Yesterday as I was walking back to my car after attending a wonderful City of Newton family Fourth of July celebration in the Newton Bowl park with my 7-year-old granddaughter and my dog, we passed an overgrown lot at 1181 Centre Street. I thought that it seemed a bit odd to find what looks like a vacant parcel in center of town where everything else is mostly commercial (to the left stands a string of retail stores). I also noticed an old stone staircase leading into the bushes and since I (and my dog) was curious I followed it. I was surprised to find a large boulder with a large bronze plaque. It was only a few feet from the sidewalk but completely hidden by the overgrowth.
I was totally amazed. It commemorates the site of the home of Samuel Francis Smith, the man who wrote the hymn “America” (My Country ‘Tis of Thee), first performed in Boston on July 4th, 1832 — 193 years ago to very day I was reading the inscription.
Thousands of people passed that spot this Fourth of July but missed a small but important and inspiring part of our national story. I don’t live in Newton but I’d like to ask the many in your city that have forgotten about this monument and/or support historic preservation to help uncover this gem of Newton’s history.
Rob Daves
Brookline
