Page:A Record of Education - The Schools and Teachers of Dedham, Massachusetts, 1644-1904.pdf/11



1634 the territory of Dedham, excepting the grassy meadows bordering on the Charles and Neponset rivers, and perhaps a few Indian cornfields, was still covered with a dense forest. A year later a small number of enterprising men from Watertown had discovered its value and desired to make it their permanent home ; and to, express entire satisfaction with their choice, would have called it Contentment. The next year, 1636, the town, in answer to their petition, was incorporated by the General Court of Massachusetts Bay, but it was named Dedham. The eight following years were a constant and hard struggle in subduing wild nature and making the place a safe and comfortable home for English emigrants. At the close of that period a little village or hamlet, consisting mostly of log houses covered with thatch, was clustered around the spot where they county buildings now stand ; and the area now occupied by Dedham Village was mostly cleared and under cultivation. A road connected the little settlement with Boston by way of Roxbury, and others were opened through East Street and to the estates occupying the tillage land of the Central plain. Thus the vigorous town was planted and had taken firm root in the congenial soil.

We come now to the next step in the quiet and orderly progress of this young community.

The founders of Dedham evinced in many ways their capacity for wise forethought. They evidently regarded themselves as the builders of a town for whose future character they would be held responsible. While they made many good regulations for securing private and individual rights, they never forgot to plan for the benefit of coming generations.