Mary Ann Is Dead

I'm a sucker for a cow story. Or at least a Jamaica Plain cow story. Now we know two things. Hyde Park avenue had a trolly line in 1909, and the policemen of the time knew the local cows by name. Call it cow-munity policing.


Boston Globe July 28, 1909

Mary Ann Is Dead

Found Standing in Brook Off Hyde Park Av.

Only a Cow, but Children Cried Over the Loss of Their Pet.


Mary Ann is dead
.
Her death was sudden and was by accident, yesterday, in the pasture, where she had roped about for 10 years.
Mary Ann was found in a standing position in the mud of Stony brook, 50 feet from Hyde Park av. Mounted officer Buckley and William DeWhite, the ticket agent of the Mr Hope station, noticed the cow standing in the water for some time. Others on passing electrics commented on the fact that the animal was there a long time, but it was remarked that Mary Ann was down there to cross the brook to get on the other side, but she had stopped to enjoy a foot bath.
Finally, mounted officer Buckley tied his hourse to a post and going down throught the pasture toward the brook, called to the cow by her name, but there was no response. It took him but a moment to discover that the cow was dead.

The animal had been poison and during its great thirst went to Stony brook to drink, dying as it stood in the mud.

A few days ago the trees along Hyde Park av, particularly the few in the pasture, were sprayed by a gang of men, but before this was done signs were posted warning owners of animals of the danger.

As usual, Mary Ann was put into the pasture yesterday, but was tied up to a log which was inserted into the ground with enough rope to permit a resonable range for feed. But the cow broke away, or some one loosened the rope and the animal ate of the poisoned food.

Mary Ann belonged to Thomas Welch of 56 Bourne st. Mt Hope, and some of the little boys and girls cried when the body of their pet was carted away. They said that it wouldn't have been half so bad is one of the other cows had died, instead of dear Mary Ann.