B-N 18 - Boston, Suffolk Co. - Newton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts - U.S. Historic Survey Stones and Monuments on Waymarking.com

Along the border between the cities of Boston and Newton, and the counties of Suffolk and Middlesex, and along Beacon Street, is a monument that marks the boundary.

The marker is located on the southwest side of the road, about a foot and a half from the edge of the sidewalk and about six feet from a street light, and about a foot from a rail fence. The house uphill is a wooden structure that has a dormer, a tower, and a long porch, and is currently painted green.

The marker is square, about 12 x 12 inches and is a few inches above the ground, which is sloped. It is in an area relatively clean of rocks, but there are rocks, perhaps remnants of a stone or retaining wall, on either side. Engraved on the top is an 'N' (Newton) and a basic arrow pointing toward the edge facing the road.

The historical atlas on the MassHighway web site has the following text about the monument (written in 1904):

"Boston-Newton 18

Location. - The corner is situated in the face of the retaining wall on the southwesterly side of Beacon street, at a point of tangency, about 925 feet northwest of the pumping station station of the Metropolitan Water Works, and about 100 feet northwest of the driveway entrance to a private estate.
Mark. The corner mark is a granite monument three feet in height and 10 x 10 inches in section, dressed on all faces three feet down from the top. The letter B is cut on the northerly face, and N on the top, with a crow-foot at the top front edge to indicate that the northerly face of the stone is set on the line."

Things have changed a little since this description. The monument is short compared to the description. The Metropolitan Water Works building still exists and now is the Water Works Museum. The driveway still exists and goes to the house described. The retaining wall is either missing or in shambles on either side of the marker.

The area known as Brighton was a separate town until 1874, when it was annexed to the city of Boston. At that time, the line was altered to the present position putting both basins of the Chestnut Hill Reservoir in Boston (the Lawrence basin is no longer visible above ground).

Monumentation Type: Dressed stone Monument Category: County/Municipal boundary marker Accessible to general public: yes Monument Website: [Web Link] County: Cities of Boston, Suffolk Co, and Newton, Middlesex Co. USGS Quad: Newton, Mass. Approximate date of monument: 01/01/1874 Monumentation Type (if other): Not listed Monument Category (if other): Not listed Explain Non-Public access: Not listed Historical significance: Not listed NGS PID: Not listed Other Coordinates: Not Listed Other Coordinates details: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
1. A closeup photo of the monument is required.
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2. A 'distant' photo including the monument in the view is highly recommended. Include the compass direction you faced when you took the picture.

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