Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 11.

[p. 47] their flight over my uncle Joseph's, Roach's, and Train's premises, every one seemed to be out, beating tin pans, ringing table bells and making other discordant noises to induce the bees to settle in a swarm so that they could be hived. But they cared nothing for the noise but soon got into their new quarters where they lived several years and made a deal of honey. The first winter after they came my mother had a door and shelves arranged so that from the attic chamber where I and my brothers slept, the door could be opened and honey taken out. These bees were finally destroyed by an excessively cold winter.

James G. Swan Boston, Aug. 5, 1888.

The bees are also shown clustered on the ‘southwest corner,’ and duly labelled ‘Bees.’ This above manuscript is in a clearer and excellent hand and on white paper. The ‘premises of Roach’ may be identified today by the old cellar, where was the house which was demolished soon after the death (by accidental burning) of Hannah Roach, in 1886. Those of ‘Train,’ as is well known, adjoined the house of Mrs. Swan, which became a beehive. The residence of Mr. James Swan's ‘uncle Joseph’ was then near High street, and was in the early seventies moved backward, enlarged and remodelled to its present shape by the late Alvin D. Puffer.

Both the Messrs. Swan were observers of men and things in Medford.