tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post3926087925015185653..comments2024-03-28T04:26:30.557-05:00Comments on Boston 1775: Cambridge Celebrates the Washington ElmUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-37860008065901592102010-07-12T18:59:21.439-05:002010-07-12T18:59:21.439-05:00It's interesting that the diary entry -- "...It's interesting that the diary entry -- "an ill renown for destroying trees" -- was written in the early 1870s. It was in 1870, I think, that Brattle Street was widened in front of the poet's house, causing removal of many trees, in order to add a second streetcar track. While researching another subject, I once found a letter that Longfellow had written, bemoaning the loss of those trees.<br /><br />One casualty of the street widening was the "spreading chestnut tree" mentioned in "The Village Blacksmith". Because of its fame, the chestnut was left standing in the middle of the road, with pavement all around it. It soon succumbed, however.Charles Bahnenoreply@blogger.com