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Milton Historical Society - Milton Sampler The “Milton Sampler” is intended to depict a variety of persons or places that are part of Milton’s historical heritage. New subjects will be portrayed in the “Sampler” from time to time. Milton Tavern Days by Linda Mason Pirie "There is nothing which has yet been contrived by man, by which so much happiness is produced as by a good tavern or inn." — Samuel Johnson Shortly after the establishment of Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630 the court required that every town have a public house or 'ordinary' to entertain strangers. A citizen of Milton, or any town, was prohibited from entertaining a stranger in his home unless he gave a bond or surety for his guest's good behavior, thus making the local tavern a necessity. These early public houses were required by law to be located near the church; thus allowing church leaders to keep a watchful eye on its activities and making sure no one kept tavern during church meetings! In addition to food and lodging the innkeeper "often led the singing in the meeting house on Sunday; acted as the school master for children of those who frequented his house; served in the legislature or held town office; ruled over the local courts; and often ran the local ferry! His role was not easy -- he could be fined if he sold a person too much liquor OR if he refused to sell the amount allowed by law. 
For a number of years taxes were collected at the local tavern. A Milton resident could enjoy a drink at the public house of Minot Thayer, Daniel Vose, Capt. Lemuel Bent, Josiah Brown or at the Tavern of Mrs. Atherton (at left) and pay taxes at the same time! Colonial drinking habits favored 'wholesome drinks' such as hard cider, beer and wine over more costly tea or coffee. Even infants were given mulled cider at bedtime. Milton once had "numerous orchards which furnished the inhabitants with large quantities of cider." However temperance reform zealots caused many of these orchards to be cut down, not imagining any other use for the apple. Surprisingly Milton cider is credited for an act of environmental preservation! Thanks to Polly Vose and her cider, the Gulliver Elm, which once stood at the corner of Elm Street & Canton Avenue, was saved from the axe shortly after the Revolutionary War. Hearing the blows of the axe, Polly offered the workmen a glass of cider, asking them to not cut the tree down until she could see the Selectmen. Scars of that fateful encounter were still visible in 1941 when the diseased elm had to be removed. 
After the American Revolution the number of taverns nearly doubled with the coming of turnpike toll roads. The Blue Hill Turnpike (today's Rte. 28) was laid out as an 8 mile stretch through the Blue Hills "from Randolph meetinghouse...to Joseph Babcock's, in Milton." The seldom used road was plagued with financial difficulties made worse by travelers who frequently used only one end of the road to avoid the toll. Even with the placement of two half toll gates, one of which was placed by Clark's/Blue Hill Tavern (above), the turnpike still failed. Today the former turnpike is known as Randolph Avenue. At the time the Blue Hill Turnpike was being built, Brush Hill innkeeper Joseph Billings petitioned to have a turnpike established near his inn. Known as the Brush Hill Turnpike, this road also had difficulty collecting revenue with "anyone on military duty, religious duty, coming to or from any grist mill, or on... ordinary business of family concerns" exempt from paying a toll. The former Brush Hill Turnpike is now Blue Hill Avenue. 
The toll house for the Brush Hill Turnpike (at left) was originally occupied by Mr. McKendry who would turn a gate mounted on a 'pike' allowing travelers to pass after paying a toll. After toll collections ceased, the toll house became a dwelling, which for many years was home to the Sumner family. Katherine Sumner Gould was the last of the family to occupy the house before it was demolished in 1965. During a period of unbridled drinking known as the 'Roaring Forties,' concerned Milton citizens formed local temperance groups. In 1847 at Babcock's Hall more than 300 members of the Milton & Quincy Railway Temperance Union pledged "total abstinence for themselves, declaring war on the manufacturer and dealer and seeking to rescue the down and out." By the close of the 19th century, citizens voted to ban 'the sale of intoxicating liquors in the town,' thus bringing to a close the days of Milton taverns. The Blue Bell (Granite House) in East Milton and Clark's Tavern on Randolph Avenue were the last of the Milton taverns to close their doors. "The tavern will compare favorably with the church. The church is the place where prayers and sermons are delivered, but the tavern is where they are to take effect, and if the former are good, the latter cannot be bad." — Thoreau
About 1731 shipwright William Badcock (later Babcock) built a comfortable home for his family 88 Adams Street, not far from the Public Landing, which soon was operated as a public house. Various members of the Babcock family conducted the inn until the property was sold around 1801. Under Dr. Samuel K. Glover (husband of Eunice Babcock and one of its last innkeepers), the first Milton Post Office was conducted in the tavern, with the mail being brought weekly by a carrier on horseback. The tavern which once stood at the corner of Wharf Street was demolished about 1910. Stone steps now mark the site of this once popular public house. Rachel Smith, daughter of Jeremiah Smith and wife of Daniel Vose, provided the following anecdote involving her father (innkeeper Jeremiah Smith) and innkeeper William Babcock. "Early in the Spring (of 1737 or 1738) after Mr. Jeremiah Smith removed to Milton he found an emigrant ship had arrived from Ireland, and as his neighbor, Mr. William Badcock, wanted a domestic, they went to Boston together. Mr. Badcock got his domestic, and Mr. Smith got a bushel of potatoes from the same vessel. Mr. Badcock never having seen a potato was surprised to see Mr. Smith procure so many. When the time for planting came, Mr. Badcock took a few with directions for planting. Mr. Badcock complained to Smith of the ignorance of the Irish help, for he sent her to the field to get some green corn to boil, and she came back and reported that she had dug up a dozen hills, and there was no corn to be found in one of them. Mr. Smith told him the ignorance of the Irish about corn was no more laughable than the ignorance of the Americans about potatoes!" |
