Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 16.

Charles R. Adams, who won fame on the operatic stage abroad, is remembered by many, as he had a residence here for several years (1879-1882). At that time he was filling an engagement with opera companies at the Boston Theatre. In his early years he was a tenor singer of high qualifications, with a voice of great expression of feeling. He was born in Somerville and later moved to Boston. He displayed a taste for singing when very young. He spent many years in Germany and Austria, where he became a celebrated opera singer. The Emperor of Austria frequently requested Mr. Adams to sing before him and his friends at Vienna, and Mr. Adams brought home to America a laurel wreath presented him while abroad.

Antonio F. de Navarro received reflected glory by his marriage(1889) with Mary Anderson, the beautiful actress. We mention him because he was a pupil at the A. K. Hathaway private school on Chestnut street, where there were many students of Spanish extraction. (The school lasted from 1846-1860.)

Who can say that Medford has not an interesting history back of her with plenty of variety? Is there not enough charm in it to attract the attention of the boys and girls for whom our city today is spending money so generously to provide them with elegant school buildings, finely equipped, and giving them well trained, conscientious teachers of high ability? Are not some of these boys and girls going to give a little time to the study of the history of the city that is either their birthplace or home, and then become the successors of the members of the Medford Historical Society of today?

Medford has had many eminent sons and daughters, and they have allied themselves with families equally distinguished, and the history of the future of our city may be even more brilliant than that of the past, but let the young people of today remember that the making of the future has a strong relation to the past.