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they may be credited it is impossible to say definitely.
Temple street was formerly known as Derby street, and Colonel Jaques presented it to the city.
After comparison with other trees whose approximate age is known, one is inclined to say they are something over a hundred years, perhaps one hundred and twenty-five years old. Probably the trees nearer the house were older.
On the corner of Sargent avenue and Broadway was an old pear tree and a very large Balm of Gilead in the early days of Somerville.
The large elm at Walnut street, in the parkway, was in the yard of Chauncey Holt, whose house stood there and was removed when Broadway was widened.
Mr. Holt lived in Somerville in 1842, and, in all probability, some years previous to that time.
Large elms on Walnut street, in front of the Skilton estate, are from sixty to seventy-five years old. Those in front of the Gilman place were set out seventy years ago. Only one remains to-day, standing by the sidewalk.
A Revolutionary elm stood at the corner of Broadway and Cross street until 1860, when it was cut down.
Two tulip trees are remembered growing on the Runey estate on Cross street. As tulip trees are slow in coming to their maturity, they must have been of great age.
Willows are remembered growing on Broadway, about opposite Walnut street, long before the land was made into a park.
The present trees date front 1876, when, on the seventeenth of June, the park was dedicated and formally opened to the public.
Many citizens, at the invitation of the city government, presented trees, which were set out and marked with the names of the donors.
Only a very few of the names can be ascertained, as there was no official record kept, or if it was kept, it has been lost.
Ex-Mayor Furber set out four for himself and family; ex-Mayor Brastow, Zadoc Bowman, N. E. Fitz, Aaron Sargent, and John C. Magoun each set out one.
Jacob Glines set out a sycamore tree very near the flagstaff.
Clark Bennett and Quincy A. Vinal, who was chairman of the committee for laying out the park, both furnished trees.
Mather E. Hawes set out an English elm. Credit should be given to him as the originator of
Somerville. Historical Society. , 1907.
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