broad, winding avenue, beneath noble pine and larches, its stately
mansion its many rich landscape features, claims admiration for its
grandeur and nobility.

Returning to South Street, we find that in early days different branches
of the Weld family owned and lived upon estates in this portion of our
village. The largest and most important of these was the estate which was
given to Captain Joseph Weld by the province, about the year 1660, in
consideration of services rendered. It was bequeathed by him to his son,
John, and was the home of seven generations of that family, until about
the beginning of this century (1806), when it became the property of Mr.
Benjamin Bussey. During the Revolutionary War, Weld's Hill was selected
by Washington as a rallying point for the patriot army to fall back upon
in case of disaster, as it protected the road to Dedham, the depot of
army supplies. Mr. Bussey, after a few years, erected the fine mansion,
still standing, and resided here until his death, in 1842. The late Mr.
Thomas Motley, brother of the historian, was the husband of one of Mr.
Bussey's granddaughters, and occupied the house with his family until his
decease. This magnificent estate of three hundred acres was bequeathed to
Harvard University for the establishment of a seminary "for instruction
in practical agriculture, useful and ornamental gardening, botany, and
such other branches of natural science as may tend to promote a knowledge
of practical agriculture and the various arts subservient thereto and
connected therewith." The Bussey Institute was built in 1871, and the
beautiful Arboretum, embracing one hundred and sixty acres, has been in
the process of development since that time. During Mr. Bussey's; life,
and for years after, the public enjoyed the freedom of these charming
grounds. There were lovely wood paths, carefully kept, in all directions.
Here was a rustic bridge spanning the jocund brook; there a
willow-bordered pond, the home of gold and silver fish. This path wound