Soldiers Of Revolution Honored

This, from the Jamaica Plain News, is a better copy of an identical picture used by both the Globe and the News.


Boston Daily Globe May 30, 1909


Honor Patriots of Jamaica Plain. Boulder to Memory of Soldiers of Revolution Unveiled by Mary Draper Chapter, D.A.R.


On the plot of ground at the junction of Centre and South sts, Jamaica Plain, where stands a fine granite monument erected to the memory of Jamaica Plain men who fell in the civil war, a boulder was unveiled yesterday afternoon by Mary Draper chapter, D.A.R., with a tablet inscribed to the memory of Jamaica plain men who were patriots of the revolutionary war.

Opposite the site, to the east, is the old Greenough mansion, used as headquarters by general Green of the Continental army, and later as a hospital for sick and wounded revolutionary soldiers, while the west side of the street is the ancient church edifice of the First Congregational society (Unitarian), where the general court sat in April, 1778, on account of the prevalence of smallpox in Boston. Adjacent to the spot, too, were the residences of two of the colonial governors of that time.

The exercises were witnessed by a large gathering of the members of the Mary Draper chapter, D.A.R., of Jamaica Plain, and by representatives of Paul Revere chapter, Wayside Inn chapter, Orlando chapter, Fla, Old South chapter, Adams Tufts chapter, John Adams chapter, and Sarah Bradley Fulton chapter, D.A.R., together with a large gathering of citizens and children.

The memorial committee, headed by Mrs Charles T. Bauer, past secretary of Mary Draper chapter, presented the memorial to the chapter, which was accepted by Mrs Frederick S. Davis, past regent of the chapter. The flag that draped the boulder of Roxbury puddingstone on which the bronze tablet is placed was unveiled by little Miss Dorothea Callowhill, daughter of Mr and Mrs Sidney Callowhill, of Roslindale, whose ancestors, on her mother's side, were all of revolutionary stock, Joseph Philbrook, her ancestor, having settled in Hampton N.H. in 1632. Mrs Callowhill is a member of Mary Draper chapter.

The inscription on the bronze tablet is as follows:

"In memory of the men of Jamaica Plain, then the third parish of Roxbury, who served in the war of the Revolution. 1775-1783. This tablet is erected by Mary Draper chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution 1909."

Following the unveiling of the memorial the formal exercises were carried out in the parish house of the First Congregational society, on Eliot st, and were presided over by Mrs Davis.

After extending a greeting to the men and women present, Mrs Davis called upon Rev Walter Calley, minister of the First Baptist church, Jamaica Plain, who offered prayer. Sewall R. Payson then sang "God That Made Earth and Heaven," and Mrs Davis on behalf of Mary Draper chapter presented the memorial to the city of Boston.

Alderman William Dudley Cotton of Jamaica Plain accepted the gift for the city of Boston. He said:

"By authority, delegated to me by the mayor and on behalf of the city of Boston, I accept this memorial to the sons of Jamaica Plain who fought in the war of the revolution, and may this memorial ever serve to inspire in us, our children, and out children's children zeal for country and willingness for loyal self-sacrifice."

An historical address was given by Frederick G. Bauer, vice president of Boston chapter, S.A.R. and commander of Joseph Stedman camp, B. of V.

Mrs James G. Dunning, state regent of the Massachusetts D.A.R., was present and made a brief address, saying:

"I deem it a great privilege to be with Mary Draper chapter today. Men of this country have raised monuments to the soldiers of the civil war, but is has remained for the women of the Country to raise monuments and tablets to the memory of the patriots of the revolution. But I believe the Daughters of the American Revolution have greater work in the raising of living monuments patriotic citizens. Let us not only educate our children in patriotic sentiment, but educated those who are coming to us from other shores, who, if the time comes, should be willing to serve and die for our country if need be."

The interesting exercises, which were in charge of the memorial committee, included Mrs Charles T. Bauer, Mrs F.C. Irving, Mrs George N. Bliss, closed with the singing of "America" by the whole company.