Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
1854 - Cambridge / Cambridgeport / East Cambridge

Cambridge, a city and semi-capital of Middlesex county, Massachusetts, 3 miles W. N. W. from Boston, in lat. 42° 22' 21" N., Lon. 71° 7' 88" W. It comprises Cambridge, the Beat of Harvard University, East Cambridge, (formerly Lechmere Point,) Cambridgeport, about midway between Old Cambridge and Boston, and the district called North Cambridge. Old Cambridge, or Cambridge Proper, is delightfully situated in the midst of a beautiful plain, extending from Charles river. The streets are generally broad, and shaded with lofty elms. Many of the dwellings stand at considerable distances from each other, and are surrounded with spacious yards, ornamented with shrubbery and evergreens. The principal object of interest in the place is Harvard University, the oldest and best endowed collegiate institution in the United States. It was founded in 1638, and derives its name from the Rev. John Harvard, who bequeathed it a legacy of about 780 pounds. Its funds, at the present time, amount to about $1,000,000. Besides the collegiate department proper, the university embraces a law school, a theological school, a medical college, and a department for those who wish to prepare themselves for business pursuits, without going through a classical course. The last was instituted in 1848, mainly through the efforts of the Hon. Abbott Lawrence, who bestowed upon it a munificent donation. The buildings occupied by the University are 15 in number, 14 of which are in Cambridge ; the other is located in North Grove Street, Boston. The most prominent are University Hall, containing the chapel and lecture rooms; Harvard Hall, in which are the mineralogical cabinet, philosophical apparatus and a large room for declamation, adorned with the portraits of the officers and benefactors of the institution; Gore Hall, a fine granite structure, having in it the college library ; and Holden Chapel, containing the anatomical museum and chemical laboratory. In addition to these, there are Divinity Hall, occupied by the theological students, and four other buildings for the accommodation of undergraduates. The institution has a botanical garden of about eight acres, stored with a choice collection of shrubs and plants, both native and exotic ; and one of the most powerful telescopes in this country. The lectures to medical students are given at the Medical College in Boston. In 1852 the alumni were 6342, a greater number than of any other college in the Union. Cambridge contains 2 banks.

Cambridgeport, connected with Boston by a bridge, contains the town house, a number of elegant mansions, 2 or 3 churches, and 2 banks.

East Cambridge is connected with Boston by Canal bridge, and with Charlestown by Prison Point bridge. It is regularly laid out with streets intersecting each other at right angles, and contains, besides the county buildings, a post-office and several manufactories. Among the latter may be mentioned, an establishment for making glass, where $500,000 worth is annually produced.

Cambridge is one of the oldest towns in New England, having been settled in 1630. It first took the name of Newtown, which was soon after changed for its present one. The "Freeman's Oath," one of the first newspapers published in the United States, wag issued here by Stephen Cay. During the Revolutionary war, the American army was encamped in Cambridge, while the British had possession of Boston. Population, in 1830, 0072; 1840, 8409; 1850, 15,215.

A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.

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