Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 29.

Mr. Smith speaks of the territory between the canal and river as the ‘fifty-acre Payson farm,’ but mentioned no other buildings on its High street frontage. This farm, in the fifties, became known as the Smith estate from its then owner, Thomas P. Smith.

He mentions a small house, opposite his father's, of Spencer Bucknam (in other occupancy), which was torn down. Also another at corner of Grove street that was later moved, and in which Mr. Brooks' gardener lived. As his recollection begins with 1820, this is indicative of the development of the Brooks estate. Evidently that house remains (the farmhouse long occupied by Lucien Conant), and last year was remodelled with stucco coating.

His next statement is, ‘an eighth of a mile further east lived Miss Rebecca Brooks—Aunt Becky.’ Robert Caldwell lived in her house and carried on the farm, i.e., what he styled the Payson farm. The Fuller plan of 1854 shows the outline of this house, and also the one-hundred-foot barn in which was later the gymnasium of Mystic Hall Seminary. This was at the site of present Brentwood Court, and ‘Aunt Becky's’ house was later the residence of Mrs. Smith, and one of the seminary buildings Elijah Smith alluded to.¹ He also stated that ‘nearly opposite, Miss Brooks' brother Caleb lived on the site of present railway station.’ As he told this in 1903 and the present station was built in 1891, and this house is shown on the Fuller plan of 1854, it indicates some later changes. This was his only allusion to the railroad, which was opened in 1835, and whose first station house, ‘Medford Gates,’ was on the east of the tracks, near High street.

He mentioned next ‘the house owned by Leonard Bucknam, occupied by his brother-in-law, Eleazer Usher; ’