Charlestown Branch Library

First Church in Boston, 1632. The First Parish of Boston had been organized in Charlestown in 1630 and crossed to Boston in the autumn with the Rev. John Wilson, who preached out in the open air under the trees More

Part of page 201 in parish register of First Church in Charlestown. Showing entries of baptisms in 1632 and 1633. There are printed copies of this old register (years 1632-1789) in at least 30 public libraries, More

Bill for labor on Meeting House. Dated Sept. 25, 1750. Addressed to the town, which is recorded as having ordered the work on January 21, 1750. The charges were at the rate of 4 shillings a day, and totaled 18 More

Request of Sept. 16, 1788 for special town meeting to consider slaughter house at the North Bridge, leading to Wapping Street. Signed by Samuel Henley and 18 other objectors, including Amos Tufts, John and Davi More

First Church on Town Hill, built in 1783. Steeple designed by Charles Bulfinch and executed by Captain D. Goodwin, Jr. The mansion at the right was the parsonage built for the Rev. Jedediah Morse. Courtesy of B More

Public domain photo of a monument, historic place, 19th century - Picryl description.

St. Mary's Church. Built in 1829 on Richmond Street, now Rutherford Avenue, near Union Street. Its size was 45 by 133; and there were galleries on three sides. The interior showed patterns and scrolls in fresco More

The home of Dr. John S. Whiting. Built originally as a blacksmith shop back of the wooden residence of the blacksmith, Deacon Amos Tufts (prominent in the First Church) about 1800. The widening of Bow Street to More

Dexter house, Green Street. Built by Samuel Dexter in 1794. The beautiful stairway was the admiration of all visitors. Dexter sold the house in 1800 to Giles Alexander. Nathan Bridge, son of Matthew, lived ther More

Navy Yard, Charlestown. Showing two large ship houses, a three masted schooner, and two side wheelers with sails. Courtesy of Boston Public Library

Kettell house. Built in 1790, by Thomas Russell on property bought in 1790 from Samuel Dowse. The building was intended to be an academy, and for many years was used by the Russell Academy of Charlestown. About More

Edes House. First dwelling erected after the destruction of the town in 1775. It was owned by Thomas Edes, the ancestor of Henry H. Edes, who wrote the chapter entitled "Charlestown in the Last Hundred Years" i More

Ships model, 1815 or so. Named U.S.S. Portsmouth and labeled as by Josiah Barker, naval constructer U.S.N., from the lines of the privateer "Union" built by him at Charlestown, 1815. Courtesy of Boston Public Library

Hunnewell house. Built just after 1817 by Joseph Thompson. Soon after occupied by Amos Binney, one of the wealthiest men of Boston, and then by Commodore Perry, U.S.N. (afterward the widely known commander of t More

McLean Asylum. Opened Oct. 6, 1818, on Miller's or Cobble Hill, which had been a highly important fortified position in winter of 1775. The hill has now been almost removed for the B. & M. R.R. freight switchya More

Indenture of 1818. Leasing a stall in Market House for three years at fifty-one cents per week for the sale of meats. This Indenture, made the twenty seventh day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousan More

American S.S. Savannah. The first steam (and sail) ship to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Built in New York as a sailing vessel, and later fitted with steam engine and removable paddle wheels. Crossed from savannah More

House of Hon. James Russell, built in 1780 (1790?) Built as soon as could by after the fire of 1775, the location was unfortunate, directly on the market-place of a growing town, and it got the popular name of More

Bunker and Breed's Hills from the Navy Yard, about 1823. In the foreground, the commandant's house of brick with two bold swells toward the garden and the harbor, was built in 1809 and to this day has been cont More

Certificate of membership of the Bunker Hill Monument Assoc. This certificate is made out to Dr. Rufus Wyman, signed by the officers and a dozen members of the Association, and gives the date of founding as 182 More

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French lithograph of Lafayette at laying of corner stone. Drawn by Mlle. d' Hervilley a Paris. Lithographer, deLangline. Courtesy of Boston Public Library

Flier of Art Union of Needlework at 9 Bow Street. Advertising membership at $5.00 a year and referring to a piece of embroidery representing the resignation of the crown by Mary, Queen of Scotland, as worth $30 More

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Litho. of prison yard and outline plan of ground. The first State prison buildings were completed in 1805 and occupied in December of that year when 32 convicts were received from Fort Independence on Castle Is More

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Letter to Monument Association from Thomas Jefferson. Written from Monticello, July 21, 1825. Courtesy of Boston Public Library

Schooners at Neponset River, end of Quincy granite railroad. A wall painting by Marjorie Goodspread White in the Ships Haven Restaurant in Quincy. This railroad conveyed the granite for Bunker Hill Monument. Th More

Ursuline Convent on Mt. Benedict. In 1820 on Mount Benedict, in what was then Charlestown without the Neck and is now East Somerville, a community of the Order of St. Ursula (established in 1536) purchased an e More

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The Monument in 1830. In November, 1827, Willard reported: "It is two years since we commenced quarrying at our ledge.. What has been done thus far, has been done with our hands tied.." in Jan., 1829, all work More

Request that Shippie Street be renamed Townsend Street, March 14,1831. Signed by Caleb Pierce, Sam Devens, Nathan Pratt, James K. Frothingham and others. Townsend Street has now become the lower end of Chestnut More

Remonstrance of April 2, 1832 against setting the gun house on the training field. "To the Gentlemen, composing the committee chosen at the town meeting on Monday, 5th Inst to report to the town on the subject More

State prison, 1833. Lynde's Point, on which the State Prison in Charlestown was later erected, was sold by Captain McNeil in November 1800 to the state commissioners appointed by the legislature. It contained o More

Certificate of Bunker Hill Monument Association in 1833. This certificate hung for many years in a general store in a small town of southern New Hampshire, being finally sold in public auction to John Lothrop. More

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U.S.F. Constitution in 1834. Moored between the U.S. 74's Columbus and Independence at the Charlestown Navy Yard in June. Courtesy of Boston Public Library

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Document no. 3 regarding surrender of lands for new street along N.E. side of Bunker Hill, November 10, 1835. Refers to Medford Street apparently and asks that it be 50 feet wide and removed from the Mystic Riv More

McLean Asylum in 1835. "It is situated on one of the most beautiful spots in the vicinity of Boston, which was formerly the estate of a gentleman of great wealth and was selected by him on account of the salubr More

National House. Oliver C. Cutter and James Walker, Prop. Corner of Chelsea and Joiner Streets. This hotel is still listed in the Boston street directory of 1923 as standing on the east side of Chelsea Street. C More

The Monument in 1837. Work remained suspended until the Ladies Fair in 1840, and five thousand dollar gifts from two prominent citizens started the work again. The two and a half ton capstone was set in place i More

Sketch of two historic dolls. Boy doll was made to sell for Bunker Hill Monument Fund in 1840. Polly Summer, the other doll, was English- made, dated 1773. Sketch by M.M. Kendall. Courtesy of Boston Public Library

Universalist Church. Before enlargement and rebuilding in 1863. Built between April and Sept. 1811, tower and bell being added in 1840. At left is the second vestry (on north side of lot), built in 1843. The fi More

Hymn sheet for lecture at 210th anniversary of First Congregational church, November 13, 1842. Including text of hymn by William B. Tappan, beginning: God of our fathers, while our ears shall hear the chronicle More

Cover of "76" Quick Step. Lithograph by Thayer and Son. Performed by the Boston Brass Band at the dedication to the Monument, June 17, 1843, and dedicated to Bunker Hill Monument Association. The drawing was pr More

Warren Bridge June 17, 1843. Showing the parade from Boston approaching the dedication exercises of June 17 at Bunker Hill Monument. The bridge was built in 1828 and was a quarter of mile long when first made. More

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Pulling Jack, sketched for Solomon Willard's book of 1843 on the monument. This machine was contrived and first used at the Bunker Hill quarry in Quincy. The power is about ten tons or with the addition of a sh More

Public domain photo of a monument, historic place - Picryl description

Bunker Hill Monument looking S.E. Engraved by A.V.S. Anthony from drawing by Edwin A. Abbey. Courtesy of Boston Public Library

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Public domain photo of a monument, historic place - Picryl description

Frontispiece to 31 page book of 1843 by Solomon Willard, its architect, about "Plans & sections of the obelisk on Bunker's Hill with details of experiments made in quarrying." Shows no windows & no details of t More

Reprint of badges of 1843. Framed print from original plate from which badges were struck off at the celebration of the dedication of the completed Bunker Hill Monument, June 17, 1843. Courtesy of Boston Public Library

Colored engraving of Bunker Hill Monument. The North End of Boston and Beacon Hill appear in background. The costumes suggest an earlier period than 1843 when the Monument was actually completed. Courtesy of Bo More

Sketch from Solomon Willard's book of 1843, showing underground foundation 12 ft. deep and 50 ft. square for Bunker Hill Monument which as declared July 5, 1825 five weeks after the laying of the cornerstone, w More

Rydal Mt. Ladies Boarding School. The home of the Nathan Tufts, who died in 1835, was occupied by his widow until 1843 when it became the Rydal Mount Ladies Boarding School for a number of years. The house stoo More

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Bunker Hill Monument. Frontispiece of Richard Frothingham's "The Battle of Bunker Hill." The end of the first high school building shows at the left. The house with the cupola is that of Phineas J. Stone on Con More

Cover of Nicholson's "Quick step." Shows square rigger firing cannon. Navy Yard and Bunker Hill Monument in the background. The typical ship's house of this period shows five tiers of windows. Courtesy of Bosto More

Public domain photo of a monument, historic place, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Public domain reproduction of lantern slide, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Cover of Masonic Ode by Thomas Power. Written in 1845, showing first Monument "erected A.D. 1794, by King Solomon's Lodge of Freemasons, constituted at Charlestown, 1783, in memory of Major General Warren and h More

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John Harvard monument in Phipps Street Burial Ground. Bunker Hill Monument shows in the right background and at the extreme left one gets a clear view of the true Bunker Hill, with five houses and a windmill ne More

Bunker Hill Monument and three brick residences. 1848. From a booklet of that year, containing the "Panoramic View from Bunker Hill Monument," drawn by R.P. Mallory. The three brick residences seem to have been More

Bunker Hill Monument looking east. Old North Church in right background and #7 Monument Square (with cupola) erected 1848 by the Hon. G. Washington Warren, first Mayor of Charlestown, 1847-1850, later state sen More

Stone house built by General Nathaniel Austin. Built of stone brought from the outer Brewster Island in Boston Harbor, which he purchased for $400 in 1799. The island is 17 acres in extent, and is said by Edwar More

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Doorway of Dr. Lambert's house, formerly Rydel Mount Ladies Boarding School. Reverend Thomas R. Lambert, D.D., was chaplain in the Navy Yard for almost 22 years before he served as rector of St. John's Church, More

Bunker Hill Monument showing Monument Square Methodist Church. Three At the left is the house occupied by John Wade Damon (Sawyer pp. 405-8) and purchased in 1863 or so by Capt. Washington Thomas, said to have More

Unsigned primitive painting of Charlestown Prison Yard showing granite octagonal structure of 1850. Possibly painted by an inmate; certainly an example of folk art. For the first sixty years in the life of the More

Public domain photograph of church building, Christianity, religious architecture - Picryl description

Oliver Holden organ and portrait. Given to the Bostonian Society by the will of his granddaughter, Mrs. Fannie A. Tyler, in 1889. Oliver Holden was born in Shirley, Mass., in 1765, and came to Charlestown in 17 More

Interior of John Boyle O'Reilly home, at 34 Winthrop Street. He owned other houses in Charlestown, notably the Sargent-Hills house on the northwest corner of High and School Sts., and the Buddington house next More

The Hathaway and Worthin House at 69 Rutherford Avenue. Courtesy of Boston Public Library

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The battery, cannon, etc., Charlestown Navy Yard. Some of the naval stores -- piles of shot neatly arranged and painted for preservation, and long rows of artillery of every description. Courtesy of Boston Public Library

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Gravestone of Captain John Fowle. Died in 1711, aged 74 years. The coat of arms having a lion between three roses is that of the Fowle family in England where Captain Fowle himself was born, probably in 1637. C More

First Quaker meeting house of Salem, Mass. Erected in 1688, and retaining the original framework. Maintained by the Essex Institution on their premises. Until recently, this building was reputed to be the "Old More

Promenade. Looking from lower end of ropewalk in the Boston naval shipyard. Courtesy of Boston Public Library

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U.S.S. Vanderbuilt. A side-wheeler presented to the U.S. in 1861 by Commodore Cornelius (?) Vanderbuilt, a ship of 3360 tons, stout and swift, perhaps the most successful of the converted merchant ships. Equipp More

Barrell mansion (south side). In 1842, this part of Charlestown was set apart as Somerville, but it was 1895 before the new hospital buildings in Waverly were ready to accommodate the patients and the transfer More

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Public domain photograph of organ, keyboard instrument, church, gothic architecture - Picryl description

Interior of Harvard Church. The fine glass chandelier is probably the one presented by John Skinner, the master spirit of the building of a free bridge -- the Warren Avenue Bridge -- from Charlestown to Boston. More

Fountain at Sullivan Square. Governor Alvin Fuller was born and lived as a boy in this vicinity. Two or three houses in this neighborhood were not burned by the British after the Battle of Bunker Hill -- one of More

Charlestown Female Seminary and First Baptist Church, 1850. This is said to have been the first boarding school for girls in the state, and almost the first in the country. The seminary was instituted in 1831 b More

Bunker Hill Cemetery with many healthy young elms. This cemetery was opened in 1803. Courtesy of Boston Public Library

"Old Ironsides" with all her spars set and not covered. Last active cruise 1879-81. Maintained as a training ship till her centennial in 1897. Cruised the Atlantic and Pacific home ports 1931-34. In service but More

St. Mary's Church interior. Altar and sanctuary of the first edifice, standing on Richmond Street (the present Rutherford Avenue) a few doors above Union Street, where the playground is now seen. Courtesy of Bo More

Savings Bank Building and Masonic Hall. At this time, the Charlestown Five Cents Savings Bank and the Monument National Bank divided the second floor. On the ground floor were the shops or offices of: B.F. Stac More

City Seal and list of points of interest, 1850. The "Ice Houses" are the fourth item of interest, and were presumably near the end of Warren Bridge, where the Fitchburg R.R. ended until 1848. Courtesy of Boston More

Charlestown Female Seminary and First Baptist Church. Many distinguished teachers and missionaries and leading educators graduated from this seminary, including Mary Livermore. The school in 1843 had 160 pupils More

House of Herman S. Doane. Deacon of the Winthrop Church (who lived around 1837 on High Street) near the Col. Samuel Jaques house on Washington Street, over-looking the sea wall and Back Bay to Cambridge, and th More