Never had I chanced upon such an agreeable situation. Seven families,11 who were connected with each other, partly by the ties of relationship and partly by affection, had here farms, gardens, and magnificent houses, and not far off plantations of fruit. The owners of these were in the habit of daily meeting each other in the afternoons, now at the house of one, and now at another, and making themselves merry with music
1 House, next westerly from the “University Press.”
2 House, afterwards Washington's Headquarters, now the homestead of Prof. Henry W. Longfellow, and famous both as the tent of Mars and as the favorite haunt of the Muses.
3 House nearly opposite to the Headquarters, now the homestead of the venerable Samuel Batchelder.
4 House, corner of Brattle and Sparks streets, now the homestead of John Brewster.
5 House, corner of Brattle and Appleton streets, now the homestead of George Nichols.
6 House, corner Brattle and Fayerweather Streets, long the homestead of the late William Wells.
7 House, Elmwood Avenue, the homestead successively of Vice-president Elbridge Gerry, Rev. Charles Lowell, and his son Prof. James Russell Lowell,—each, in his respective sphere of politics, theology, and poetry, more illustrious than the original occupant.
All these houses remain in good condition, though erected more than a hundred years ago; but the “farms” have been divided into smaller estates.
8 House, on the easterly side of Dunster Street, about midway between Harvard and Mount Auburn streets.
9 House, fronting Harvard Street, between Plympton and Linden streets: long the residence of Dr. Sylvanus Plympton and Mrs. Elizabeth B. Manning.
10 House, on Arrow Street, near Bow Street; for many years the residence of William Winthrop.
11 “Mrs. Oliver was sister to Vassall; and Mrs. Vassall was sister to Oliver. The deceased father of Vassall and Mrs. Oliver was brother to Mrs. Ruggles, to Mrs. Borland, and to the deceased husband of the widow Vassall; and the deceased mother of Vassall and Mrs. Oliver was sister to Col. Phips, to Mrs. Lechmere, and to Mrs. Lee. The widow Vassall was also aunt to Mr. Oliver and to John Vassall's wife.”
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