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of one, at least, of the children of the second generation born in the house are stored pleasant pictures of days gone by, when the golden robin built her nest in the long branches, and a swing hung from a branch over the road or driveway which led up to the house from Medford street. The Somerville Historical Society also has pleasant and inspiring memories of the years when the old house was its headquarters.
Sycamore trees grew on each side of the driveway, and gave the name to the street.
They were cut down long ago, and boards made of the wood were used to re-floor a shed of the Tufts house.
Wood from the sycamore tree is not suitable for use in places exposed to the atmosphere, and so the new floor was not very durable.
A row of sycamore trees grew on each side of Medford street, from Central to Thurston, where there was a well and drinking trough for the wayfarer and Mr. Tufts' cattle.
From Thurston to School, the land being somewhat lower, Medford street was lined with willows.
All these trees met overhead, and must have formed an attractive, shady avenue.
At School street was a small pond with a large willow tree in the centre.
A ‘resting-stone’ near was often the stopping place on the way from school for one little girl, at least.
Some of these willow trees still remain.
An orchard, with a great variety of fruit, was one of the attractions of this homestead, and there are left of it four trees, still bearing, three of which belong to a member of the second generation.
Of the rest of the orchard, which was located across Medford street from the Tufts house, as well as back toward Central street, only the memory of a tree, the fruit of which was very sweet, though no larger than a crab-apple, remains.
Many of the trees on Forster street were set out by Deacon Charles Forster, who was interested in the formation of the first church in Somerville, and in other measures for the good of the community, when it was separated from Charlestown, in 1842.
Going down Broadway, one on the lookout for old trees is brought to a halt at the sight of a spreading apple tree on the estate of I. A. Whitcomb.
Investigation leads one to conclude
Somerville. Historical Society. , 1907.
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