awakening memories as association of the past. There are twenty-four
tombs and many graves upon whose ancient, moss-covered headstones we
trace familiar names and some unusual epitaphs. The tombs of Dr. Thomas
Gray and the Greenough family, side by side, are particularly noticeable,
as, unlike the others, they have a large bull's-eye of ground glass
inserted in the doors, evidently to admit light into "the chamber of
death." Very few interments gave been made there since the consecration
of Forest Hills Cemetery in 1848. Upon the small triangular lot at the
junction of Centre and South streets the first schoolhouse in our village
was erected in 1676. The land was the gift of John Ruggles, and John
Eliot and Hugh Thomas were the principal benefactors of the school. In
the early days this spot was the municipal center of our town; and here,
in 1871, was dedicated our beautiful Soldiers' Monument, in affectionate,
grateful remembrance of our heroic dead, who gave their lives in the
service of their country during the Rebellion (1861-65). Eliot Street was
opened to Pond Street in 1800, and at the corner still stands an old
milestone, inscribed: "Five miles to Boston Town House, 1735. P. Dudley."

The Eliot School was incorporated in 1804, and later, January 17,1832,
the brick building was dedicated which now stands on Eliot Street in the
center of ample grounds.

Within a few months we have witnesses with feelings of regretful interest
the decay and removal of the old house known to us as the Nathaniel
Curtis homestead. This estate once belonged to Dr. Lemuel Hayward, a
physician of high repute, and one of the first to practice inoculation
for small-pox in this vicinity. He practiced medicine here for several
years. About the year 1780, John Hancock, after he resigned the
presidency of Congress, purchased this place of Dr. Hayward for his
summer residence. He paid for it seven or eight shares in Long Wharf