OF

NEWTON

MASSACHUSETTS

BY

M. F. SWEETSER

AUTHOR OF ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES," "TICK NOR'S GUIDE-BOOKS," "KING'S NAHANT,"
"KING'S BOSTON HARBOR," "KING'S UNITED STATES," ETC.

DRAWINGS BY FRANK H. TAYLOR, WILLIAM P. BODWELL, FRANK MYRICK,
SEARS GALLAGHER, J. H. HATFIELD, A. LEIGHTON DONNELL, GEORGE H.
JOHNSON.

PLATES BY MATTHEWS, NORTHRUP & Co., of Buffalo; PHOTO-ENGRAVING
Co., of New York; BOSTON PHOTOGRAVURE Co., BOSTON ENGRAVING
Co., and LEWIS ENGRAVING Co., of Boston.

WOOD ENGRAVINGS BY GEORGE H. JOHNSON, F. E. FILLEBROWN,
S. S. KILBURN.

THE COVER WAS DESIGNED AND ENGRAVED BY JOHN BECKER, of Boston,
a resident of Mt. Ida, Newton.

ELECTROTYPED, PRINTED, AND BOUND BY

GEORGE H. ELLIS, Franklin and Federal Streets,

BOSTON.

Introduction.

THIS book has been prepared as a popular household companion for all the families who make their homes in any of the fifteen villages which together form "The Newtons," the garden city of Massachusetts.

Although it abounds with historical and statistical matter, it does not claim to be a history, nor a book of statistics, nor a directory; but it is merely one of "King's Handbooks," and as such it will be found to contain the most notable and interesting facts pertaining to Newton, told in a simple, entertaining, and trustworthy manner, and at the same time illustrated so profusely and appropriately as to become at once attractive and enjoyable.

The text has been enriched with a great number of memorable historical facts, anecdotes of noted residents, fragments of poetry, and other piquant and interesting features. The form of treatment is in simple geographical order. The book opens with two or three preliminary chapters of a general nature about the town and the city, and then continues with sixteen chapters, each describing one of the villages or well-marked neighborhoods. Thus in each chapter a village is discussed, with its chief streets and parks, public and private buildings, famous natives and residents, bits of legend and poetry, stories of the colonial, Revolutionary, and modern days, and some local history. In this compact form a conception of each locality is presented, bringing into view all its phases, and yet without confusing references to other places. A clear, vivid, and individual idea is thus gained of each of the component parts of the whole city.

The author wishes to acknowledge his obligations to many people who have been moved -partly by local pride and partly by the prevailing courteousness to read over and add to and correct the material here used, both in the manuscript and in the proof-sheets. It is not possible to enumerate all, but among them were ex-Governor Alex. H. Rice, ex-Governor William Claflin, the late Rev. Dr. Increase N. Tarbox, the Rev. Dr. Samuel F. Smith, the Rev. Dr. D. L. Furber, Colonel