Read the town’s oldest history book

What is this? A 1909 booklet containing transcripts of historic speeches, such as Burlington’s 100th birthday in 1899, and some original essays about the town in its early days. In the interest of historical integrity, the whole booklet is published here verbatim, even with a couple of words that wouldn’t be printed nowadays. It makes a reference to “Indians,” and there is one (redacted) instance of the “N” word in the story of Cuff and Venus, two Burlington slaves. The author uses it indirectly, in quotes, because she’s relaying something she overheard. She doesn’t use it herself.

Who is the author? Martha Sewall Curtis, a suffragist, court stenographer and business owner (a team of 20 court stenographers) who taught in Burlington and served on the School Committee. Her father was Burlington’s town clerk for many years. Her grandfather was minister of the Old South Church on Boylston Street in Boston and wrote the comprehensive history of Woburn. And her great grandfather (below) presided over the Salem witch trails.

Why so much emphasis on the Meeting House? In colonial America, a meeting house was the nucleus of every town. It was the house of worship AND the town hall AND the school AND the cultural convention center. It was everything under one roof. So when the Shawshin section of Woburn formed its own parish and its own Meeting House in 1732, it was a very big deal, a provocative step toward becoming a separate town. And sure enough, in 1799, that second parish became Burlington.

Where can I find the book? In the Burlington Public Library.