Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
1916



Cambridge, a city and semi-capital of Middlesex co., Mass., separated from Boston by the Charles River, in lat. (observatory) 42° 22' 47" N., Lon. 71° 7' 45" W. It comprises "Old Cambridge," the seat of Harvard University, East Cambridge (formerly Lechmere Point), Cambridge- port, about midway between Old Cambridge and Boston, the district called North Cambridge, and Mount Auburn. Old Cambridge, or Cambridge proper, 2) miles NW. of Boston, is delightfully situated in the midst of a beautiful plain extending from the Charles River. The streets are generally broad and shaded with lofty elms. The principal object of interest in the place is Harvard University, the oldest and one of the best-endowed collegiate institutions in the United States. It was founded in 1636, and derives its name from the Rev. John Harvard, who bequeathed it a legacy of about £780. Besides the collegiate department proper, the university embraces schools of law, theology, medicine, dentistry, special science (Lawrence Scientific School), agriculture and arboriculture (Bussey Institution, at Jamaica Plains), and veterinary science. Associated with it are an observatory, botanical garden, art museum, museum of archaeology (Peabody Museum), and the famous museum of natural history with which the name of Agassis is inseparably connected (Museum of Comparative Zoology, or Agassis Museum). The buildings of the medical, dental, and veterinary schools are located in Boston. Among the more prominent buildings associated with the university are Memorial Hall (containing the Sanders Theatre), University Hall, Massachusetts Hall (1720 — the oldest of the existing college buildings), Gore Hall (containing the university library, with upward of 600,000 volumes), and the Boylston Chemical Laboratory. The number of regular students enrolled for the term 1902-1903 was 4261. In affiliation with the university is Radcliffe College, founded in 1879, and giving instruction to women. Cambridge has been the borne of a number of the most prominent literary men of the United States. "Craigie House" and "Elmwood," the homes of Longfellow and Lowell, are points of interest to the tourist. West of the city is Mount Auburn Cemetery, which contains the graves of Longfellow, Lowell, Prescott, Motley, Holmes, Agassiz, Everett, Josiah Quincy, Channing, Rufus Choate, Brooks, and other eminent men.

Cambridge is one of the oldest towns in New England, having been settled in 1630. It first took the name of New town, which was soon after changed for its present one. The Bay Psalm-Book, the first book printed in British America,' was issued here by Stephen Day in 1640 ; and printing is still one of the principal industries of the place. During the Revolutionary War the American army was en camped in Cambridge while the British had possession of Boston. The British troops that surrendered under Burgoyne at Saratoga were quartered here in 1777 as prisoners of war. Pop. in 1830, 6072 ; in 1840, 8409 ; in 1850, 15,215 ; in 1860, 26,060 ; in 1870, 39,634 ; in 1880, 52,669 ; in 1890, 70,028; in 1900, 91,886. See Cambridgeport and East Cambridge.

Lippincotts New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns, Resorts, Islands, Rivers, Mountains, Seas, Lakes, Etc., in Every Portion of the Globe, Part 1 Angelo Heilprin Louis Heilprin - January 1, 1916 J.B. Lippincott - Publisher

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Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA