The City Record and Boston News-Letter

Events and Fires for 31 January 1837 and 1840

Events in Boston, during the year 1840

31 January 1840

Abigail R. Gray obtained a verdict of damages against Robert Harley, a dry goods dealer in Hanover Street, for a false charge of theft made against her.  The damages were laid at $70 only, to show that the object of the suit was not money.

Events and Fires for 30 January 1837 and 1840

Events in Boston, during the year 1840 30 January 1840

A meeting was held at Faneuil Hall, to take into consideration the subject of the loss of the Lexington.  The Mayor was called to the Chair, and resolutions sympathizing with the friends of those lost, censuring the owners and managers of the boat and calling for Legislative action on the subject, were offered by Geo. S. Hillard, Esq.  After some speaking on the resolutions, they were unanimously adopted, a Committee of fifteen being appointed to investigate and report on the causes of steamboat disasters, and another of five to present the subject to the notice of the Legislature.

The Overseers of the Poor reported that 81 patients had been admitted into the City Small Pox Hospital, of whom 22 had died and 37 had been discharged.  A large proportion of the deaths occurred among the intemperate.

Events and Fires for 27 January 1837 and 1840

Events in Boston, during the year 1840

27January 1840

At a benefit at the Tremont Theatre this evening, the sum of $1,072.25 was collected for the widoe of Mr. H.J. Finn, who was lost in the Lexington.  At the same theatre, on the 30th, $909 was received for the widow of Mr. Charles L. Eberle, who was lost by the same disaster.

[N.B.  The Lexington was a steamer destroyed by fire 13 January 1840 on Long Island Sound.  85 passengers and 37 crew members perished.  There were only four survivors.]

Good Thing People Didn't Wear Shorts and T-Shirts in 1832

The Boston Almanac for 1838 notes that on 26 January 1832, "mercury [fell] 55 degrees in 18 hours in Boston."   I'm not a weather expert (much to the dismay of many who visit this site, apparently) but that certainly seems extreme.

Painted Signs: From Boston to Houston

A transplanted Bostonian, whose photography I've long admired, has some evocative photos of slowly fading advertisements painted on the sides of buildings in Houston.  You can see them here and be sure to also peruse the Boston photo archives.  Houston's climate certainly keeps these signs in a better state of preservation than in Boston.

Readers are encouraged to email or post in the comments the locations  of their own favorite fading painted ads in the Boston area.  My personal favorites include the various Quaker Oats signs (Main Street, Cambridge; Cambridge Street, Boston; Columbus Ave, Boston) and the old theater on Blue Hill Avenue across from Franklin Park where one can still see the words "Vaudeville" and "Photoplays" at the top of the building.  I love the word "photoplay" because it really sums up the nature of the earliest movies.  I'll post links to these locations when I take the photos which will be sometime after the snow melts--let's say May or so?

New Snow Record for January, All Time Record Probably Safe

[read the 2 March 2005 update here]

Boston has a new snow record for the month of January.  While the final total has yet to be calculated (we're awaiting the late returns for January 27-31), the old mark of 39.8 inches, set in 1996, has been eclipsed.

I hope this helps all of the people who have come to the City Record in the hopes of finding this information.  From my referral logs, I know this has been on your minds.  Don't let it be said that I ignore my readers.

[editor's note:  no sooner than I post the January snow record, I get a Google search for the annual snow record in Boston--107.6 inches in 1996.  Happy now?]

Incidentally, the weather on 27 January 1837 was clear, with the temperature at 0 at 7 A.M., moving to 26 at 2 P.M.  Winds were from the west.

Events and Fires for 25 January 1837 and 1840

Fires in Boston during the year 1837

25 January 1837

Fire discovered in the coffee grinding establishment of T.W. Carter, rear of Bromfield Place.  Loss about $300.

Events and Fires for 24 January 1837m

Memoranda of Events in Boston, during the year 1837

24 January 1837

A young man in the employ of Edward D. Peters Esq. drew a check on the house of Lambert and Slade for $2500 and caused it to be presented at the Atlantic Bank for payment.  At the bank the forgery was discovered.  Soon after the drawer was arrested.  Hitherto his character was good.

Snowstorm 22 January 1840

The Boston Almanac for 1841 reports that on the 22 of January, 1840 Boston had 12 inches of snow followed by rain on the 23rd, and notes "good sleighing" on the 24th.  The temperature at 2 P.M. on the 24th was 18 degrees.

Events and Fires for 23 January 1837 and 1840

Events in Boston, during the year 1840

23 January 1840

From the “Annual Abstract of the Bill of Mortality” for 1839, published by the Superintendent of Burying Grounds, it appears that the number of deaths in that year was 1863.  In the month of January there were 151; Feb., 159; March, 168; April, 145; May, 129; June, 126; July, 148; August, 117; September, 183; October, 186; November, 141; Dec., 159.