Kingston has two buildings on the National Register of Historic Places: the Frederic C. Adams Library and the Major John Bradford House, as well as a National Historic District, which includes the area around Main and Green Streets. For a listing of National Register sites in Plymouth County, and elsewhere, see Wikimedia’s list.
Major John Bradford house, rear view with well, 1921. By Emily Fuller Drew
Old Home Day is a small town New England tradition popular from the 1860s into the 1930s, and later in many cases. In Kingston, the town-wide event, which included clambakes, sports, dancing, singing and parades, was held annually from 1903 to 1908, again from 1933 to 1938, in the 1970s and the 1990s.
This month’s exhibit features programs and photos from some of these events.
And the tradition continues on September 8, Kingston’s new Old Home Day! To get involved, contact the Board of Selectmen now.
Memorial Day exercises on the Training Green, circa 1943
March 12 marks the 100 year anniversary of the first meeting of the Girl Scouts and to help the local troops celebrate, the Local History Room’s monthly exhibit shows a number of 1940s and 1960s Girl Scout artifacts, including badge sashes, pen knives and a collapsible camping cup. Stop by and take a look.
Back when the Library was on the other side of the street, the Kingston Inn occupied our current site at the corner of Green and Summer. Originally called the Patuxet House, the hotel was built in 1854 by Josiah Cushman to capitalize on the arrival of the Old Colony Railroad just a few years earlier. The hotel was not particularly successful, and several owners and managers were involved through the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Some strange and mysterious events took place at the Inn. In 1881, the remains of six people and “funerary objects” were discovered on the grounds. Because it was a suspected Native American burial ground, the remains were turned over the Peabody Essex Museum. In 1921, the “Rum-Runner’s Murder” took place in the 20 car garage. The somewhat cloudy circumstances involved professional dice players, a trunkful of illegal liquor and $4,000 in missing cash. A murder trial followed in 1922. In 1927, the re-christened Bay View Inn was offered as first prize in a raffle as the First Annual Grand Bazaar by the Ancient Order of Hibernians. For reasons unknown, the raffle never happened.
By the 1950’s, the hotel — once again called the Kingston Inn — was advertised as a summer resort for African-Americans, particularly those travelling from New York for a Cape Cod vacation. Unfortunately the venue remained as unsuccessful as it had been a century earlier. In 1970, the contents were auctioned and the building was razed.
Source: Major Bradford’s Town, by Doris Johnson (Town of Kingston: 1976)
This month’s exhibit celebrates summer in Kingston with picnics and parades, fresh sweet corn from the farmer’s market, swimming, fishing, and just lounging on the grass eating ice cream.
Horse-drawn float in the 200th Anniversary Parade, 1926
Here’s the front of a float in Kingston’s 200th Anniversary Parade, which rolled on August 20, 1926. The four boys behind the float seem very interested in whatever’s going on behind that shack…
Bathing beauties on 200th Anniversary Parade float, 1926
Pages 1 and 4 of a letter dated April 28, 1861 to “My Dear Tom” from Will in Kingston, Mass, Divided States of America.
"Divided States of America," April 18, 1861
Sunday Apr 28 1861
Kingston Mass.
Divided States of America
My Dear Tom
It is now nearly seven weeks since you left here and as I did not write by the letter which was sent before, you will be out on me when you get home if I do not write now. The coutry is getting deeper and deeper into the troubles which she was just entering when you went away. Fort Sumter in Charleston, S.C. Harbor which was held by the United States troops was evacuated on April 6 (I think) after a heavy cannonading from 2 forts and several heavy batteries which lasted many hours. It was honorably evacuated with the Band playing Yankee Doodle after the American Flag was saluted by the 50 guns and drawn down. When this news reached the North the President immediately issued a proclamation calling for 75,000 men to aid in puttng down the “rebel combinations” in the South. Six regiments were ordered from Massachusetts. All the military companies in the town about here have gone Plymouth Plympton, Carver
2
Halifax &c. In passing through Baltimore our Volunteers were attacked by the mob and two killed. Many of the mob were killed. After that, the rebel mob burned down the bridges around Baltimore to prevent the volunteer[s] passing through that city. Now the troops have to be taken by water to Washington. On the receipt of the news of the evacuation of Fort Sumter Virginia immediated rebelled and 2000 men with 2500 more upon their heels hastened to Harper’s Ferry with intentions to take the 15,000 stands of which arms which were there and proceed to attack the Federal Capital. This attempt was happily frustrated by conduct of the officer in command and at the arsenal, Lieut. Jones who destroyed the arsenal and with a handful of men retreated through the midst of the enemy into Maryland. The Navy Yard at Norfolk, Va. together with several war vessels were destroyed by our troops to prevent their falling into the possession of the rebels. Fort Pickens at Pensacola, Fl. is now still in the possession of the Government but surrounded as it is by rebellion it will probably be attacked before
[3]
[a] great while, although it is hoped that it has been reinforced before this. This fort together with Forts Jefferson & Taylor at Key West, Fl. The rebels have had it mostly their own way so far but it is to be hoped that as soon [as] our forces get together we shall be able to retaliate upon them some of the injury that they have done us, take back some of the property of the United States, string up some of the traitors and that will be one step towards victory. Many think that they will never by be in the Union again. It is impossible to tell. The whole northern and western country is in a fever of excitement. The people are everywhere loyal and patriotic. The three colors, “The Red, the White and the Blue” are seen over the land in all shapes: in flags, cockades ladies’ bows, gentlemen’s neckties, in head-dresses, bonnets, &c. New companies are forming. there is one here that has got 100. They tried to get up one in Duxbury and got 7 men. I have now discussed the affairs of the nation quite thoroughly and will return to domestic subjects. I suppose someone has written to you that Mr. Tearnan has gone away. Mother has gone got Jerry McCarty
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that used to work down at Mr. Delano’s. He is of course smarter that Mr. Tearnan and so far is very satisfactory. Mother bought a new cow six years old for 40 dollars, her calf came with her and went away to be killed yesterday. I set a hen three days ago. None have wanted to before. Jerry & I plowed the old garden yesterday with Katie and Mr. Cole’s plough. We shall plant carrots and beets at the first opportunity. John Griffin is going to take care of the piece back on top of the hill. The peas have been up some days. The lettuce onions and tomatos are quite tall in the hotbed. The peach buds are all killed by the winter. The apple leaves are starting. the lilac and other shrubs are quite green. I took off the double outer windows Thursday. Miss Moore went away Thursday morning. I have just been to see Miss Sever. She wishes me to remember her to your and hopes you will take card of yourself. Don’t forget every foreign coin you can. Remember me to Capt. Symmes & John. I remain, yours truly
Will
Hope you enjoy yourself among the coolie girls
_______________________________________________
Without an envelope, there is not a single clue to identify Will and Tom. Others mentioned in the letter can be better described, and will be in the next installment.
Looking for tax-related documents for an upcoming exhibit today, I found death instead (or perhaps it found me?), in a small, but heart-breaking moment from the past.
Note to Horatio from Father and Mother, October 1870 (date supplied)On October 29, 1870, Bradford Adams died of typhoid fever aged 15 years, 11 months and 3 days. Father and Mother are George T. and Lydia T. Adams; Horatio is our old friend the capitalist.
Wendell Adams, Rufus Toby, Winslow Faunce, Bradford Adams and Charles Everson, no date
In this group portrait, Bradford sits at right and his older brother Wendell — more formally George Wendell — stands at center. Sadly, Wendell had died just weeks before Bradford of the same disease.
A third Kingston teenager, 17 year old Clara Winsor, had also died of typhoid fever that fall, but beyond these deaths, Kingston was spared an epidemic. Through the 1860s and 1870s, outbreaks of typhoid fever struck around the world, particularly in densely populated and rapidly industrializing areas. By 1884, the bacteria that caused the disease was identified and over the next two decades, effective vaccines were developed.
Receipt for monument and curbing, May 29, 1871
But in the spring of 1871, George T. Adams added a new stone to the family plot in Evergreen Cemetery, most likely for his two boys.
Sources: MC-21 Hathaway Collection; MC-23 Helen Adams Collection; Town Clerk’s Report, 1870; Wikipedia article on typhoid.
