sea?

Every town rejoices in some euphonious local names. Medford has Sodom, Ram-head, Labor-in-Vain, No Man's Friend, Hardscrabble. Brooks' Historical Item, 1816. Ram-head hill is the site of the Lawrence tower; Sodom, or Sodom-yards, once the scene of brick making (West street), is now covered with dwellings; but Labor-in-Vain is as yet unoccupied, having always been a salt-marsh, but not always an island in the river of Misticke.

This is Labor-in-Vain point as it was before the canal or highway was cut through, making the point an island as it is at the present day. The little creek was that part of Two-penny brook through the salt marsh. The salt pond was in the line of the canal or highway.

Rev. William Bently of Salem kept a diary for many years, making note of many interesting events and occurrences. Here is one that seems like picking up money:

In removing a stone wall in Mystic or Medford in 1783, there were found under it a large collection of brass pieces, nearly square, mixed with the smallest coins of Europe, the whole 1 peck. A few round ones have a fleur-de-lis stamped on each side of them. The figures on the others were confused, but represented no character. The stone had lost all appearance of having ever been moved and there is no recollection of the currency of such pieces which appears to have been of use.

Dr. Bently made his record in 1787, as something unusual and of especial interest because of the circumstances and nature of the find. We wish he had told more.

Our present issue is a double number, bringing the Register up to date. Because of the Editor's construction cares of the new building, it has been deferred. In our frontispiece we present a view of our new home, this by courtesy of the Medford Mercury, which paper, and also the Messenger, have shown the same, with appreciative remarks. Another view will be found on the cover page design, including the flagstaff and Old Glory.

As we go to press we realize that war conditions prevail and a whole lot of Medford history is in the making. Medford responded in the Liberty Loan, the Red Cross Fund, on Registration Day, and just now is published the list of selectmen who may fill Medford's first quota in answer to the call to the colors. Company E is encamped on the armory grounds, awaiting orders, and all these things are but the beginning.

THE sources from which the facts were drawn for the statements herein embodied were the papers deposited by the late Horace D. Hall with the city clerk for safe keeping as the property of the Medford Historical Society, and the interleaved copy of Brooks' History of Medford, belonging to the late Caleb Swan.

The former is a collection of at least three hundred papers, comprising deeds, copies of wills, bills, accounts, memoranda, letters of a business or social matter covering a period of more than a hundred years, containing nothing of civic interest, but showing the business life of the Hall family for several generations.

The book, or second source, rich in manuscript notes and printed matter of historical and genealogical interest, was found among the effects of the late James Gilchrist Swan, a nephew of Caleb Swan, and was given to our Historical Society by a grandson of the former about twelve years ago. The first owner's notes run from 1855 to 1871. The second owner added to these notes in 1886 and 1888. Much of this data and matter from the Hall papers have been incorporated at various times in the papers of the Register.

In 1793 The Revd. Mr. Wm Wells came from England to

The history of the Middlesex canal has been so ably treated by two members of the Historical Society (see Vol. 1, p. 33, and Vol. 7, p. i, also map of canal within the limits of Medford, Vol. I, p. 38) that it would seem as if the subject was nearly exhausted. But an agreement entered into by the proprietors of the canal by their agent, James F. Baldwin, and Nathan Wait of Medford, has recently been placed in my hands with a request that I should locate some of the places referred to in the said agreement. The agreement is as follows, viz.:—

Know all men by these presents. That the Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal by their Agent James F. Baldwin in consideration of a relinquishment by Nathan Wait of Medford of his right to a bridge across the Middlesex Canal in Medford, which was formerly a swing bridge, and stood near the house of Abraham Touro Esq. and also all right to pass and repass across and through said canal where said bridge stood, have granted and conveyed and do by these presents grant and convey unto the said Nathan Wait, his heirs and assigns, a right to pass to and from his land through the said Proprietors land on the southerly side of said canal in Medford, from the passageway or lane (which leads southerly from the canal where said bridge stood) to the great road running from Medford Bridge over Winter Hill in the usual passage way from the great road to the Basin (through the landing or Basin lot so called) and from the Basin on the south side of the canal to the lane aforesaid. Also the privilege of taking gravel from the abutment of the old swing bridge to repair the passageway hereby conveyed in such manner as not to injure the bank or trunk of the canal. . . .

This agreement was dated July 15, 1820, and recorded with Middlesex South District Deeds January 1, 1855. The first passageway or lane referred to in the above agreement is what was formerly known as Brick-yard lane, and it extended from South street, near the residence of Mr. Touro (which stood on what is now the corner of South street and

Unlike the modern movies this was not a picture show, yet we of today would consider it spectacular, and were it filmed it would cover a stretch of about six miles. At its occurrence photography and even the daguerreotype was in its infancy. In 1843 the Baptist church in Maiden built a new meeting-house on the present eligible site. The following year the old one was sold and moved from its location beside the cemetery on the Salem road, to South Woburn, which became Winchester in 1850. It was there used as a leather shop of some kind. Some twenty years since Mr. Corey, the Malden historian visited Winchester and endeavored to locate (but without success) the old building in which his mother had worshiped, and who told him of its being drawn over to South Woburn with a large number of yokes of oxen. There had been two buildings in Winchester used as leather shops which would answer the description and had been demolished a few years before his visit. The probabilities are that it was the wooden portion of the Thompson shop, which stood nearly opposite the Winchester railroad station where is now Manchester field, rather than another on the road toward Montvale. Medford, by change in town lines, is now smaller, and the road the oxen and meeting-house traversed, shorter than in 1844. Building moving of that sort has, by the introduction of modern improvements, become a lost art, and in fact can only now be done in restricted areas and under close limitations. Could this moving picture be reproduced and show

We have in our Medford Scrap Book a picture of a moving event which occurred on February 18, 1908, when an irregular block of Milford granite was by a horse battalion, carried from West Medford to Wildwood Cemetery in Winchester. It was something out of the usual course of events and worthy of permanent record in Medford annals. Brought by rail to Tutten's granite works, the inscription was there made in a somewhat unique manner by Medford artisans. The letters were deeply cut in the stone, broader at the back than at the surface and filled with lead; thus securely dovetailed in. Weather conditions precluded transportation on sleds as intended, and the season was advancing. So four thick oaken wheels three feet in diameter, on one axle with surmounting timbers, formed a stout truck on which the eighteen ton block was loaded. This carried the load, while others of the usual type were forward, to which five pairs of horses were attached. Under skillful direction all went well until on the shorter and more level way of

Then the journey was resumed, up hill and around the corner of

Probably there are few living today, that saw a locomotive hauled from West Medford to Malden, through

The rum of Medford though no longer made bids fair to be everlasting—at least the memory of its production. A Vermont town history published only three years ago devotes some space to the building of the local meetinghouse, and to the contract for the framing and raising of the same for 180 in wheat at the current price; and closes with these words.

Ten gallons of rum to be allowed exclusive of above price.

It also records the balancing of Zibe Tute on his head at the end of the ridgepole, swallowing the contents of his flask and descending head downwards to the ground.

Next follows the Medford myth we refer to.

note .—Ten gallons of rum for building a meetinghouse in St. Johnsbury may be considered a modest allowance; for a similar job in Medford it took five barrels of rum, one barrel of good brown sugar, a case of lemons and two loaves of white sugar.

Medford we infer, could afford to be liberal with her own peculiar product.

While we have no doubt that the peculiar product was here used to make the tackle run smoothly on that occasion, we feel that the historian of that Vermont town owes it to Medford to furnish documentary evidence of the correctness of his statement.

In writing of the raising of the meeting-house in Medford (July 26 to 27, 1769) our historian says:

there was no one hurt.

Our fathers did not put themselves into that condition that invites catastrophies.

We have searched in vain for authentic record to verify the Vermont historian's fling at old Medford, published by his town. We commend a more careful reading of our own historian's comment. Until thus verified, we must consider it another Medford myth.

Since the above was written we have received from the author alluded to the following:—

I could never have suspected that my quotation from the Boston Transcript would be construed to reflect upon the good people of Medford. I was emphasizing the contrast between the good old times of that period, and the sober new times of today when distilleries are made into garages.

The above was accompanied by the more than column article, from which this rum, lemon and sugar quotation was taken. In that article, Beverly, Danvers, Dunstable, Medford, Northampton, Pittsfield and Windsor are alluded to under the title of The Puritanic Present, and the writer thereof credited practically the whole to Bonfort's Wine and Spirit Circular. As the Vermont historian gives his quotation from the Transcript and not from Mr. Brooks, we are led to infer that he may not have read the latter. But evidently some other had, and none too carefully, and as her own peculiar product was famous, Medford got all that was coming to her. We have in years past heard people in the cars of northern trains stopping at West Medford, at the conductor's call of Medford—West Medford, remark, This is where they make Medford rum, isn't it?

But until it can be verified by credible evidence that such fatality as is named really occurred at the raising of Medford's meeting-house, we must consider the same, and Wine and Spirit inspiration of the Transcript article, as added to our list of Medford myths.

On Sunday afternoon, August 12, the Lawrence Light Guard was given a public farewell, prior to its departure for camp at Framingham, which was on Thursday. The various military and patriotic organizations, with the city government, employees and fire department turned out as escort over about seven miles of Medford streets, ending their march at Medford common, where the soldier boys were addressed by the mayor. The local papers have given full accounts of the same. To these for details we refer our readers. By courtesy of the Mercury our frontispiece is a timely illustration of this Medford event.

Our boys got safely over and are now somewhere in France. Here's hoping they come safely back, but we know they will do duty well and help win the war.

The selectmen from Medford have also gone to the cantonment at Ayer and are in training. The people are responding to the calls for aid in the Red Cross, the Library Fund and recreation help. On the two Liberty Loans Medford did its duty well. Here and there, all about the city, the red service flag with its white center and one or more blue stars indicates that from that Medford home some one has gone to the colors or is doing duty in the war service. The churches have Old Glory by the altar or just below the cross, and their service flags displayed with impressive ceremonies. The Scouts are busy. Camp Fire Girls in one church gave its flag with twelve stars, singing God bless, God keep our men, and older hearts were stirred as in ‘61 while the Battle Hymn of the Republic was sung.

This is but one instance; there are others probably equally impressive and with more names recorded and honored, and we watch the daily news columns with a tense yet hopeful feeling.

We wish to call attention to our advertising pages and to Medford and other tradesmen who can supply our readers. Our printer has displayed them clearly. That's Miller. He prints the Register and will do your work in first-class shape.

Irish the optometrist will aid in reading, if your vision is defective, and with Moore's Won't Leak you can write a clean order or letter to anyone.

If Drs. Richardson or O'Donnell do your dentistry you will keep your health and be ready to plant a garden with Burpee's Seeds that Grow.

Your house will want good floors of Miles' Finish, and Leavens' furniture, colonial or modern.

The wool that the Hallowell firm sells is the real thing, and when made up will clothe you warmly, but your hats and gloves you can get of Leahy, and be ready to ride in one of Teel's autos. He has a fine display in that new store for you to select from. Some store, isn't it? Hervey has a new store, too, and always was the quality grocer.

Curtis specializes in Old Royall House Coffee. Of course Medford people want that, and will use Hampden Cream, for sugar is scarce, though one advertiser is Sugerman. The ladies will be sweet on him, for he's a Ladies' Tailor.

For your laundry work Crystal Blue is the real thing, if Sawyer's; but if you have it done out, Tel. Rox. 283 for daily delivery.

Page & Curtin will sell you stoves (oil, gas or coal), do your plumbing, and no end of other things. Dyer will install your heater, but it will need coal to run it, and Cowin will have that for you.

Volpe has fruit of all kinds, vegetables ditto, first-class, too.

If you need medicines the Smith Drug Store and