Taken from: http://bigelowsociety.com/Daniel_Bigelow.html
Vol. 11, No. 1 January 1982 FORGE: The Bigelow Society Quarterly
Page 9
July 19th (1848): We passed the house in which Washington
made his headquarters while in Cambridge. It was at that
time an elegant house and is still in a good state of repair,
the chamber where he lodged is now kept vacant and the same
furniture which was in it at that time is still in it.
22nd: Went to Charlestown early in the morning visiting on
the way a very fine garden, saw many beautiful flowers and
rare plants, saw in a hot-house lemons and oranges hanging
on the trees. .... the roof of the house was covered on the
inside with grapes which hung in beautiful clusters; they
are worth a dollar a pound.
25th: Came back by the Washington Elm, which is the tree under
which Washington took command of the Continental Army. It
is a venerable tree, its branches extend to almost the side
of the street each side, it is yet vigorous and thriving,
it is surrounded with a railing of iron and preserved with
great care. I had the good fortune to fall in with an old
man who saw the transaction, he said he was twelve years old
at the time, but remembered it perfectly well - he showed
with much satisfaction where Washington stood, and where the
army was, he said the army was drawn up on parade....
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