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History of Oysters in the History of Oysters in the

Estuaries of Boston Harbor Estuaries of Boston Harbor Historic Overview and DataHistoric Overview and Data

October 2013October 2013

The Massachusetts Oyster Project The Massachusetts Oyster Project

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OverviewOverview

The Massachusetts Oyster Project is The Massachusetts Oyster Project is seeking to restore oysters to Boston seeking to restore oysters to Boston

Harbor. Harbor.

The historical record demonstrates that The historical record demonstrates that oysters were ubiquitous in Colonial times oysters were ubiquitous in Colonial times and possibly a significant economic force and possibly a significant economic force

earlier in Boston’s history. earlier in Boston’s history.

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The 1881 Ingersoll Report on the The 1881 Ingersoll Report on the Oyster Industry Oyster Industry

Provides an excellent Provides an excellent overview on the overview on the industry including industry including Massachusetts.Massachusetts.

Provides strong Provides strong references for oysters references for oysters being present in both being present in both the Charles and the Charles and Mystic Rivers. Mystic Rivers.

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The Ingersoll Report quotes The Ingersoll Report quotes William Wood’s New England William Wood’s New England

Prospect of 1634.Prospect of 1634.1634

Oysters a foot long Reefs that could block shipsPresent in Both the Charles and Mystic Rivers

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Streets of Early Boston Were Streets of Early Boston Were Paved with Oyster ShellsPaved with Oyster Shells

Historian Richard Historian Richard Archer Archer Confirms that oyster Confirms that oyster

shells were thrown at shells were thrown at Boston MassacreBoston Massacre

Mentions that streets Mentions that streets of Colonial Boston of Colonial Boston were paved with were paved with oyster shells. Page oyster shells. Page 185.185.

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Oyster Shells on the StreetsOyster Shells on the Streets

This photo was taken This photo was taken during the replacement during the replacement of the sidewalk around of the sidewalk around Bunker Hill Monument Bunker Hill Monument in 2013.in 2013.

The underlayer of The underlayer of oyster shell is still oyster shell is still present. We do not present. We do not know how old this shell know how old this shell is.is.

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The Boston Massacre Trial transcripts The Boston Massacre Trial transcripts also contain evidence of a strong oyster also contain evidence of a strong oyster

business.business.“This witness swears he saw snow-balls thrown close before the party, and he took them to be thrown on purpose, he saw oyster-shells likewise thrown.”

Summation by John Adams representing British Soldiers.

‘he met an oyster man, who said to the deponent, " Damn it, this is what I got by going up," and showed the deponent a large cut he had received from one of the soldiers with a cutlass, over his right shoulder “

Testimony of Henry Bass

“I immediately came down again, and went on board an oyster boat; staid there about a quarter of an hour, and heard the guns off.” “Did you see any collection of people there?”“Yes, I asked what was the matter; I was told a soldier had hurt an oyster man”

Testimony of John Short

The presence of oystermen and oyster boats in a day of limited transport indicates oysters were close by.

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Oysters in Mortar in the Old Oysters in Mortar in the Old StatehouseStatehouse

Oyster shell mixed in Oyster shell mixed in the mortar of the old the mortar of the old statehouse is still statehouse is still visible in a few places visible in a few places where the older where the older mortar remains.mortar remains.

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We do know that the large volume of oyster We do know that the large volume of oyster shell was becoming an issue by 1818 as its shell was becoming an issue by 1818 as its disposal became the subject of regulation.disposal became the subject of regulation.

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Oysters for the Union (Atwood ) Oyster House Oysters for the Union (Atwood ) Oyster House came from the Atwood Oyster Farm in Everett came from the Atwood Oyster Farm in Everett

on the Mystic River.on the Mystic River.

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Charles River Oysters- Charles River Oysters- CambridgeCambridge

Anthropologists* review of colonial documents Anthropologists* review of colonial documents revealedrevealed Large oyster reef and clam flats extending from Large oyster reef and clam flats extending from

Massachusetts Avenue through Cambridgeport down Massachusetts Avenue through Cambridgeport down to the Miller’s River near Charlestown. to the Miller’s River near Charlestown.

Area has been subject of extensive fill. Area has been subject of extensive fill. Original rivers edge on Mass Ave is at the present fire stationOriginal rivers edge on Mass Ave is at the present fire station MIT built on fillMIT built on fill

Shellfish middens were found on the site of the Third Shellfish middens were found on the site of the Third Street courthouse and Cambridge Cemetery.Street courthouse and Cambridge Cemetery.

They were associated with Native Americans. They were associated with Native Americans.

*Dena Dincause – Writings of English Settlers in Harvard University Library

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Map MentioningOyster Bank Map MentioningOyster Bank in Cambridgein Cambridge

The map at right is The map at right is posted on an posted on an educational plaque in educational plaque in Wintrhop Square Wintrhop Square outside the Peet’s outside the Peet’s Coffee. This is the Coffee. This is the site of the initial site of the initial settlement of settlement of Cambridge – Cambridge – Newtowne.Newtowne.

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Map Mentioning Oyster Bank Map Mentioning Oyster Bank in Cambridgein Cambridge

Another map on the marker mentions the “highway to the oyster bank.” It clearly was an important route.

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Charles River Oysters- Charles River Oysters- CambridgeCambridge

In 1816 the cellar of the In 1816 the cellar of the Cambridge Townhouse was Cambridge Townhouse was rented to Zenas C. Atwood rented to Zenas C. Atwood for storing oysters. for storing oysters.

In the 1853 edition of the In the 1853 edition of the Massachusetts Register Massachusetts Register there are 8 Cambridge based there are 8 Cambridge based purveyors of oysters and 5 in purveyors of oysters and 5 in neighboring Charlestown. neighboring Charlestown.

*Dena Dincause – Writings of English Settlers in Harvard University Library

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Probable Charles Oyster Probable Charles Oyster LocationsLocations

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Charles River Oysters- BostonCharles River Oysters- BostonThere must have been numerous shell There must have been numerous shell

heaps in early colonial times in the vicinity heaps in early colonial times in the vicinity of old Boston, for there were extensive of old Boston, for there were extensive oyster-beds in the Back Bay and the lower oyster-beds in the Back Bay and the lower Charles River. The only ones that I find Charles River. The only ones that I find recorded were in Back Bay, Cambridge recorded were in Back Bay, Cambridge and Cambridgeport. Most, if not all of them and Cambridgeport. Most, if not all of them have been obliterated. have been obliterated.

Charles Willoughby. Antiquities of the New England Indians 1935Charles Willoughby. Antiquities of the New England Indians 1935

The piles of shells left by Native American feasts have beenremoved.

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Oyster DemiseOyster Demise Loss of habitat- through fill Loss of habitat- through fill Misuse- oyster shells and Misuse- oyster shells and

sometimes whole oysters sometimes whole oysters were spread on fields to were spread on fields to reduce soil acidity reduce soil acidity

River subjugation-River subjugation-protective dams convert protective dams convert significant areas of Back significant areas of Back Bay and Mystic Rivers to Bay and Mystic Rivers to fresh water.fresh water.

Pollution- sewage flows, Pollution- sewage flows, river silt, chemicals river silt, chemicals

Over-harvesting- feeding Over-harvesting- feeding humanshumans

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Oyster DemiseOyster Demise1901 State Publication associated with 1901 State Publication associated with construction of first Charles River Damconstruction of first Charles River Dam

Probably became extinct within twenty five years

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Oyster DemiseOyster Demise1901 State Publication associated with 1901 State Publication associated with construction of first Charles River Damconstruction of first Charles River Dam

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Other ObservationsOther Observations We have heard other references to oysters throughout We have heard other references to oysters throughout

Boston Harbor.Boston Harbor. One older woman (when she was young) heard from an One older woman (when she was young) heard from an

older woman that the Cambridge Oyster Bank made older woman that the Cambridge Oyster Bank made sure that nobody ever starved in the olden days. sure that nobody ever starved in the olden days.

We have heard of people harvesting barrels of oysters in We have heard of people harvesting barrels of oysters in Chelsea Creek.Chelsea Creek.

The exhibit area in the Spectacle Island visitor center The exhibit area in the Spectacle Island visitor center includes oystes in the display and references oysters on includes oystes in the display and references oysters on the island.the island.

We have limited this presentation to written traceable We have limited this presentation to written traceable evidence. evidence.

If you have additional information, please email If you have additional information, please email massoyster@gmail.com. We would welcome the . We would welcome the opportunity to improve and update this presentation. opportunity to improve and update this presentation.

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Thank youThank you

As the Massachusetts Oyster Project seeks As the Massachusetts Oyster Project seeks to restore oysters to the Boston Harbor to restore oysters to the Boston Harbor estuary, it is grateful to the interns who estuary, it is grateful to the interns who

conducted the research for this document.conducted the research for this document.

Shira BleicherShira Bleicher

Laura OlivierLaura Olivier

By understanding the past, we can build a better future.