The house under review, dated in the Assessor's Records at 1855 and appearing on the 1876 Street Atlas, represents the third quarter of the 19th century on this section of Adams Street. As such it can be compared to its neighbors, The General Moses Whitney House of 1819 at 126 Adams Street and the Forbes/Balch House of1890 at 162 Adams St. The front facade is asymmetrically organized with a front facing gable section. Interesting detail: two pinnacles on the roof, square windows with crossed decoration and a round columned entrance porch of possibly a later period with an unusual railing.
Built on land inherited from her father, Captain John Swift, Elizabeth R. Swift lived in this house, with her sister Mary, until her death in 1896. Miss Swift was a teacher, instructing students first in her home and later at the First Parish Church and the Academy. Both sisters were charitable women. At the time of their deaths, they both left bequests to become eventually known as the Swift Charity. The purpose of the Fund was to aid and render more comfortable any worthy and needy women and children of Milton. Miss Swift also left to the Library the portrait of her father painted by Thomas Hinckly. It hangs today on the first floor of the Milton Library. (Stopped by the library and although the library is quite modern, there is one room that looks more historical and the lone painting hanging in there is of John Swift. Photos follow).
In 1899 Charlotte M. Hall, daughter of Joseph E. Hall, bought the house. She eventually married Lawrence Hurd, an executive officer with United Shoe Company.
When we met our neighbor in March, he mentioned the Putnam's, who owned the house prior to the people we bought it from. I did a little digging and found out that Dr. Hazel E. Putnam, born in 1906 lived there with her husband. She was a doctor, graduating from UC Berkeley and working at Johns Hopkins prior to setting up her own practice in Milton in 1953.
Seems the house has a rich history of strong women and here's to it passing along to Isabelle!
From the First Parish of Milton website, showing the fund is still in existence and helping people of Milton:
The Swift Charity
The Swift Charity was the result of bequests made in the wills of sisters Elizabeth R and Mary F Swift of Milton. Their funerals, in 1896 and 1894 respectively, were held at First Parish. A special act passed by the legislature in 1898 formally established the Swift Charity as a nonprofit corporation. The charity was directed to either purchase a home or create a trust to assist needy and deserving women and children of Milton.
The Swift Charity was the result of bequests made in the wills of sisters Elizabeth R and Mary F Swift of Milton. Their funerals, in 1896 and 1894 respectively, were held at First Parish. A special act passed by the legislature in 1898 formally established the Swift Charity as a nonprofit corporation. The charity was directed to either purchase a home or create a trust to assist needy and deserving women and children of Milton.
The directors of this charity never established the “Swift Home.” They instead have made grants to Milton residents and organizations benefiting Milton residents.
Other Research:
The Swift family seemed to be prominent in business and government in Milton, as can be found in this archived document on the History of Milton from the Boston Public Library:
Very little can be found about the subsequent owner of the house, Charlotte M. Hall and Lawrence Hurd.
And, for the record, it bugs me that both women are referred to only as their father's daughters, as if their mothers didn't matter.
And, for the record, it bugs me that both women are referred to only as their father's daughters, as if their mothers didn't matter.
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