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1681 AD (search for this): chapter 1
or tourelle, in the person of its minister, who spelled his name Turell,—which would indicate that his ancestors were of French extraction. To him it was given to be the occupant of the second pulpit during its entire existence and to begin that of another. That second pulpit only lacked supporting pillars under its sounding board (it being suspended by an iron rod), to make it almost a duplicate of the bell turret, the only example of which latter now remaining is that in Hingham, built in 1681. In 1669-70 was built the third meeting-house. This had the feature of a tower from the ground, whose first floor formed a vestibule, and contained a staircase leading to the gallery. Higher up, may (prior to 1812) have been stored the town's stock of powder. We are assuming this last, as such was the custom elsewhere. This tower was quite imposing in appearance, five stories in height, and stood directly against the easterly end of the meeting-house, which was of ample proportion t
1670 AD (search for this): chapter 1
the person of its minister, who spelled his name Turell,—which would indicate that his ancestors were of French extraction. To him it was given to be the occupant of the second pulpit during its entire existence and to begin that of another. That second pulpit only lacked supporting pillars under its sounding board (it being suspended by an iron rod), to make it almost a duplicate of the bell turret, the only example of which latter now remaining is that in Hingham, built in 1681. In 1669-70 was built the third meeting-house. This had the feature of a tower from the ground, whose first floor formed a vestibule, and contained a staircase leading to the gallery. Higher up, may (prior to 1812) have been stored the town's stock of powder. We are assuming this last, as such was the custom elsewhere. This tower was quite imposing in appearance, five stories in height, and stood directly against the easterly end of the meeting-house, which was of ample proportion to accommodate th
1876 AD (search for this): chapter 1
tled tower. In ‘72 the First Methodist and the First Baptist, and in ‘73 Trinity Methodist and the Congregational (both the latter at West Medford and new organizations) erected new houses of worship—a remarkable record for two successive years. All these were of wood; all had the features of a corner tower and belfry, with spires varying from forty-eight to one hundred and forty feet in height. In three the town placed public clocks, at the expense of about six hundred dollars each. In 1876, the two Congregational churches near Medford square united, and enlarged and remodeled the building on Salem street, erecting a corner tower, belfry and spire. To it was removed the first clock bought by the town (in ‘70), with its associated and former political bell, where they still remain in service. Previously, both had been in the tower of the High street edifice, erected in 1860, replacing the Second Congregational Meetinghouse, 1824, burned in 1860. Sold to the Roman Catholics, l
1850 AD (search for this): chapter 1
the fashion had changed and the tower came into its own again. St. Mary's, on Salem street, near Malden line, whose brick tower in which is a clock paid for by Medford, was the first to build. Then Grace church, out growing its wooden chapel of 1850, acquired largely through the munificence of Mrs. Ellen Shepherd Brooks its beautiful stone church with ivy mantled tower. In ‘72 the First Methodist and the First Baptist, and in ‘73 Trinity Methodist and the Congregational (both the latter at volving sails it was an interesting sight, especially when in operation. In sight of that was another tower (once a windmill), the old powder house just over the line in Somerville. Harvard College erected on the hill beside Winthrop street in 1850 a tower, or cairn of rock, only a few years ago removed. This was for a meridian mark, and due north from the observatory at Cambridge. Even the most casual observer will note the difference in the dwellings of any town, and experienced ones c
1849 AD (search for this): chapter 1
nade effect in four pilasters, and an unspired steeple of two stories with diminutive turrets at the four corners, while the Methodist Meeting-house, 1844, has but a single-storied and four-gabled cupola, with larger and taller corner turrets. By 1849 we find the Mystic Church, Congregational following in the steps of its mother, with a colonnaded front of four Corinthian pilasters (still recognizable in the present edifice)and a circular window, similar but larger than that of the First Parishence of steeple building, for the fashion was to change. Thus far we have written of the tower, the turret and steeple, and their erection and use in connection with the meeting-house, now by custom (also changeable) called church, and so since 1849. As these of the various faiths were erected, there was no occasion for others until the growth of the town toward its border lines made it, and by that time the fashion had changed and the tower came into its own again. St. Mary's, on Salem s
1810 AD (search for this): chapter 1
their neighbors of Woburn, Malden and Cambridge or over Charlestown (some of whose territory had lately been acquired) may not be said; but upon this lofty spire was perched a great brass rooster, beside which the present Unitarian bird is but a chicken. We were told by an eye-witness that Sam Swan, who lived next door, captured this same brass bird (which fell at his feet when the spire was pulled down in 1839), and carried it home with him. In the fifth story of this tower was placed in 1810 the first of Medford's public clocks, a gift to the town by Hon. Peter Chardon Brooks. We read in Paul Revere's Ride It was twelve by the village clock When he crossed the bridge into Medford town Doubtless the hour was right, but Mr. Longfellow was thirty-five years ahead of time, by poetic license. To be historically correct, read hereafter, by the villagers' clocks, and do no injustice to the famous poem. Before the rooster's downfall the second Medford bell was safely lowered, an
August 19th, 1905 AD (search for this): chapter 1
an its weakest link, the fact of that enormous weight hanging over his head as he turned the crank numerous times in the weekly winding was far from assuring. But care takers came and went, and so did the worshipers pass in and out for thirty-two years. Like the cathedral lamps of Pisa they swung to and fro in that Medford tower, but there was no Medford Galileo watching their oscillations, for few ever saw them or sensed the overhanging danger. But the end came on Saturday evening, August 19, 1905, when Medford had all at once three incendiary fires. That in this church spread so rapidly that practically nothing could be removed from it. The tall tower formed a flue up which the flames sped to attack the lofty spire. No set piece of pyrotechnic display was so destructively gorgeous as that presented to our vision when we arrived and found Salem street roped off for safety. The wall and roof covering entirely burned away, the heavier timbers, even to the apex of the wedge, with
1839 AD (search for this): chapter 1
as perched a great brass rooster, beside which the present Unitarian bird is but a chicken. We were told by an eye-witness that Sam Swan, who lived next door, captured this same brass bird (which fell at his feet when the spire was pulled down in 1839), and carried it home with him. In the fifth story of this tower was placed in 1810 the first of Medford's public clocks, a gift to the town by Hon. Peter Chardon Brooks. We read in Paul Revere's Ride It was twelve by the village clock Whed steeple, with its massive urns, clock dials and louvers, its final section octagonal and domed, all show the skill of an architect, and set the style of the next five to be built in Medford. Next was the First Parish Meeting-house (Unitarian) 1839, a little larger on the ground; here again a colonnade of four detached columns and four pilasters. A similar treatment of the sides shows it to he classic Greek, in its lines almost severe. But its tower was one worth seeing. In the gable bene
1860 AD (search for this): chapter 1
er, belfry and spire. To it was removed the first clock bought by the town (in ‘70), with its associated and former political bell, where they still remain in service. Previously, both had been in the tower of the High street edifice, erected in 1860, replacing the Second Congregational Meetinghouse, 1824, burned in 1860. Sold to the Roman Catholics, little change was made in exterior, only the closing of the louvers of the belfry and the substitution of a gilded cross for the weather-vane on1860. Sold to the Roman Catholics, little change was made in exterior, only the closing of the louvers of the belfry and the substitution of a gilded cross for the weather-vane on the spire. It was told that a bit of pleasant repartee occurred between the Mystic Church pastor and the parish priest on one occasion. The former, in passing, accosted the latter, who in his robes was overlooking the work, with Ah! what are you doing now? and got the reply, Sure, we are taking down the emblem of Protestantism and putting in its place that of Christianity. We never heard that there was any extended argument over the matter, and venture the opinion, that however convenient
1885 AD (search for this): chapter 1
t. It was eight feet in length and over one hundred and fifty feet in the air, on the Methodist church on Salem street. The tall tower of this (its third house of worship) was rectangular, sixteen by twenty-two feet, and its slated spire (surmounting an open belfry), a wedge six feet in width at the top. It was the architect's design to have the iron spindle, on which the vane swung, at the front end of this ridge, but the builders suited their own convenience, placing it in the middle. In 1885 the vane became damaged, the butt of the log slanted downward and appeared likely to fall. To add to the danger, several slates near the apex had become loosened and hung by one nail in an angular position, one directly over the side entrance door. Being one of the committee on repairs who could find none willing to undertake the job, the writer, with no previous experience as steeplejack, undertook its removal and repair himself. Building a scaffolding of two tiers on all sides, on timber
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