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[p. 27] which were but four feet long, looked, on these carriages, rather diminutive to experts, but by the average layman this was unnoticed.

On April 19, 1875, occurred at Lexington the first of the centennial celebrations. This was attended by the Magoun Battery, which took the place assigned it in the procession, and also on June 7th it attended the centennial of Bunker Hill, in Charlestown and Boston. This last was the company's busy day, as James M. Usher and others had asked for a salute at West Medford, as well as at the center of the town, which was fired at morning and night.

On June 28 some of the East Medford people asked for a share of the noise, and as the western section wanted more on July 5, the selectmen settled the matter by directing Captain Russell to fire with both guns at the center.

The guns and equipment were housed somewhere temporarily until late in the year, when a building was erected for the town by William Stetson, at an expense of $600, upon the Swan lot, known as the ‘Pit,’ where is now Governors Avenue. The company preferred this location to one on Union street, and the matter was left to the discretion of selectman Hooper, who foreseeing possible exigencies, there placed it, the highway men building the foundation therefor, thus securing a storage place beneath for some of their apparatus. It was a serviceable structure, and the selectmen reported that in the latter respect it would prove an entire success. A view of it may be found in the Medford Mercury. The company were given leave to finish a room in its second story at its own expense. This was fitted up as a gymnasium, for the men were well drilled, and as one said recently, ‘We were it, and always had a fine, good time, and enjoyed the exercise, drill and public parades to the full.’ They had their seasons of gayety and pleasure like other organizations, ‘firemen, military and civic.’

It is unfortunate that no files of the Medford Journal or the Chronicle are to be found, as these covered the

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