Roxbury Street, to Dedham. At that time and for more than one hundred and
fifty years after traveling was by horseback, by private carriage, and by
the stagecoach. Those who were unable to own horses or pay stage fares
walked to and from Boston, often heavily laden.

The accommodation stages would stop for passengers along the route,
blowing a horn as they approached the dwelling, wherever a signal had
been placed for them. The express stages, used chiefly by business men,
running from Providence and the New York boat, took no heavy baggage,
required double pay, and made stops only as they needed relays of horses.
Four such changes were made from Providence to Boston, and the journey
was completed in about four hours. In 1826 the first Jamaica Plain
hourlies began to run; the fare was twenty-five cents. They started
from Mr. Joshua Seaver's store, and would call for passengers in any part
of the village as requested in the order-box.

Mr. Seaver's store, established in 1796, stood on slightly elevated
ground farther back from the street than the one now occupied by his
grandsons, and connected with his dwelling.

Here, also, was the village post-office for many years, and the favorite
meeting-place of the townspeople to discuss local interests, indulge in
pleasantries, as well as exchange their coins for fine groceries, small
wares, and farming utensils. Our grandparents of that day folded their
quarto sheets, sealed, stamped, and addressed them, and paid twelve and
one-half cents for the privilege of sending then on their mission. The
advent of the two-cent postage stand and the one-cent card was not then
dreamed of.

Entering Centre Street at the Railroad bridge, frequently confounded with