At the start of the 18th century, while Massachusetts was under Colonial rule, Parliament took legislative action to survey and improve post roads. This resulted in placing milestones throughout the Commonwealth in the mid-1700s. Ninety-nine rectangular or round-headed monoliths were inserted at mile intervals along Old Post Road (now Route 20), stretching from Boston to Springfield. As the traveler neared Boston, the markers counted down the distance to Boston City Hall.
Of the original ninety-nine stones statewide, forty-seven still stand, including four in Boston.
In 1940, recognizing them for their historic significance, the Works Progress Administration inventoried and described the stones, publishing their findings in Milestones and Markers in Massachusetts. In 1960, the Massachusetts legislature directed the Department of Public Works to preserve the stones. In the 1970s, the stones were added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The stones have seen great changes in the Commonwealth as the communities around them urbanized and country roads were transformed into major thoroughfares. Some stones have been relocated to save them from destruction and protect them from the wear and tear associated with heavily trafficked areas. Several still stand in their original location, including one at 144 Harvard Avenue, in the heart of Allston Village that was recently damaged by a truck.
The stone juts from the sidewalk between a hardware store and grocery store. Over the years it has seen Allston transform from a sleepy part of Cambridge to a thriving, unique neighborhood of Boston (Allston was annexed by the City in 1874). The neighborhood is alive with students, long-term residents, and a diverse population of immigrants.
The stone, just under three feet high, is carved to read “Boston/ 6: miles/ 1729/ PD.” As with most other milestones in Massachusetts, it contains initials which indicate who erected it. In this case, “PD” stands for Chief Justice Paul Dudley, who erected all the stones in Boston. Over the centuries, the stone weathered substantially but was largely intact until the accident severed it at its base. The stone has since has been temporarily reset, and is currently surrounded by a barricade to protect it from further damage. The Boston Preservation Alliance has advocated not only for its repair, but for its long-term protection.
One option that has been considered is the stone's relocation. But while this option would protect the stone from future accidents, removing it from its historical context would rob Allston Village of this humble reminder of its past. Another option under consideration, which has been applied to several milestones in Massachusetts, would be to restore it in place and framed with low walls or fences for protection. The Alliance looks forward to assisting city and state agencies in any way that we can.
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