Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 13.

The churches then at Medford were the Unitarian, Universalist and Mystic, at present locations; Episcopal, near present site of the Armory; First Trinitarian, in the building where is now Page & Curtin's hardware business; Baptist, in the building since used as a livery stable, next to the Salem street cemetery; and the Methodist, at the corner of Salem and Oakland streets—at distances inconvenient for regular attendance of the children and the aged of families where no horses were kept.

The Teele and Huffmaster farms, extending side by side north from High street, were being opened up for new residents. Mr. Samuel Teele lived in the house still standing between Brooks street and Hammond place; Mr. John H. Norton, whose wife was Martha Huffmaster, occupied the Huffmaster homestead, High street, corner Allston; N. T. Merritt, Franz Diebold and E. M. Platt were on Prescott street; Mr. Hawley, Franklin Patch, William McLean, Luther Farwell, Ira P. Ackerman and Henry L. Barnes on Allston street. Mr. Barnes moved from Boston in February, 1857, and lived in the same house till his death, in January, 1904, which house he gave by will to the West Medford Congregational Society.

Mr.Barnes and Mrs. Barnes united with the First Trinitarian Church, Medford, by letter from the Mount Vernon Church, Boston, and he was so active a worker that he was soon elected a deacon, which office he held till the First Church united with the Mystic Church.

A Methodist class meeting had been held during a part of 1864 at the house of Mr. Hawley. A series of maternal meetings was also held in 1864, sometimes, at least, at the house of Mrs. Barnes. These were monthly meetings, with children in attendance quarterly. Mrs. Barnes also assembled a class of children on Saturday afternoons, to whom she taught the Bible lesson assigned for the next day's study in the Sabbath-school. This class was for the children who could not attend Sabbathschool