Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-02-02
LETTER FROM THE OED H.sI'
ST.8TE.
WoLLAsToN HEIGHTS, MASS.

NOLLASTON HEIGHTS, MASS.
Jan. 2ith, 1872.
M. Editor. The cars are Just passing; but
that is nothing of special interest TO us, for
so trains p9ss every day, twenty-five OF
which stop for our accommodation but the
passing of the train just at this moment
was very opportune, for was distressed to
know how 1 should commence my letter.
"What about Wolaston any way?" l
don't wonder you ask the question. If yor
were to stand on these heights on warm,
sunny morning and cast your eyes over
the landscape that would encircle you, you
would wonder that the question was not
asked half century ago-that the site has
never until recently been occupied save for
Il COW pasture. I only reiterate the oft re-
peatod sentiment of the elder Adams when
l say that for beauty, variety and extent
the scenery from Wollaston Heights is not
exceled, if equalled, in all the suburbs OF
Boston.
The tract of land bearing this name is in
the town of Quincy, six miles from State
street in Boston, and one and a half miles
from the city limits, on the Old Colony and
and was purchased two years ago by a
company under the corporate name of
"WOllaston Land Associates" The COM
pany Immediately laid out the estate in
avenues and lots, and put it into the mar
ket, and the enterprise has been so sue
Cessful that within eighteen months about
20 houses have been erected, and nearly
that number will be built the present year.
All are good and many of them elegant
edfices. One condition of sale of lots is
that no house shall be erected costing less
than $500.
Great pains are taken by the company to
induce only the most desirable class of citi-
zens to buy and build. Thus far the effort
has heen successful, and most of the resi-
dents are young men doing bu iness in the
city, and all of excellent rnoral and socia
charac' er. Society is marvellously free
from aristocracy on one hand and vulgarity
on the other.
school of two departments is already
in successful operation, also church and
Sunday School, and ground has been bro
ken for the erection OF a beautiful house o
worship. a large boarding house of ex-
celleut character welcomes the stranger but
a few steps from the Depot.
The sale of intoxicating drinks is moi
known here and will not be tolerated.
Wollaston Heights, derives its name from
Mount Wollaston, beautiful swell of land
in Quincy, which was named for its owner
many generations ago. THE Heights con-
sist of three eminences, rising from so to
$50 feet above the level of the sea. The
highest of these is the westerly, so that the
view towards the Bay is not obscured from
either. The valleys among these hills are
sufficiently wide for streets and dwellings
The slopes OF the hills are so gentle as tc
! admit of building at any point. Besides
these, there is wide extent of plane land
thus aifording the greatest variety to mee
the diversity Of tastes in builders and in
crease the beouty ofthe landscape.
would like to give your readers som'
conception of the beauty of the surround
ing scenery, but they must draw largely
upon their Imagination to make it equa
the reality. AS you stand upon the Heights
facing the East, the ancestral estates of thu
| Quinceys, held by the title received from
the aborgines, transmitted from genera
ton to generation, never having passed ou
of the name,-lie Immediately before you
with all that style of Improvements anC
embellishments which reminds one of th
"irst famiies' Of colonial times.
The mansion Of the present proprietor
Josiah Quincy, stands ombowcred amid Ion!
avenues of stately, ancient elms. Beyon'
these estates and less than mile from th
Heights, Massachusetts Bay and Bostol
IIarhor spread out before you in all thei
varied and enchanting beauty. All vessel
leaving or entering Boston Ilarbor ar
visible, winding their way among the num
erous islands which add so much to the at
fractions of the Bay. To the left, Boston
with the intervening villages, is in ful
view, affording at night a display of fir
works which surpasses in beauty the pro
ductons of the most skilled professor o
| pyrotechnics. To the right, lie the Adam
estates on which reside at least, the f1l
generation of that name-the offspring q
John Quincy Adams, who was the son O
Charles Francis, who was the son of Joh
Quincy, who was the son of plain John
who was the son of his father. Beyon
these estates lie Quincy, Braintree Wey
mouth aud numerous other of those beauti
rul villages for which Massachusetts ha
ever been so justly distinguished.
Now if/your eye sweeps the horizon b
tho West, tho landscape is varied wit