Historic leaves, volume 2, April, 1903 - January, 1904

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[81] committee has placed this in the hands of the Somerville Historical Society to formulate. That very important and agreeable duty the Historical Society will cheerfully and conscientiously perform.

In concise and dignified English, it will tell the story, that all, young and old, may readily comprehend the reason of its erection, and be impressed with the lesson the monument itself conveys.

I fear we here do not the half appreciate the historic value of our surroundings—do not half comprehend or value the riches, historically speaking, of our city, even, to say nothing of the wealth of such material in the region included in the original Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay colonies. We do well to mark all historic spots, and to call attention to these grand features in the landscape of our city.

As the most interesting colonial object outside of the Old Mill at Newport, R. I., the Powder House stands a monument to the liberality of one of our honored families. It and the park surrounding it deservedly attract the interest and admiration of all lovers of the historic, both native and the stranger within our gates.

Quarry Hill and Prospect Hill are surely immortalized. Why not immortalize the spot where the Blessing of the Bay was launched by erecting a fitting monument there?

Why not, Mr. Mayor and gentlemen of the city government, consider its claim for recognition? The Blessing of the Bay was the forerunner of that great shipbuilding interest that made Medford and New England famous—the forerunner, also, of the American navy, for it became the first armed cruiser of America, and although of tiny proportions—only twenty-one tons—it did good service along the shores of New England in protecting the interests of the settlers—the traders and the fishermen—from the attacks of Indians and others on the high seas.

Mr. Mayor, when the history of Somerville shall appear, one of the most interesting chapters, I fancy, will refer to ‘Somerville During the Siege of Boston.’ The whole of our area was virtually a military camp. The line of earthworks extended