Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 22.

[p. 50] numbered six. For want of any such bills, we are led to infer that the directors of the Andover Turnpike paid collectively their own expenses, and the company those of the clerk and Col. Warner. If so they were unlike those of the Middlesex Canal whose accounts show ‘wines, lemons, sugar, trucking same, and broken tumblers,’ ‘for the directors party.’

Much has been written about that famous old waterway, and it is still a favorite and interesting subject, but little has been written of this last outlet of travel from Medford square.

In the library of the Historical Society is a framed picture of the old toll house, made long after its use as such. Its Medford milestones still remain; the second one, because of the thoughtful interest taken by one not a resident of Medford. This old bill of Blanchard's will find a place beside the picture, as one of the few tangible reminders of the enterprise of Medford's solid men at the opening of the nineteenth century. Its itemized charges show $4.50 for baiting horses, and of the 17.83 for the men, $8.09 was for their liquid refreshment that in those days was deemed so essential; and the three items in lump sum probably in the same proportion. But how would the site of Union hall appear to its proprietor could he see it today? No ginn toddy, bitters or flip at any price, no ‘bating hors,’ but more automobiles in twenty-four hours than horses in a year then, and no walking out from Boston for exercise.

Jonathan Porter would look with delight upon the elm arched vista of Forest street, and turning about find his old home, the only thing of that day remaining, changed somewhat, but still recognizable. Col. Fitch Hall could find the old mansions a little way up High street. Both did well in projecting and building the Andover Turnpike, one hundred and fourteen years ago.

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An older scrap.

At the May meeting of the Historical Society, President Charles E. Mann of the Malden society read an interesting