 |
|
The Mystic River & Cradock Bridge (tall ship in the background) |
Founded in 1630, 4th oldest English settlement in America. Established as a City in 1892, Medford is one of the oldest settlements in the Commonwealth and the US. Medford was a leader in the Clipper Ship building industry and also manufactured brick and tile. In addition, Medford was famous for it's "Medford Rum" and "Medford Crackers." Revolutionary war patriot Sarah Bradlee Fulton lived here. General George Washington visited here during the Revolutionary War, while Paul Revere came through awaking Medford to "the British are coming!" Medford is also the home to abolitionists Prince Hall, & Lydia Maria Child, cooking school founder Fannie Farmer, General Samuel Lawrence who fought at the battle of Bull Run, and former Massachusetts Governor John Brooks. The Christmas Song "Jingle Bells" was
written here by James Pierpont.
Medford contains many historic sites, monuments, and houses, some of which date back to the 17th century.
Over the River and Through the Wood
Lydia Maria Child was an abolitionist and writer in the mid-1800's. Growing up in Medford during a time when it was unpopular to be an abolitionist, and hard to gain respect as a female writer, she was both. Many books and poems are unpublished, but her most popular published poem was "Over the River and Through the Wood" which was originally titled, "A Boy's Thanksgiving Day."
The Hobbs Middle School Class of 1996, with the support of the Medford Historical Society, has published a book on this poem, now available on-line:
Over the River and Through the Wood
 Isaac Royall House and Slave Quarters, built 1732 - 1739. The building which housed the slave quarters is the only such structure left in the northern United States.
Other Points of Interest
• |
Peter Tufts House - one of the oldest all-brick structure in the US |
• |
Medford City Hall - historical prints, potraits, exhibits on display daily |
• |
The Medford Historical Society - Owns the third largest collection of original civil war prints in the world (totaling over 5,000) |
For more information about Medford's Historical Society, contact:
| |
