History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

the years 1870, 1S71, and 1875, and in tht- senate
in 1876 and 1S77.
In 1878 the total valuation of tlie city was fixed
at §20,976,900, a third less than in 1875. The
city debt in 1879 was §1,585,000. For the ex-
tinguishment of this debt, $45,525 are raised
annually by taxation, and set apart as sinking-
funds, in accordance with the provisions of statute
law. There are in the city twenty religious so-
cieties and eighty-two schools. The great ques-
tions of water and sewerage have been satisfactorily
disposed of. The highways have been thoroughly
reconstructed and are in fair condition, and the
city seems to be entering a season of prosperity
unrivalled in her history.
In 1857 John Abbot Lodge of F. and A. M. was
instituted. It holds its meeting on the first Tues-
day in each month, at Masonic Hall, Union Square.
Soley Lodge, which has its time of regular com-
munication on the third Monday of each month,
is now working under dispensation. Somerville
Royal Arch Chapter was constituted in 1871, and
meets the second Tuesday in eacii month, at Ma-
sonic Hall, L-nion Square.
Somerville Encampment, No. IS, Independent
Order of Odd Fellows, meets the second and
fourth Monday of each month. Oasis Lodge,
No. 146, was instituted September 17, 1868, and
meets every Thursday evening, at Odd Fellows
Hall, Union Square. Paul Revere Lodge, No.
184, was instituted March 15, 1S7S, and meets
every Tuesday evening at Fraternity Hall, Broad-
way. Ivaloo Lodge, No. 7, Daughters of Rebekah,
meets the second Friday in each month. Tiie in-
stallation of officers occurs the second Friday in
January.
There are six. temperance organizations in Som-
erville : The Welcome Home Lodge, No. 71, In-
de|)endent Order of Good Templars, instituted
June 29, 1877, and which meets at 18 Summer
Street ; the Banner Division, No. 63, Sons of
Temperance, which meets every Thursday evening
at Bacon Hall, Union Square; the Clarendon
Division, No. 85, Sons of Temperance, which
meets at Clarendon Hall, West Somerville, every
Monday evening; St. Paul Temple of Honor,
No. 41, which meets in Independence Hall, Reed's
Corner, Charlestown, every Wednesday evening;
the Woman's Cluistian Temperance Union, organ-
ized April 26, 1876, which meets at Associate
Hall, Union Square, every Wednesday at 3 p. m ;
and the St. Joseph's Total Abstinence Society,
SOMEnriLLE. 329
which meets the second Sunday in each month
in the Old ileeting-house, Webster Avenue, at
4 p. 31.
Among other organizations are the Franklin
Lodge, No. 41, Knights of Pythias, which meets
in Pythian Hall, Union Square, every Tuesday
evening ; Elm Council, No. 36, of the Royal Arcanum,
West Somerville, which meets the first and
third Thursday, in Arcanum Hall; Somerville
Council, No. 6, R. A., which meets the first and
third Wednesday of each month ; Unity Council,
No. 59, R. A., which meets in Fraternity Hall
the first and third Monday in each month ; Excel-
sior Council, No. 3, R. A., instituted August 8,
1877, and which meets in Franklin Hall the first
and third Wednesday ; Warren Lodge, No. 89,
which meets every Monday evening in Odd Fellows
Hall, Union Square ; Cameron Lodge, No. 1,146,
which meets in Arcanum Hall, West Somerville,
the second and fourth Tuesday of each month
Winter Hill Lodge, No. 423, which meets in the
hall, Broadway Street, every Tuesday evening, —
all Knig!)ts of Honor; and the AViliard C. Kinsley
encampment. Post 139, Grand Army of the Repub-
lic, wliich meets at Police Station Hall on every
Monday evening.
The Poivder-IIoKse. — This venerable structure,
associated equally with the appliances of war and
the occupations of peace, was erected in the first
quarter of the eighteenth century, and for several
years was a windmill, to which the settlers for
many miles around brought their corn to be
ground.
For some twenty years before the Revolution,
and till 1822, it was in use as a public store -house
for powder. Again becoming private property, it
has since remained idle, resting on the distinction
of being the only ancient ruin in Massachusetts.
Standing on an eminence, formerly called Quarry
Hill, with its round tower surmounted by a conical
cap, it is a conspicuous object for miles in many
directions.
It is built of slate-stone, such as occurs in the
neighboring quarry. There are three stories, di-
vided by heavy floors, and supported by large oaken
joists. In height it is nearly forty feet, and nine-
teen feet in diameter. The walls are two and a half
feet in thickness at the base. The door was for-
merly on the southwest side, the present entrance,
on the northeast, being of modern origin. The age
of the old mill is not now accurately known, but
records exist which fix tiie time of its erection
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