[p. 42] of two streets. . . . But in course of time, a Town Pump was sunk into the ancient spring; and when the first decayed, another took its place, and then another, and still another, till here stand I, to serve you with my iron goblet.
The early history of the Medford town pump cannot be better told than was its contemporary's of Salem; yet we wonder just a little if Salem ever had a pump like that of Medford, shown in our illustration. Had such been the case, it might under the pen of the romancer have given forth a double ‘stream of eloquence.’ Also we query, ‘Was there ever one like it anywhere?’ We deem it fortunate that the late Francis Wait, himself a mechanic of ability, made a description of its operation and peculiar features, which our local artist and younger Medford boy has preserved for us in our illustration.
It was probably installed soon after 1812, and after serving the thirsty public for an average human lifetime, was replaced by another of ordinary style in 1848. Our worthy townsman Hooper tells us of the boyish pride he felt when he first was able to operate its pendulum handle, which alternately lifted the water in the two pumps enclosed in the box-like structure, and delivered through a single spout as shown It was a man's job to operate it and fill the big trough from which the horses and cattle drank. We of present day Medford never see an ox in our streets; horses are becoming rare.
What do the generality of Medford children know of pumping water? They would be helpless if set down thirsty in Medford square as it was a century ago. The useful fixture known as the town pump disappeared nearly fifty years ago, soon after the introduction of water from Spot pond. A great iron vase, by courtesy styled a ‘drinking fountain,’ took its place. Though it never drank nor become drunk and upheld a lantern to illuminate the way for those who did, it proved too fragile for its purpose, and soon gave way for one of granite. That, after years of use, has disappeared at the suggestion of the State Board of Health—for sanitary reasons.
