Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 4.

[p. 2] the old high-school building and, looking towards the river, see in imagination the retaining wall on the north side of the river, and the earth filling back of it removed; also the retaining wall supporting the southerly side of High street, that extends from the dwelling house of Dr. Bemis to a point opposite the driveway of the public library, and the filling back of that also removed; see the new channel of the river filled up so as to turn the water into its original course, sweep away all buildings and other improvements, remembering that the tide once flowed into the square, that Cradock bridge was twice its present length, and that the south bank of the river was then substantially as at present; see also the narrow cart path creeping along the bank of the river, just above high-water mark, and then climbing the steep bank in front of the public library building, and we shall then understand the situation thereabouts when the ford was in use.

The general course of the river from Cradock bridge to the northerly end of the ford is nearly east and west, then it takes an abrupt turn in a southwesterly direction, bringing the landing places on the north and south side of the river about opposite each other, and making the course of the fording place lengthwise of that portion of the river.

The place thus designated as the site of the ancient ford at Mistick does not agree with those selected by the historians of Medford. It will therefore be necessary to show cause for locating it as above described.

Fortunately the early records of the town of Charlestown (see the Third Report of the Boston Record Commissioners) furnish all the evidence necessary to locate the ancient ford at Mistick, extracts from which are as follows:

A record of land laid out in Charlestown bounds on this side of the Menotomie's River (being called the Stinted Pasture) unto the Proprietors thereof, according to a vote of theirs passed when convened together, March 10th 1684-5.