The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-07-03
OLD MILE POSTS.
Those Around boston Among Amer
ica's Interesting Relics.

Among the most interesting relics
of colonial days are the old stone
mile posts on the various highways
leading into the city of Boston. They
were placed in position at a period
when the country surrounding Bos-
ton was great wilderness, and were
a real and appreciated convenience
to pedestrians as We'll as the traveller
on horseback and those who went
about in the more stately style of the
family coach. The Bostonians and
the country people who visited the
hub were enable to tell Just how near
they were to the end of their destl-
nation. The markers sort Of blazed
the path along otherwise lonesome
and unknown country roads. Just
now the people Of Boston are partic-
ularly interested in preserving these
relics of an early period Of the city
and vicinity. Many have already been
destroyed by thoughtless persons,
and of course some have been broken
down by the unavoidable accidents
which are sure to occur on much
travelled highways. That those re-
naming may have many years more
of existance if not usefulness they
will be protected both from the
weather and possible accident by
strongly built rooted shelters.
Several Of these ancient mile posts
are shown in the accompanying pic
located at points which are
now part of the city, but at
the time they were erected were
out in the wilderness. Three Of them
are on the long thoroughfare lead
ing to Milton. One bears the date of
1922, and says it. is 81 miles to B."
which means Boston. Another, on
the opposite side of the road says it
is ''8 miles to B ToWnhouse the low
er way" A third mile stone near
the Cedar Grove cemetary, is embed
ed in a stone wall, which gives it the
effect Of being an entrance to g.
tomb. The inscription says ~ miles
to Boston Town house" " The stone
also contains the initial "H.' which
doubtless stands for the surname Of
the man who caused it to be erected.
John Mclean, born in Boston in
l76l, also erected a number Of mile
stones on the highways leading to
Boston. All now standing bear his
name and the date of his death.
There is post on the Roxbury high
way, which bears the date of 1728. 1t
was erected by Judge Paul Dudley,
and is one of many that were built
oy Mr.. Dudley. The word Boston"
S almost obliterated from the slab !
oy the ravages Of time. Another one
IN another Boston road bears this
inscription, "13 miles to Boston,
L7S6, John Spare" There must have
oeen a large number Of these guide
posts in the early days. Evidently
he public spirited Boston men were
determined that the visitors should
lot lose their way to the city for the
want of suitable marks. All of those
Who erected the posts were more or
ess prominently identified with the
business interests of the city, and the
nile post bearing the name Of the
nan who erected it doubtless proved
o be good advertisement for him.
Certainly they have proved to be en-
Turing monuments.
There is an old law in Massachu-:
etts which provides for the erection
nd maintenance Of guide posts at
places along the public high:
Ways, and the road commissioners
re supposed to make an annual re-
,ort Of all the places in which guide
'osts have been elected and maintain
d.