Four-trunk elm tree

The four-trunk elm tree, about 1955.
The four-trunk elm tree, about 1955.

The four-trunk elm tree that stood on Main Street near Shirley Avenue was the stuff of childhood legend.  The sidewalk ran underneath and between the trunks so that a daring kid could ride a bike straight through, and a real heroic type would do it no-hands style.

The four-trunk elm tree, about 1959.
The four-trunk elm tree, about 1959.

The mighty tree fell victim to the ravages of Dutch Elm disease around 1959, and a little bit of childhood magic went with it.

The four-trunk elm tree, about 1959.
The four-trunk elm tree, about 1959.

 

 

Sources: Mitchell Toabe Papers MC18 (first image); LHR General Image Collection IC7 (next two)

 

 

For more, visit the Kingston Public Library, and the Local History Room, and the full blog at piqueoftheweek.wordpress.com.

 

Shady green

Town House by Emily Fuller Drew, no date
Town House by Emily Fuller Drew, no date

 

Emily Fuller Drew captured what feels like the deep cooling shade of a summer afternoon in these two photos.  A familiar scene, yes, but the quality of the light makes something special of it.

 

Town Green and Civil War Soldiers Monument by Emily Fuller Drew, no date
Training Green and Civil War Soldiers Monument by Emily Fuller Drew, no date

 

 

Source: Emily Fuller Drew Collection MC16, negatives scanned by the Digital Commonwealth/Boston Public Library.

 

For more, visit the Kingston Public Library, and the Local History Room, and the full blog at piqueoftheweek.wordpress.com.

 

Asa Hammond and his house

"Asa Hammond house - Wapping Road. Asa in foreground," no date
“Asa Hammond house – Wapping Road. Asa in foreground,” no date

 

Asa Cook Hammond (1826-1913) was a carpenter or housewright,  who was born Pembroke, but lived in Kingston from around 1850 until his death.  He married Amanda Clark, a dressmaker from Plympton in 1849; they had several children.  Both are buried in the Evergreen Cemetery.

Asa is identified as the figure in the foreground of the photograph but the woman and two boys are not, though it seems likely they are Asa’s wife and children.

The Hammond’s house, built in the Queen Anne style with an unusual center hall plan and set perpendicular to the road, still stands at 40 Wapping Road.

 

 

For more, visit the Kingston Public Library, and the Local History Room, and the full blog at piqueoftheweek.wordpress.com.