Days and ways in old Boston . vernmentin 1885 sold the building at auction. It wasbought by the estate of the late William F. Weld,the trustees having already effected plans forremodeling the building and having executed acontract with R. H. Stearns & Company to leasethe property if secured. The remodeled buildingwas occupied by the new tenant in the summer of1886 and continued as their place of business until1908, when it was completely torn down and thepresent modern building erected and occupied inthe fall of the following year. The business of R. H. Stearns and Companywas founded in 1847 b
Days and ways in old Boston . vernmentin 1885 sold the building at auction. It wasbought by the estate of the late William F. Weld,the trustees having already effected plans forremodeling the building and having executed acontract with R. H. Stearns & Company to leasethe property if secured. The remodeled buildingwas occupied by the new tenant in the summer of1886 and continued as their place of business until1908, when it was completely torn down and thepresent modern building erected and occupied inthe fall of the following year. The business of R. H. Stearns and Companywas founded in 1847 by Richard H. Stearns,who was born in Ashburnham, Mass., December25, 1824. Soon after his birth, his parentsremoved to New Ipswich, N. H. Left an orphanat the age of seven, he was taken to Lincoln,Mass., and brought up by his uncle. His educa-tion was secured in district schools, and fromattending for one year Phillips Academy, An-dover, after which for a time he taught school. He once remarked that he began to earn his130. Tremont Street and Temple Place, 1914(Present store of R. H. Stearns and Company) An Historic Corner own living at the age of seven; meaning, doubt-less, that even in childhood he was compelledto make full return in labor upon the farm forboard and clothing. His first business experiencewas selling from house to house on Beacon Hill,a load of potatoes which he had brought fromLincoln to Boston in an ox team. In 1846 he moved to Boston and found em-ployment in the store of C. C. Burr. A littlemore than a year later he began business forhimself, opening a small store under the oldAdams House on Washington Street. This wasthe obscure beginning of the present successfulbusiness, in which the founder took a vital in-terest until his death in his 85th year. At thattime Hon. John D. Long, formerly governor ofMassachusetts, who had known and esteemed for many years, thus summed up thequalities and achievements of his friend: His record as a citizen, public
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