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Citizen complaint of the day: Those who ignore history are condemned to hear complaints about it

By adamg on Sun, 09/15/2013 - 8:43pm

A history-minded citizen reports that the "Entering Boston" on the Alford Street Bridge into Charlestown reads "Incorporated 1635," which agitated the citizen enough to file a complaint.

Neighborhoods: 
Charlestown
Topics: 
Driving
History
Free tagging: 
Alford Street


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Comments

By anon on Sun, 09/15/2013 - 9:22pm.

Actually, the city wasn't incorporated at all until 1822.

Was established in 1630 though, so the sign should also read "EST. 1630" instead of "INC. 1630".

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By SwirlyGrrl on Sun, 09/15/2013 - 9:40pm.

That would have to be 1628 (established) or 1629 (settled). No idea where 1635 came from.

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By anon on Mon, 09/16/2013 - 5:56am.

For Boston Latin High School.

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By theszak on Mon, 09/16/2013 - 6:53pm.

Check with the references at Government Documents Divsion, Boston Public Library http://www.bpl.org/govinfo/about and sort out the ambiguity. Persuade BPL GovDocs to blog about their excellent work that differentiates the term "Boston Charter". Clarification of ambiguity in the term "Boston Charter" is needed that differentiates how the term is used in for example for "Boston Charter Day". And what documents can be referred to as a Boston Charter?

see also
http://massmoments.org/moment.cfm?mid=372
http://archives.lib.state.ma.us/actsResolves/1821/...

http://historicbostons.org/
http://www.historicbostons.com/images/PHBCDbrochur...

> I sadly have to inform you that Charter Day does not in fact commemorate the day the Boston received a charter. It commemorates the day Boston, Dorchester, and Watertown were named http://archive.org/stream/recordsofgoverno01mass#p... The role of town government in the Commonwealth was not distinctly spelled out until 1785, and it was not until the incorporation of Boston as a city in 1822 that there was a distinct work dedicated to the form of government for Boston. Chapter 110 http://archives.lib.state.ma.us/actsResolves/1821/... of the Acts of 1821 would be best described as Boston's first charter.

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By J Costello on Sun, 09/15/2013 - 9:30pm.

Boston, organized as a Town September 17, 1630. Incorporated as a City 1822. I may be wrong but Dorchester was organized as a town earlier in the year in 1630, with Plymouth of course being 10 years older. I'm sure we should all have a big throw down for our big 383rd on Tuesday.

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By anon on Sun, 09/15/2013 - 10:05pm.

was this past March--6mos older than Boston

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By Suldog on Mon, 09/16/2013 - 8:17am.

First World History Lessons!

I thought this site had a social conscience, Adam. For shame...

Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com

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By Moxie on Mon, 09/16/2013 - 8:47am.

I'm waiting for the day that the PC Police take a good close look at the Massachusetts state seal. And see the arm and sword floating threateningly over the Indian's--eh, wait, I mean Native American's--head

The Great and General Court, which usually can't find it's ass with both hands sitting in a bath tub, will convene an emergency session and can that thing like grease through a goose.

http://www.statesymbolsusa.org/Massachusetts/Seal....

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By adamg on Mon, 09/16/2013 - 9:21am.

In fact, state Rep. Byron Rushing has been trying forever to get the desk changed for that reason You can tell how effective his campaign has been.

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By anon on Mon, 09/16/2013 - 9:29am.

i wouldn't be surprised if the whole process took five years!

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