The History of Melrose, County of Middlesex, Massachusetts

More or less had been written about the History of Melrose, before this work was undertaken. The Town's action in the Civil War I had recorded in The Melrose Memorial: The Annals of Melrose^ in the Great Rebellion of 1861-65 published in 1868; a short history of the town pre- pared for Samuel Adams Drake's History of Middlesex County, in 1880; and another for J. W. Lewis & Co.'s History of Middlesex County, in 1890.

Notwithstanding this, there came to exist a desire on the part of many citizens, that a more thorough and complete history of our municipality be written. Possibly this wish was stimulated by the near approach of the time when Melrose would become a city, and, of the completion of the first half century since it was incorporated, May 3, 1850. But, be it remembered, the history of our territory reaches back over two and a half centuries.

 

Table of Contents

CHAPTER I.
Early Exploration 1

CHAPTER II.
Territory 10

CHAPTER III.
Roads, Streets and Highways 41

CHAPTER IV.
Old Families and Homesteads 58

CHAPTER V.
Ecclesiastical History 136

CHAPTER VI.
Educational History 185

CHAFFER VII.
Military History 206

CHAPTER VIII.
Military Organizations 254

CHAPTER IX.
First and Last Town Meeting 264

CHAPTER X.
City of Melrose 268

CHAPTER XI.
Town and City Officers 277

CHAPTER XII.
Spot Pond Water Works 290

CHAPTER XIII.
Sewerage 301

CHAPTER XIV.
Drainage and Health 307

CHAPTER XV.
Parks and Boulevards 318

CHAPTER XVI. Cemeteries 328

CHAPTER XVII.
Young Men's Christian Association 336

CHAPTER XVIII.
The Melrose Hospital Association 341

CHAPTER XIX.
Public Library 316

CHAPTER XX.
Literary and Musical Associations 355

CHAPTER XXI.
Bibliography 367

CHAPTER XXII.
Newspapers 383

CHAPTER XXIII.
Fire and Police Departments 388

CHAPTER XXIV.
City Hall, Clocks and Seals 394

CHAPTER XXV.
Various Institutions 402

CHAPTER XXVI.
Charitable and Improvement Associations 411

CHAPTER XXVII.
Anniversaries 415

CHAPTER XXVIII.
Temperance Matters 425

CHAPTER XXIX.
Societies — Associations — Clubs 431

CHAPTER XXX.
Political 446

CHAPTER XXXI.
Miscellaneous 450

APPENDIX.

A. Act of Incorporation 477
B. Report of Adjustment Committee 478
C. Act to Annex part of Stoneham to Melrose 482

 

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One of the many voyages of the intrepid and heroic navigator, Captain John Smith, was made in 1614, when he first visited the New England coast. He sailed from London, in the month of April, with two ships and forty-five men. The object of the voyage was, "to take Whales, for which we had one Samuel Cramton, and diuers others expert in that faculty, and also to make tryalls of a Myne of Gold and Copper; if those failed, Fish and Furs were then our refuge to make our selues sauers howsoeuer."