. Old landmarks and historic personages of Boston. f Massachusetts in 1836. Hehad in former years been a bookseller in State Street, at thecorner of Flagg Alley, — the firm being Belcher and Armstrong,— and then at Xo. 50 in Old Cornhill, the site of Paul Reveresshop. This vicinity took the name of Booksellers Row, fromthe number of that trade there congregated. Before you come to the grounds of the State House, twofreestone residences attract your notice. These showy edificeshave displaced one of the noblest private mansions of the Colo-nial period, built by Thomas Hancock in 1737, and given
. Old landmarks and historic personages of Boston. f Massachusetts in 1836. Hehad in former years been a bookseller in State Street, at thecorner of Flagg Alley, — the firm being Belcher and Armstrong,— and then at Xo. 50 in Old Cornhill, the site of Paul Reveresshop. This vicinity took the name of Booksellers Row, fromthe number of that trade there congregated. Before you come to the grounds of the State House, twofreestone residences attract your notice. These showy edificeshave displaced one of the noblest private mansions of the Colo-nial period, built by Thomas Hancock in 1737, and given tohis nephew, the governor, by his aunt, Lydia Hancock. Thehouse long remained a unique feature of the surroundings ofthe Common, until it became too antiquated for modern ideas,and too valuable. The front of the estate embraced from Street, given to the town by the governor, to JoyStreet, formerly Clapboard, and since Belknap Street. All ofthe State House and part of the Reservoir ground, including Han- A TOUR ROUND THE COMMON. ;30. HANCOCK MANSIUN. cock Avenvie, Mt, Vernon Place, and a part of Hancock Street,in which was situatedhis nursery, belongedto the Hancocks. Thesite of the State Housewas Hancocks pasture;and gardens and or-chards surrounded thistruly princely mansion. The building was ofstone, built in the sub-stantial manner favoredby the wealthier Bos-tonians. The wallswere massive. A bal-cony projected over theentrance - door, uponwhich opened a large window of the second story. The cor-ners and window-openings were ornamented with Braintreestone, and the tiled roof was surmounted by a balustrade. Dor-mer windows jutted out from the roof, from which might beobtained a view as beautiful as extensive. A low stone wallprotected the grounds from the street, on which was placed alight wooden fence, \^ith gate-posts of the same material. Apaved walk and a dozen stone steps conducted to the mansion,situated on rising ground at a little distance back from the
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, bookidoldhistoric0, bookyear1876
