sufficient, and so convenient that it soon became serviceable. April 20, 1659, Thomas Broughton sold to Edward. Collins, for six hundred and fifty pounds, "his two watermills, which he built in Mistick River." They were then occupied by Thomas Eames.

There was a mill a short distance below the Wear Bridge; but who built it, and how long it stood, we have not been able to discover. In 1660 Edward Collins conveyed a "gristmill on the Menotomy side" to Thomas. Danforth, Thomas Brooks, and Timothy Wheeler. This mill was previously occupied by Richard Cooke.

There was a mill at the place now called the "Bower," about one mile north of the meeting-house of the First Parish, carried by the water of Marble Brook. The banks, race, canal, and cellar are yet traceable. This was used for grinding grain and sawing timber. It was on land now owned by Mr. Dudley Hall.

The remains of another water-mill are still visible on land now owned by Mr. W. A. Russell, near the northwest border of the town. It was carried by the water of Whitmore Brook. This mill must have been among the earliest in Medford.

The first action of the town respecting mills was May 30, 1698, and the record reads thus: "Put to vote, whether the inhabitants of Medford will petition the General Court for liberty to build a gristmill on the river, near and above Mistick Bridge. Voted in the affirmative." This was not successful; nor was the following, Nov. 26, 1700 : "Whether the town will petition the General Court for liberty to build a corn-mill in their town, at Gravelly Bank. near Mistick Bridge. This was voted in the affirmative."

When the circular stone windmill, now standing on Quarry Hill, in Somerville, was built, the inhabitants of Medford carried their grain there. Before the Revolution,. the mill was converted into a powder-house, and was used as such.

1730: Mr. John Albree built a mill upon his own land, on a branch of Marble Brook. It stood about six rods west of Purchase Street, where it joins the land of Mr. A. D. Puffer. The supply of water was small, as the present banks indicate. There Albree, and his only son Joseph, wove cloth by water, prepared wool for spinning, and had lathes for turning wood. His house of two stories, which he built, stood about six rods north-east from his mill.

The mill stood more than forty years, and was once used for the manufacture of pomatum and starch.

1746: This year the tide-mill, near Sandy Bank, was built; and it was the first of the kind in that part of the town. As it is now standing, it may be worth while to state a few facts touching its origin. Articles of agreement were concluded, Feb. 20, 1746, between Richard Sprague, cooper; Samuel Page, yeoman; Simon Tufts, Esq., physician; John Willis, yeoman; Stephen Hall, trader; Stephen Bradshaw, yeoman; Simon Bradshaw, leatherdresser; and Benjamin Parker, blacksmith, -on the one part, all of Medford, and owners of land; and, on the other part, Stephen Hall, Samuel Page, and Stephen Willis, of Medford, husbandmen, and Benjamin Parker, of Charlestown, housewright, as undertakers. They of the first part give the portions of land they own lying between the market and Cross Street, on condition that they of the second part will open a straight road, two rods wide, from the market to Cross Street, and build a stone bridge over Gravelly Creek. This was introductory to building the tide-mill. Benjamin Parker gave the land on which the mill was built, thirty-one feet long, and twenty-five wide. John Willis and Benjamin Parker gave liberty to the undertakers to cut a ditch from Gravelly Creek to the mill, and to build a dam. Dr. Tufts, John Willis, Samuel Page, Thomas Oakes, and Nathaniel Hall bind themselves never to obstruct the free flow of water to the mill. The undertakers then bind themselves "to erect a good gristmill on the spot of land above mentioned; and said mill shall be ready to go at or before the last day of September next." As guaranty for each party, they "bind themselves in the penal sum of five hundred pounds."

The mill was completed, and answered its purpose. It afterwards came into the possession of Timothy Waite, jun. He sold it to Seth Blodget, March 9, 1761. Mr. Blodget sold it to Matthew Bridge, Oct. 18, 1780. Mr. Bridge sold one-half of it to John Bishop, April 7, 1783; and sold the other half to John Bishop, jun., April 29, 1784. John Bishop sold the whole to Gershom Cutter, who sold to Samuel Cutter, who sold to George T. Goodwin, who sold to Joseph Manning, to whose heirs it now belongs.

This mill has had various fortunes, and, by turns, has

done all sorts of work.

Whether it has been most successful grinding grain or mustard-seeds or paints, or in sawing mahogany and turning wood, we know not. It has now had an existence of a hundred and forty years, and gives the promise of much good work in the future.

May 10, 1766: It was again suggested "to build a gristmill near the great bridge." But it was not done. May 12, 1791: The town voted "not to allow any one to build a mill near the great bridge."

TAVERNS.

For more than a hundred years, all the land travel to Boston from Maine, from the eastern parts of New Hampshire and the north-eastern parts of Massachusetts, passed through Medford; and its distance from Boston made it a convenient stopping-place for travelling traders. Hence the need of public houses. No town in the State, of its size, had so many in number or better in quality; and they were all placed conveniently on the great thoroughfare.

In early times no one could "keep tavern" without a special license from the court. The form was as follows: "Nathaniel Pierce, of Medford, is permitted to sell liquors unto such sober-minded neighbors as he shall think meet, so as he sell not less than the quantity of a gallon at a time to one person, and not in smaller quantities by retail to the occasioning of drunkenness."

The first tavern of which we have any record was built by Major Jonathan Wade, about 1690, and kept by Nathaniel Pierce. It stood a few rods south of the bridge, on the corner of Main and Union Streets, and for more than a century offered its accommodations to the public. It was bought by Colonel Royal, and had on its sign a representation of Admiral Vernon. Its owner wished to let it; and his advertisement, dated Dec. 26, 1743, reads thus: "Any persons beforehanded, so as to lay in a good stock of liquors and other necessaries for a tavern, may meet with proper encouragement from Isaac Royal, Esq." Accompanying the above was this notice: "A person has a handsome mourning-coach, with a pair of good horses, to let out to any funeral, at ten shillings, old tenor, each funeral." This house acquired great popularity, especially when kept by Roger Billings, in 1775. It was after

wards kept by Mr. James Tufts and son. It became a private dwelling about half a century ago, and so continued till its destruction by fire, Nov. 21, 1850.

The "Fountain House," next in order of time, was built as early as 1725, and yet stands, a comfortable residence. Being well placed on the great thoroughfare between Salem and Boston, it had extensive patronage. It aimed to be a little superior to other houses. Its sign represented two men shaking hands, who were called palaverers; and hence the house first wore the name of Palaver Tavern. It was later called Fountain House, from having a new sign, representing a fountain pouring punch into a large bowl. The two large elm-trees in front had each a platform in its branches; and these platforms were connected with each other and with the house by wooden bridges, and were used much in summer as places of resort for drinking punch and cordials. Tea-parties were sometimes gathered there. The last of these trees, well remembered by many, fell under the axe in 1879. It was of immense size, and the necessity of its destruction was much regretted by the public. But it had become honeycombed by decay, and its situation on the street rendered it dangerous to passers.

The third tavern built in Medford stood on the west side of Main Street, about eight rods south of the bridge, and was the largest in town. It was built by Mr. Benjamin Parker, town-treasurer, as early as 1745; and was sold by him to Hezekiah Blanchard, who added a large dancinghall to it, and called it "Union Hall." He left it to his son Hezekiah, who continued it a tavern till his death.

The fourth tavern was at the foot of Rock Hill, now known as Marm Simond's Hill, at the West End, and sometimes called the Rock Hill Tavern. Among its keepers were Messrs. "Usher, Wesson, Frost, and Putnam." It was a favorite resort for teamsters, and gained great popularity.

The new house, built by Mr. Jonathan Porter in the market-place, was opened as a tavern, but did not long continue as such.

The "Medford House," standing on the north-east corner of Main and South Streets, was built by Mr. Andrew Blanchard in 1804, and attained great popularity under its first keeper, Mr. Jaquith. It was furnished with four bowling-alleys, which proved too great a temptation to