his life.

Mr. Edward Bridge was one of the earliest settlers of the town, and it is
believed that he built the house, which has recently been taken down by
the Park Commission, near the corner of Centre and May Streets. The date
1710 was found cut into one of the old timbers, which is still preserved.

Mr. Abijah Seaverns, grandfather of our townsman, resided here with his
family for many years. The original Seaverns homestead, owned by Mr. Joel
Seaverns, the ancestor of the family, was upon a farm of some fifty-five
acres, now included in Forest Hills cemetery. In this old house, during
the later years of Mrs. Abijah Seaverns' life, a small band of the
Baptist faith met frequently for religious meetings, and in 1840 took
steps to form a church. Soon after they began to worship in the Village
Hall, and in 1842 the public services of their recognition were held in
the Unitarian Church, in which Rev. Mr. Gray then ministered. On October
4, 1843, the new house of worship was dedicated, and on the same day Dr.
John O. Choules, an Englishman, was installed as pastor. The little
church stood on elevated ground on the east side of Centre Street near
Star Lane. On September 26, 1856, the church was destroyed by fire, with
its furniture, library, and records. For two years the congregation used
the Unitarian house of worship one half of the Sabbath, and the Mather
(now Central) Church for evening meetings, accepting the very king
invitations which came from both societies while the fire was still
burning. In August 1859, the present house of worship on the corner of
Centre and Myrtle streets was dedicated.

Following May Street to Pond Street, we come to the beautiful estate now
owned by Mr. Edward Rice, and formerly by Mr. John J. Low, and here ready
fancy rears again the vanished walls of a stately mansion, three stories