Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 28.

[p. 56] years ago, and they found them among other antiques in their attic. He knew nothing about them as to where they came from. . . . I am glad to know it is of some interest to the Medford Historical Society. Have you looked on the back of the picture for the names of the buildings, etc?

Yours very truly,

C. A. Whiting.

This shaded drawing is nine by thirteen inches, and the names on its back (from left to right) are George Porter's storehouse, Gibson's, Coburn's and Hervey's stores, town hall, post-office, Winneck, postmaster, First Orthodox meeting-house, Dr. Swan's carriage, town pump, old Turell house. The last is incorrect, as the Turell residence was at Winthrop square. The Turell Tufts house, former home of the two doctors Simon Tufts, was at the corner of Forest street till 1867. The fact that Mr. Winneck was postmaster 1853-9 would place the making of this view of the ‘old square, Medford,’ whose written title is reproduced, as between those dates. And now, after the changes of seventy-two years, the Medford post-office is in the same spot. The absence of the brick building east of the Seccomb house raises query as to time of its erection. Note the diminutive structure beyond the town house, and George Porter's storehouse beyond the town house's brick end. We think the artist squeezed the latter on its Main street side but did justice to the ‘orthodox’ steeple.

We hope to present in a later issue views of present Medford square, which will supplement that most comprehensive one in Vol. XXVII, p. 64. We commend an examination of that, as also all others published and available in the Historical Society's collection.

Remember that a centuy ago, when Turell Tufts, Esq., chairman of selecmen, welcomed LaFayette, Medford had no town hall in the market place.