Boston Commo ^•^ -f^-""-- ,«W1«^»M*'>«*W»W«'» 1«H^ '-**~«»«^U»»h«tf, -VS**-' VIEW OF BOSTON COMMON Wn SAMUEL BARBE "^-3 Class ^ Book Copyright N" COPYRIGHT DEPOSm Boston Common BOSTON COMMON cA DIARY OF NOTABLE EVENTS, INCIDENTS, AND NEIGHBORING OCCURRENCES By^ SAMUEL BARBER 'Author of "Trash; a Society Novel", "A Matrimonial Experiment," Etc. 7(R!ST0Pj(EI( publishing HOUSE BOSTON Copyright igi^ By Samuei, Barber M 14 1915 THE CHRISTOPHER PRESS BOSTON, U, S. A. >. c^ To Miss Lois Hildegarde Hall o/* New York with the warmest friendship I inscribe this volume FOREWORD Boston Common belongs to the world. In or around it took place events which link it with the history of government for and by the people in this country. From it radiated the influences that led to democratic as opposed to aristocratic rule. To it can be traced the gatherings in town halls by the substantial men in Massachusetts, and other commonwealths; and the famous little red schoolhouses date their inspiration from the public exercises that took place on the classic green in Boston. As the years have progressed, interest in the Boston Common has increased year by year. Details that appeared to be of slight moment in the early history of the country are now sought after. Whatever has taken place there or in the vicinity of it has become in a sense hallowed to the lover of liberty. The very great distance in time between the present and the early planting of Boston Common, together with the apparent neglect of chroniclers of events in connection with it, has made difficult the collation of facts respecting the time honored centre of Boston. The author has endeavored to faithfully and chrono- logically register the results of his researches in the following pages. Accuracy has been his one desire and care. It is that feature on which he bases his right to be heard, and on which he believes that his efforts will be of profit to the reader. To those who have aided him, either by advice or by their registered dates, he returns his thanks and acknowledgements. BOSTOK Boston, the American Athens, stands in the front rank of social, commercial and political prominence. The reputation of families of culture has spread throughout the country, and its leading men, as one generation has followed another, have wielded a mighty influence in moulding public opinion and promoting its resources. It abounds in historic landmarks, which date from Colonial days, and its modern development, with its broad avenues, buildings and parks, has equalled, if not excelled, any city in the world. THE COMMON. The Common, with all its historic associations, is now the Park of the City with its fountains, statues, malls and lake. It has always been the scene of all kinds of incidents—historic, dramatic, tragic, and is now the feature in its landscape and beauty. It might be called an indicator of all that ever occurred in Boston. COLONIAL PERIOD 1623 Three years after tlie "Landing of the Pilgrims" a number of patents were granted by the Council of H^ew England, one being granted to William Blackstone at Shawmut (the Indian name meaning glistening foun- tain), on the Peninsula. Blackstone (called by some Blaxton) and known as "Boston's First Inhabitant" lived on his farm comprising eight hundred acres. He was a graduate of an English University and entering the ministry, was ordained in the church where, unable to conform to the strict laws and desiring "to get from under the power of the lords-bishops" came to America. He lived alone and, known as the "Hermit of Shaw- mut," enjoyed a tranquil repose. The locality of his house, a slight frame structure, is a matter of much doubt. Savage, Shaw, Snow, Drake, Shurtleff, Howe and others, variously place it on the westerly part of the Peninsula near the present Louisburg Square, Black- stone's Point, on Cambridge Bay, Barton's Point, Poplar or Cambridge Street, the vicinity of Charles- town Bridge and on the southwest slope of Beacon Hill with Cotton and Vane for neighbors, and also bounded by Beacon, Spruce and Pinckney Streets and the Charles River. — 10 BOSTOIT COMMOlSr A patent was granted, by the Council of ISTew Eng- land to Winthrop who, with his colony, now held all its rights with that of Massachusetts which lay outside of Plymouth and extended to the Atlantic Ocean. John Lothrop Motley in the charming novel "Merry Mount" (1849), "A Romance of the Massachusetts Colony," says—"It was in a secluded cove, with the bay in front, the three headed hill of Shawmut in the distance, and the primeval forest stretching out, in unfatliomable shade, behind and all around. The cottage was simple and rude, but picturesque in its effects. It was built of logs, which still retained their dark and mossy bark. It covered a considerable extent of ground; the thatched roof was low browed, with steep gables at the end, and two or three were furnished with small diamond panes of glass, a luxury which was at that day by no means common even in England. Over the door, which opened on the outside with a wooden latch, stood a pair of moose antlers, and on the ends of the projecting rafters, under the eaves, were suspended the feet of wolves, the tails of foxes, raccoons, and panthers, and other trophies of the chase. On the sward of Wildgrass around the house lay a heap of wild game which had recently been thrown there, pied brant-geese, blue and green winged teal, two or three long necked, long-billed cranes, with a rabblerout of plump slate colored pigeons, lay promiscuously with a striped bass, dappled sea trout and other fish. It was evident that, although the sporting season had nearly reached its termination, there was yet no danger of starvation." Hawthorne, in "Twice Told Tales," savs in the 7 7 t/ chapter entitled "The May Pole of Merry Mount," ; ; ; ; ; BOSTON COMMON" 11 "Bright were tlie days at Merry Mount, when the May Pole was the banner staff of that gay Colony ! They who reared it, should their banner be triumphant, were to pour sunshine over New England's rugged hills, and scatter flower seeds throughout the soil. Jollity and gloom were contending for empire. Midsummer eve had come, bringing deep verdure to the forest, and roses in her lap, of a more vivid hue than the tender buds of Spring. But May, or her mirthful spirit, dwelt all the year round at Merry Mount, sporting with the summer months, and revelling with Autumn, and basking in the glow of Winter's fireside. Through a world of toil and care she flitted with a dream like smile, and came hither to find a home among the lightsome hearts of Merry Mount." 1630 Dr. Holmes, in a poetical description, says: "Beneath the shaggy southern hill Lies wet and low the Shawmut plain. And hark ! the trodden branches crack A crow flaps off with startled scream; A straying woodchuck canters back A bittern rises from the stream Leaps from his lair a brightened deer An otter plunges in the pool Here comes old Shawmut's pioneer, The parson on his brindled bulk" Summer, The Arbella came, with other vessels, bringing the Winthrop Colony, which, after enduring many hard- ships arising from impure water, hunger, exposure, and disease, settled at Charlestown. Blackstone, touched 12 BOSTOiq' COMMOI^ by their suffering, asked the Colony to cross the river and share his grounds, which, with other advantages, abounded in pure springs, shade, trees and pasture and relinquished to their use nearly all of his land, keeping only fifty acres and his own house which had covered his head for several years. His philanthropy extended and in a few years "finding that he had fallen under the power of the lords brethren" he also donated to the Colony the remainder of his estate, retaining but six acres for his own use, for which he was paid six shillings from each householder, though, in some instances, larger sums were paid pro rata—for the release. The sum aggregated about £30, which was mainly owing to the efforts of Governor Winthrop who was foremost in many public movements, Blackstone only claiming the honor of being the first discoverer and pioneer. The grounds now surrendered were appropriated as a "Com- mon and Training Field." They extended as far as the present Tremont Building and bounded by the present Beacon, Spruce and Pinckney Streets and the Charles River. Among the early settlers of Boston were John Odlin, Robert Walker,—the first who had settled on the Peninsula of Boston,—Prancis Hudson, and William Lytherland "ancient dwellers" and inhabitants of the town of Boston, who purchased from William Black- stone "his estate and right in any lands lying within said l^eck called Boston," for which every housekeeper was taxed six shillings, "some less, some considerably more." Upon this purchase the town laid out the "Common," as a "Training Field" and for the feeding of cattle to be known as common land and common to all the inhabitants. BOSTON COMMOK 13 Two large trees that once stood on the Common have become a part of American history;—the "Liberty Tree" and the "Old Elm." The "Liberty Tree" was in a grove of elms at the corner of Essex and Washington Streets, opposite the Boylston Market, and, like the "Charter Oak" at Hartford, was destined to figure prominently in the early Colony. The famous "Old Elm," stood near the centre of the Common, and, it is said, was growing when discovered by the first settlers.