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  History of Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA*

Journey back in time to Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA*

Visit Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA*. Discover its history. Learn about the people who lived there through stories, old newspaper articles, pictures, postcards and genealogy.

     

• 1630 - Charlestown is settled and incorporated
  
  Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates
  
  
• 1839 - Charlestown
  Charlestown, Massachusetts
  Middlesex county. The Indian name of this town was Mishawun. First settled, 1628. Incorporated, 1629. Population, 1820, 6,591; 1830, 8,787; 1837, 10,101. Charlestown is a peninsula, formed by Charles and Mystic rivers, and is united to Boston by Charles and Warren...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1845 - CHARLESTOWN. [Pop. 11,484. Settled 1628.]
  Charlestown, the oldest town in the county, and called Mishawum
  by the Indians, was named after King Charles the First, by Winthrop,
  the first Governor, who resided here before he crossed over to Boston.
  
  Charlestown was first settled by some of the Salem people.
  
  The present town is a...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1847 - Charlestown is incorporated as a city
  
  Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates
  
  
• 1848 - Charlestown
  CHARLESTOWN was settled in 1628, being the oldest town in Middiesex county, and one of the oldest in the state. It was incorporated in 1635. It derives its name from Charles I. of England, the reigning sovereign at the time of its settlement. Its Indian name was Mishawum. In 1628 “six or seven...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1854 - Charlestown
  Charlestown, a city and seaport of Middlesex county, Massachusetts, is situated on a peninsula immediately N. of Boston, with which it is connected by the Warren and Charles River bridges. It is 237 miles by railroad N. E. from New York; 200 miles E. by S. from Albany ; and 1 1 1 miles S. S. W....Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1859
  CHARLESTOWN, a township in Middlesex co., in Massachusetts, 1 m. N of Boston, on the peninsula between Charles and Mystic rivers; connected with Boston by two bridges; and with Chelsea and Malden by two bridges crossing the Mystic. The navy-yard in this township covers 60 acres, and contains two...Read MORE...
  
  
  
•  1866 - Fire at Charlestown
  BOSTON, Monday, Dec. 17. A fire in Charlestown last night destroyed the wooden building at the corner of High and Pearl streets, formerly occupied as a Methodist Church. Loss, $10,000. The Armory of the Prescott Light Horse Guard, a school-room and several offices in the building were burned out.
  The New York Times
  New York, New York
  December 18, 1866
  
  
•  1869 - A Morocco Factory in Charlestown, Mass., Burned.
  BOSTON, Dec. 14. - The morocco factory of C. C. PERKINS, in Charlestown, including the machinery and a portion of the stock, was destroyed by fire last night. The loss in 20,000, which is partially covered by insurance.
  The New York Times
  New York, New York
  December 15, 1869
  
  
• 1873 - Charlestown is annexed to Boston
  
  Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates
  
  
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  V. M. Dunn
  540 and 542 Main Street, Charlestown, Mass.
  Advertisement
  
•  1885 - Men of Brains - Some of the Distinguished American Inventors
  Samuel F. B. Morse, inventor and patentee of electric telegraph; born at Charlestown, Massachusetts, in 1791; died in 1872; artist painter; exhibited his first drawings of telegraph in 1832; half-mile wire in operation in 1835; caveat in 1832; Congress appropriated $30,000, and in 1844 the first...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1895 - Charlestown
  Charlestown, Massachusetts, a former city, merged in 1873 into Boston, of which it now forms a part, contains Bunker Hill monument, a state prison, a United States navy yard, fine churches and public buildings, and has extensive sugar-refineries and other industrial establishments, besides many...Read MORE...
  
  
  
•  1898 - BIG FIRE IN BOSTON. DUST EXPLOSION BLOWS THE ROOF OFF AN ELEVATOR AND STARTS A BLAZE.
  Boston, April 17. - The roof of the grain elevator at Hoosac Tunnel docks, Charlestown, was blown completely off by a dust explosion at 4 o'clock this morning, and the fire that followed not only destroyed the remaining portion of the immense structure, but consumed nearly the entire contenst, over ...Read MORE...
  
  
  
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  City Square
  Postcard
  
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  The Battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775, Charlestown, Mass.
  Postcard
  
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  Bunker Hill Monument
  Postcard
  
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  Navy Yard, Charlestown, Mass., 1905
  Postcard
  
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  Charlestown Bridge
  Postcard
  
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  Winthrop Square, Charlestown, Mass.
  Postcard
  
•  1910 - CAR SEALER KILLED IN FREIGHT YARD.
  Patrick McGloin, a car sealer, living at 58 Chapman street, Charlestown, was so badly crushed between freight cars in the Fitchburg yard of the Boston and Maine railroad in Charlestown shortly before 6 o'clock last night, when an engine backed down on him, that he died a few minutes later in the...Read MORE...
  
  
  
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  Charlestown, Mass., Dry Dock, Navy Yard
  Postcard
  
•  1912 - SAVES THREE TOTS IN HOUSE ABLAZE. Oficer Takes Litle Ones From Their Beds in Charlestown.
  Three children of Mr. and Mrs. Frank E. Grant, all under 8 years of age, were taken from their beds on the first floor of the dwelling house at 88 Moulton street, Charlestown, by Patrolman T. B. S. Donahue of the City square station, shortly before 10 o'clock last night, when a lively fire was...Read MORE...
  
  
  
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  Sullivan Square, Charlestown, Mass.
  Postcard
  
• 1916
  Charlestown, a former city of Middlesex co., Mass., since 1873 a part of Boston, contains Bunker Hill monument (commemorating the battle of Bunker or Breed's Hill), 221 feet high, a state prison, a United States navy-yard, and Sue public buildings, and has extensive sugar-refineries and other...Read MORE...
  
  
  
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  Frothingham School, Charlestown, Mass.
  Postcard