The times., 1901-05-26
AN ANCIENT STAqRHOUSE
Relics Stored in Historic Build
ing in Boston.

But few of the thousands who visit the
old state house to see the rare colEec-
tion Of relics of early days ever step into
the basement OF that historic building: a
glimpse even is enough to satisfy those
who do look that way. because OF the
unattraCtive apartment, but here is a col
lection OF peculiar interest articles clumsy
to be sure. but around which cluster
many important events of our colonial
and provincial history.
The society would not relegate these
articles to this apartment did the old
house offer room elsewhere.
Foremost among these dusty articles
is wooden door. It Is labeled thus:
THE original door. lock. latch. and
hinges of the mansion OF John Hancock"
This door is a recent addition TO the
collection. 1t was purchased by Moses
Kimball at the time the house was torn
down and placed in the garret Of the mu-
scum, where 1t was kept until his son
presented IL to the Bostonian society. This
door Is s feet tail and feet wide and ~
inches thick 1t consists Of twelve panels.
in as perfect condition as when nunR on
the massive strap hinges which are stIll
attached to it, fastened by the wrought
iron nails. hammered out by some skill
ful smith at his anvil in Boston town
The clumsy bolt slips with a bang. or
1t did when Thomas Hancock first barred
the door of the stone mansion 100 years
ago. The great key. aside from rust
through inactivity. is in as good condi-
ton as when the British officers turned
it in the lock and made themselves Sc
cure, while they enjoyed the luxuries
of the home vacated by Mime. Hancock
and her nephew John. who had found 1t
not a safe retreat for patriots, but had
left IL. negro slaves and all, to the mercy
of the enemy.
The massive iron knocker clangs with
the same sound which once warned the
beautiful Dorothy Quincy of the arrival
of guests commissioned by royal au-
thority.
In a dark corner OF this basement
apartment is a portion OF the carved
balustrade which ornamented projection
over this front door. To it is attached
the wrought-iron frame In which were
placed arrangements for lighting the en-
trance to the mansion. These are remind
ers of the days before a street lamp was
thought of in Boston, and when candles
for lighting this mansion were ordered
from London, unless 1t be for common
use. when some of the best spermacsti
lowable
BY light reflected from this frame many
noted men and women have been guided
up and down the stone steps of the Han
cock mansion, among whom were Gov
ernor Shirley, Sir William Pepperell. and
Col. George Washington. Hutchinson and
Sage of departing royalty Adino Pad
dock and Benjamin Lincoln, Lord Howe.
Major Pitcairn, General Burgoyne and
the scores OF under officers during the
siege. with many in private life, from An
drew and Pete: Faneuil Of provincial days
to the Adamses. Quincys. and others who
made their mark in State government
Turning from the reminders OF the Han
cock family, one sees another door-how
differenti II is simple and plain; on 1t
are the figures go and the word phil
lips"
1t recalls the home in Essex at where
lived Wendell Phillips. The surname only
painted on the door reminds US that the
occupant of the house was so obnoxious
to the majority through his abolition ut
terances that he could not keep door
plate and resorted to this simple way of
telling to all that the friend Of the down
trodden dweIt In that house. Many a
tine has the door been pelted with mud
in contempt of the man within.
Several rude iron chimney backs are
found hidden from sight. On two of these
are heraldic designs and the figures 1851.
On another is seen the representation Of a
British man-of-war ship. under which is
the motto:
The British navy, mighty sound,
Strikes terror to ye nations round
On this, with various military orna-
ments. are to be seen the figures 1852,
which remind u that soon after that date
the British navy ceased to strike terror
to America.
Tavern signs of We oldeu time are nu-
merous. one was the swinging sign of the
old Pembroke inn, Plymouth turnpike
The figures 17S9 are on it, and also those
OF 1900. The figure yet to be seen on one
side is that of a horse with a docked tail,
while the punch bowl with the word en-
tertainment serve for the suggestive or
naments of the other side.
Another sign is Of much earlier origin.
1t is a carved reproduction of the arms
of the painters guild of England, Ire
| land. and Scotland of 1735. 1t was brought
to this country by Christopher Gore. af-
| terward governor. and at one time hung
upon a building in the locality OF the
| present ScoIlay Square.
BrattIe Square Church built in 1772 and
removed in 1872, among those the key 20
the arch of the famous John Hancock
pulpit, this being the church where the
Hancocks worshipped and which received
legacies from Thomas Hancock and his
widow, Lydia Henchman-
The great weather vane from the HoI-
lis Street Church takes much space. and
after all is located with little regard for
the use to which it was originally put.
Tho great spinning wheel and all it's ac-
companying fixtures are IN as good trim
as when manipulated by the deft fingers
OF a provincial maiden in a contest on
Boston Common in 1861, when the "Daugh-
ters of Liberty were determined to use
no foreign fabrics. but resolved to manu-
facture their own cloth, and met in ccm-
| petitive contest on the Common and from
| house to house.
That wheel with it's well-Doised head
| is a silent but striking reminder of the
| large part woman had in the great strug-
! gle which brought freedom to the colonies
The bell rope OF Christ Church tOld
! North) suggests TO the visitor the night
/ when the lanterns were hung in that bel
| fry chamber overhead; even this roughly
| hewn block OF white oak possesses a
| charm for the reflective; in this dusty cor
| ner there passes before him the scenes Of
| that memorable April night OF 1775-
| The further one searches into the sliad-
| owy corners the more he finds TO carry
| him back to the colonial days OF MasSd-
| chusetts Bay There IS an ornsmented
| cap of pillar from the house occupied
| by Cotton Matker and John Mayo
| It was built in 1856. and the carving IS
| weu-preserved specimen Of the art which