Around Town

Our History: Watertown — How it Grew!

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Harriet Hosmer (1830 – 1908) surrounded by workmen in her Rome studio

The following article is part of a series on local history provided by the Historical Society of Watertown. It was written by Sigrid Reddy Watson for a 1994 program at the library and printed in the June 1995 Historical Society newsletter, “The Town Crier”. Sigrid is a former Board member and former President of the Historical Society, as well at a former Director of the Watertown Free Public Library. For several years starting in 1997, she wrote a Watertown history column for the Watertown TAB/Press called “Echoes.” On November 16, 1994 a joint meeting between the Friends of the Library and the Historical Society of Watertown was conducted in the Pratt room of the Free Public Library.

Around Town

Our History: Restoration of the Civil War Soldiers’ Monument

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The newly restored Civil War Soldiers’ Monument (Photo courtesy of Joyce Kelly)

The following story is part of a series on local history provided by the Historical Society of Watertown. It was written by Jon Spector, a former Board member of the Historical Society of Watertown for the January 2014 Historical Society newsletter, “The Town Crier.”

We are pleased to report that the historic Civil War Soldiers’ Monument in Saltonstall Park has at last been restored.  Historical Society of Watertown Council Member Jon Spector was the Chair of this project. 

This statue stood in disrepair for decades and would have remained so if Jon had not taken the initiative to get it restored. His diligence in getting the word out, raising the funds, writing the newsletter to keep people updated on the progress and pursuing the grant in conjunction with the town was a lot of work. His dedication to the restoration of this monument is evident. What a transformation!

Around Town

LETTER: What the Delta Saw: A (slightly) Irreverent and Rambling History of Watertown Square (Part 10)

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Watertown Square

Part 10: Change is Inevitable. Growth is Optional. (John Maxwell)

By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

Soapbox Alert:

There are different definitions for the word “Growth.” In its simplest terms, it means getting bigger. But there are other, less quantitive and more qualitative definitions, more subtle meanings to the word. For instance, if you’re talking about growth in a human being, it’s more than the measure of their height or weight.

Around Town

LETTER: What the Delta Saw: A (slightly) Irreverent and Rambling History of Watertown Square (Part 9)

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The Old Bridge, Galen Street Bridge 1906 before its demolition (Photo courtesy of the Watertown Free Public Library)

By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

Part 9: There’s a New Bridge in Town

According to Maud Hodges, in Crossroads on the Charles: “The new bridge was designed by Wilbur Learned, the Town engineer, and it combined strength, utility and beauty. The new structure was a broad, wide arch of concrete with a ninety-foot span …. The bridge was faced with granite blocks cut in Deer Isle, Maine. The road bed was 80 feet wide, spreading out at both ends to provide access for vehicles. Mt.

Around Town

LETTER: What the Delta Saw: A (slightly) Irreverent and Rambling History of Watertown Square (Part 7 & 8)

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Watertown Baptist Church Members over the age of 50 (Photo courtesy of the Watertown Free Public Library)

Part 7: What We’ve Got Here is a Failure to Communicate! More of the 1800’s

The 1800’s were more than just an industrial revolution in Watertown. Many national and localissues were being played out locally to great drama and effect. For instance, the Temperance Movement was in full bloom. In a few words, women had had enough of family beatings and earnings all going to the local tavern and not to feed their children.

Around Town

LETTER: What the Delta Saw: A (slightly) Irreverent and Rambling History of Watertown Square (Part 5 & 6)

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Coolidge Tavern (Photo courtesy of Watertown Free Public Library)

By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

Part 5: The Roaring 1700’s

By the 1700’s, Watertown was hopping. There were stage coach lines coming through town and a lively lumber business floating up and down the Charles. Besides the mills, there were hotels, stables, blacksmiths, and horse boarding establishments. (Burke)

Situated right in the middle of Watertown Square, Galen Street was proving to be kind of a problem. At this point in time, which was surprising, because Watertown was still mostly a farming community, this square was a lively place, and not always in a good way.

Around Town

LETTER: What the Delta Saw: A (slightly) Irreverent and Rambling History of Watertown Square Parts 3 & 4

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Map of the Original Allotments of of Land and the Ancient Topography of Watertown, By Henry Bond, MD (Photo courtesy of the Watertown Free Public Library)

By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

Part 3: Grist for the Mill

So, the Watertown colonists have lots of fish to eat [See Part 2 to read about the fish weir]. What else does any decent English town in the 1600’s need? A grist mill, of course! (If you’d like to see a still functioning grist mill, take a ride out to the Wayside Inn in Sudbury). In 1634, two years after the weir was installed, a mill dam and millrace were constructed.

Around Town

LETTER: What the Delta Saw: A (slightly) Irreverent and Rambling History of Watertown Square (Parts 1 & 2)

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Photo by Chuck Dickinson”Charles River, Watertown”

By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

Part 1: A River Runs Through It

I’m not going to lie to you folks. I started out intending to write a brief history of our Delta, and that’s where the trouble began. I got majorly sidetracked. So many different issues that played into this, and so many ways to approach it! But in the end, I decided that it all started with a river, the source of life for all creatures that inhabited what is now called “Watertown.”

In the beginning, this land was inhabited by the Massachusett people, Native Americans.