History of Quincy, Massachusetts, USA

The first railroad, three miles long, was opened in 1826, at Quincy, Mass.

Quincy, Massachusetts
Norfolk county. The territory of Quincy was a part of ancient Braintree, until 1792. It lies on Braintree or Quincy bay, in Boston harbor, and is bounded on the N.W. by Neponset river and the town of Milton. It is 8 miles S. by E. from Boston and 10 E. by S. from Dedham. Population, 1820, 1,623; 1830, 2,192; 1837, 3,049.

The surface of the town is diversified by hills, valleys and plains. Back from the bay about 3 miles is a range of elevated land, in some parts more than 600 feet above the sea, containing an inexhaustible supply of granite. This is the source of "Quincy Granite," a building material justly celebrated in all our cities for its durability and beauty. Vast quantities of this admirable stone are annually quarried and wrought in this vicinity by the most skillful workmen, into all dimensions, both plain and ornamental; and it is fortunate for the public that the supply is abundant, for the demand for it from various parts of the United States is...

This town was originally settled in 1625, and was the first parish
of Braintree.

It was called Mount Wollaston, after Captain Wollaston, the chief
settler ; then Merry Mount, by some licentious persons led by one Morton ; and, finally, Quincy, from the distinguished family of that name.

Quincy has had the rare fortune to give birth to two Presidents of the United States, John Adams, and John Quincy Adams, his son.

The hills of Quincy furnished the stone of which Bunker Hill Monument, and many other splendid structures, are built ; and the railroad, that conveys the stone to the landing, was the first in the United States.

Next to stone the most valuable manufacture is boots and shoes.

Distance from Dedham, 10 miles; from Boston, 7.

Quincy, a post-township of Norfolk county, Massachusetts, bordering on Quincy bay, in Boston harbor, and intersected by the Old Colony railroad, 8 miles S. by E. from Boston. It is celebrated for its quarries of granite, commonly known as Quincy granite, which is exported in great quantities to all parts of the Union. About 1000 persons are constantly employed in working it. Blocks have often been quarried weighing as high as 300 tons. The first railroad ever constructed in America was here put in operation in 1826, for the purpose of transporting the granite from its bed to tide-water, in Neponset river, a distance of 3 miles. The village, which is considered remarkably beautiful, is situated on an elevated plain near the centre of the township. In a stone church, completed in 1828, at a cost of $40,000, is a beautiful marble monument, erected to the memory of John Adams and his wife. The town house, a fine granite edifice, 85 feet by 65, is deserving of notice. One newspaper is...