The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1907-07-05
OLD MILE POSTS.
Around boston Among Amer.
ica's Interesting Relics.

Il 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 a great wilderness, and were
a real and appreciated convenience
to pedestrians as well 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 weree enable to tell just how near
they were to the end of their desti-
nation. The markers sort Of blazcd
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,
ana or course some have been broken
down by the unavoidable accidents
which arc sure to occur on much
travelled highways. That those re-
naming may have many years more
of cXistancc 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
arc shown in the accompanying pic
located at points which are
now part of the city, but at
the 'mc they were erected were
out /, the wilderness. Three of them
are on the long thoroughfarc lead
ing to Milton. One bears the date of
l722, and says it is 90 mics to b."
which means Boston. Another, on
the opposite side of the road says it
is 80 miles to b Townhousc the low
cr way" A third mile stone near
the Cedar Grove ccmctary, is embed
ed in a stone wall. which gives it the
effect Of being an entrance to q
tomb. The inscription says "7 miles
to Boston Town house" The stone
also contains the initial I'll" 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 a post on the Roxbury high
way, which bears the date of 1928. It'll
was erected by Judge Paul Dudley,
and is n of many that were built
by Mr.. Dudley. The word Boston"
is almost oblitcrated from the slab
by the ravagcs of time. Another one
on another Boston road bears this
inscription, "13 miles to Boston,
1856, John Spare" There must have
been a large number of these guide
posts in the early days. Evidently
the public spirited Boston men we're
that the visitors should
not lose their way to the city for the
want of suitable marks. All of those
who erected the posts we're more or
less prominently identified with the
business interests of the city, and the
mile post bearing the name of the
man who erected it doubtless proved
be a good advertisement for him.
Certainly they have proved to be en-.
during monuments.
There is an old law in Massachu-
which provides for the erection
and maintenance of guide posts at
suitable places along the public hilh-
ways, and the road commissioners
supposed to make an annual re-
port OF all the places in which guide
posts have been elected and maintain
ed.