A history of Natick, from its first settlement in 1651 to the present time; with notices of the first white families, and also an account of the centennial celebration, Oct. 16, 1851, Rev. Mr. Hunt's address at the consecration of Dell Park cemetery, &c. .. (Volume 2) online

way spruces and common pines, cut into conical form, may be seen
in difierent parts.

An acre of land to the right of the house is enclosed by an open
fence to shield it from the winds. It contains the choicest kinds of
pears, and other fruit trees, planted in rows. We have no space

16



242 APPENDIX.

for a description of the mansion house, the various lodges, the
graperj, the gardener's cottage, parks, lawns, and gardens, and
other objects of interest on the premises, and shall close our
sketch -with a description of an architectural flower garden, in the
rear of the house.

It is of the same width as the house, and laid out very neatly, with
all the beds edged with iron basket work, and gay with the finest roses,
verbenas, fuchisias, &c. This garden opens on the descending
flight of steps before mentioned. From this garden to the left of
the house a broad walk leads along the grounds, and through a
plantation of trees, terminated by one of the most complete summer
houses in the country.

The design is by Mr. Hunnewell, and is executed with larch and
cedar poles. It is octagonal, with projecting roofs and rustic posts,
over which climb roses, honeysuckles, woodbine, &c. The panel-
ling of the interior is finely executed, and the windows, of different
colored panes of glass, afford some of the finest views both of the
water and lawn in front, in all the varied hues of purple, gold, and
crimson. In front is a small grotto from which gushes a fountain of
crystal water.



ROAD BRIDGE, NEWTON LOWER FALLS.

At the village of Newton Lower Falls are several objects which
attract the notice of the traveller as well as other persons visiting them.
The village itself is five miles to the east of Natick, and commends
itself to strangers at once as one of the most pleasing in Massachu-
setts. There is a similarity, a homogeneousness, about both the
architecture of the houses and the character of the inhabitants.

After a view of the village, the Road Bridge, one-fourth of a
mile to the south, attracts the notice of the visitor. It is built on a
single arch, and is said to exhibit the most beautiful specimen of
masonry on the whole line of the aqueduct, both in its proportion and
finish.

It is a dry bridge and the common road passes beneath it. It is
of solid blocks of unhewn granite laid in mortar ; each side of the
bridge is circular and about forty feet high, surmounted by a marble
slab inscribed with the name of the architect, engineer, &c.



APPENDIX. ^ 243

From this bridge, Newton Centre, a beautiful and quiet village,
where the Theological Seminary is situated, may be seen to the
right, The Lower Falls village, enveloped in trees, with the classic
Charles winding through it, is to the left.



CHAPcLES RIVER BRIDGE.

The next object of interest we shall notice is the bridge by which
the water of Lake Cochituatc is carried over Charles River.

The bridge is built on three arches, the line of the bridge running
nearly east and west. On the eastern side, quite at the top of the
hill, is a pipe chamber. Two iron pipes, some fourteen and ten
inches in diameter, communicate with the culvert here, and by
means of iron gates which are set across them, they can at any mo-
ment be filled or emptied. A communication is also instituted
between the two by broad cross pipes and gates. With the aid
of these pipes, the culvert can be instantly emptied whenever it
becomes desirable to repair.

The bridge itself, though a plain, unostentatious one, cannot fail
to strike the careful observer as a most elegant structure. The
water is carried over these arches, or rather it flows down in the
culvert over them. As we stand above the bridge beside the river
and look at the arches, we perceive an indescribable something, an
fiir of elegance and perfection about their curves as rare as it is
pleasing. The scenery about the bridge is such as is often wit-
nessed in New England landscape. To appreciate the scene it must
be visited.

The bridge is approached by a narrow road curving along the
western bank of the river above the bridge. Standing on this bank
above the bridge, with your face directed southward at the extreme
right high on the hill, and partially concealed by trees, you see the
pipe chamber. This is a small, snug, faultless edifice of granite,
containing a gate or lock for staying the water, or letting it into the
culvert below, as may be required. A bird's-eye view from the top
of this chamber is well worth the journey so frequently performed
for its sake.



"^4 APPENDIX.



GATE-HOUSE OF BOSTON WATER WORKS.

The gate-house of the Boston Water Works is situated about two
and a half miles from the middle of Natick, and is justly admired for
the symmetry of its proportions and the beauty of its design. It is an
edifice of solid granite, constructed with all that elegance and dura-
bility -which characterize all the works on this aqueduct.

The exterior of this structure at first sight presents the appearance
of a New England school-house of the last century, but on a nearer
inspection we see that it must be part of a project, in which the wealth
of towns would be lost. It contains the machinery for drawing water
from the pond and introducing it into the culvert, through the gate-
house ; also of regulating the supply as may be desired. If you enter
the house you will find huge iron screws constructed for raising and
lowering the gates. Descending the stone steps you find the atmos-
phere damp and chilly, whatever may be the weather outside. You
can there see a section of the aqueduct itself, and inspect the manner
of its construction. Everything appears as though it was intended
to last to the end of time.

From the windows of the gate-house you look on what appears to
be an artificial lake. From where you stand, stone embankments on
each side enclose the lake, to secure them from pressure of the water,
either lateral or perpendicular. If you feel disposed to circumambu-
late the water, a neat, elevated walk offers itself for your accommo-
dation. The prospect in the summer season is one of the most
agreeable.

One thing to strike a person visiting the structure is the exactness
w^ith which sound is daguerreotyped. Echo in the building is of
great loudness and force, and in some cases returns answers of great
point, as well as in Yankee style. " Who is to be Governor ? "
" How 's Boston going ? " questions Avhich, when spoken and directed
into the building, are returned with almost perfect exactness.

Carriages can be obtained for this excursion at any of the stables
in town, or the Saxonville cars will leave passengers within a few
rods of it.



APPENDIX. 245



FARM POND IN SHERBORN.

This beautiful sheet of water, which lies four and a half miles to
the south of Natick Centre is the frequent resort of pleasure parties
in the vicinity. It is retired, and is surrounded by a most delightful
scenery.

It contains about 160 acres of surface, and is well stored with
pickerel, pout, perch and other fish. There is a beautiful island
within it, to which anglers often resort, to cook and feast on their
prey beneath the shade of the trees. This pond has no visible out
let, but a perennial rivulet, which empties into Charles River at the
distance of a mile, is constantly supplied by it.

About one quarter of a mile from this pond to the North is a min-
eral spring, which was much prized by the Indians, and is at the
present time by those acquainted with its qualities. A house for
entertainment, and boats for sailing parties, add to the attractions
of the place. Many regard this as the most pleasant resort in the
neighborhood for excursions of pleasure.



246 APPENDIX.



INDIAN DEEDS, ETC.

Many Indian deeds, duly executed, maj' be seen in the office of
the Register of Deeds for the counties of Suffolk and Middlesex, and
undoubtedly in the offices for other counties, showing the fact that
there was always, or generally, at least the form of a bargain between
the whites and Indians in relation to their lands ; and that whatever
may have been the attempts to overreach, the fee of the soil was al-
ways supposed to be vested in the red man, and not in the white.

It may be amusing to our readers to see specimens of these instru-
ments, and of treaties between Indians themselves and the whites
and Indians.

August 5, 1665, Quincy, then Braintree, was deeded in these
words :

" To all Indian people to whom these presents shall come, Wampu-
tucJc, alias Jodah Sagamon, of Massathusetts, in New England, the
son of Chihataubut, deceased, sendeth greeting: Know you that the
said Wampatuck being of full age and power, according to the order
and custom of the natives, hath, with the consent of his wise men, viz.,
Squamog, his brother Daniel, and Old Hahatun, and William ]N"an-
aniomott. Job Messott, Manuntago, William Nahenton, for good and
valuable reasons thereunto, and in special for