[160] In 1866 the town appropriated $10,000 to rebuild the schoolhouse in the Northwest District-burned in the latter part of October, 1866.
1867
Town accepted the flag-staff standing at the corner of Main and Pleasant Streets, and the flag donated by Benjamin Poland and others. The name of West Cambridge was changed to Arlington. The name of Arlington, which was now given to the town, had no previous historical significance in the place. It is a purely distinctive appellation, and was deemed a good post-office designation, unlikely to be confounded with the various adjacent localities in Cambridge. The lamented Rev. S. A. Smith, in his published address in 1864, already alluded to, thus protested against a change of name:I hope the name of the town will never be changed. It would be like giving up our birthright. As the Second Precinct of Cambridge, we hold an honorable place in history; who would alienate that inheritance? Other names may be more euphonious, but as soon should the man give up his surname, consecrated by the good acts, and glorified by the patriotism of pious and brave ancestors, as we give up that good old name of Cambridge, with which our village was baptized in blood on the nineteenth of April.
