Exhibit Tags: 3 selected - The Magnet and the Iron: John Brown and George L. Stearns

1. Lefavour Map of Tufts College in Medford and Boston

Creator:: Lefavour, R.W.
Exhibit Description:: Map of Tufts College in 1938. In the lower right corner, you can see the new Cousens Gym north of College Avenue the rest of the undeveloped Stearns Estate. The building to the west of Cousens Gym was originally College Station, but at this time it had been home to Tufts University Press for some time.
Attribution Statement:: Tufts Digital Collections and Archives
Exhibit Tags:: Tufts University Tufts DCA maps College Avenue Stearns Estate Cousens Gymnasium Medford Somerville

2. Map of Tufts College

Creator:: Blanchard Printing Co.
Exhibit Description:: Map of Tufts College in 1929, less than a decade after the Stearns mansion was torn down. In the lower right is College Avenue, labeled "To Willows + Medford," referring to the street's nickname. Arrows also indicate that the Site for New Gym and the Tufts College Press are located to the right of the railroad.
Exhibit Tags:: Tufts University maps College Avenue Stearns Estate Tufts DCA Medford Somerville

3. Chase Map of Tufts College in Medford and Boston

Creator:: Chase, Ernest Dudley
Exhibit Description:: Map of Tufts College ca. 1955. In the lower right corner is Cousens Gymnasium and Stearns Village on what was once the Stearns Estate.
Exhibit Tags:: Tufts University Tufts DCA Stearns Estate Cousens Gymnasium maps College Avenue Medford Somerville Boston

4. Pansy Park, ca. 1910

Exhibit Description:: View towards Medford Square from the top of College Hill (Tufts College), ca. 1910. The tree-lined Avenue stretching left to right is College Avenue, also known as The Willows. The Boston & Maine Railroad parallels the bottom of the image, with College Hill Station appearing at the bottom left. Behind the station is Pansy Park, a pansy nursery. To the left of Pansy Park is property belonging to the Stearns Estate. Across College Avenue are the clay pits.
Exhibit Tags:: Stearns Estate Medford photographs College Avenue Tufts DCA

5. A Study of the Campus at Tufts College Showing the Positions of the Present Buildings and Suggesting Possible Locations for Future Buildings, 1932

Exhibit Description:: Map of Tufts College showing buildings present in 1932 and possible sites of future buildings. In the lower right quadrant, note the presence of the Physical Education Building (Cousens Gymnasium) and possible future additions northwest of College Avenue, as well as a large plot of the Stearns Estate yet undeveloped. In 15 years, this property would be home to Stearns Village.
Attribution:: College Architects: Andrews, Jones, Biscoe & Whitmore
Attribution Statement:: Tufts Digital Collections and Archives
Exhibit Tags:: maps Tufts University Cousens Gymnasium Stearns Estate Tufts DCA Medford Somerville College Avenue

6. The Stearns Estate by Justin Wyner, Tuftonian Spring 1945

Exhibit Description:: Article titled "The Stearns Estate" by Justin Wyner, describing the 'Stearns Estate, 1899' painting by William Hauk. This article was published on pages 10-11 of the Spring 1945 edition of the Tuftonian. A black and white copy of the painting was featured on the front cover.
Attribution:: Wyner, Justin
Attribution Statement:: Tufts Digital Collections and Archives
Exhibit Tags:: Stearns Estate Tuftonian Tufts University Tufts DCA George L. Stearns Cousens Gymnasium publications Mary E. Stearns Medford College Avenue drawings maps

7. The Stearns Estate, 1899

Exhibit Description:: This painting shows the Stearns mansion in the center right and the farmhouse to the far right. In the distance on the hill are the buildings of Tufts College, with the tower of Goddard Chapel, East Hall, and West Hall visible through the trees. The road to the left is College Avenue; at the time it was known as the Willows because of the trees on either side. At the corner of College Avenue and the railroad tracks is College Hill train station. The Boston & Lowell Railroad operated on the tracks that separated Tufts College from the Stearns Estate's orchards.
Attribution:: William Hauk
Attribution Statement:: Image courtesy of the Tufts University Permanent Collection
Exhibit Tags:: paintings Stearns Estate College Avenue Tufts University George L. Stearns Tufts University Permanent Collection Ballou Hall Goddard Chapel East Hall West Hall College Hill Station Curtis Hall Packard Hall Medford Mary E. Stearns Paige Hall Miner Hall

8. Old Windmill Tower on the Stearns Estate

Exhibit Description:: Photograph of several people near the old windmill tower on the Stearns Estate off of College Avenue.
Attribution:: Davenport, George E.
Attribution Statement:: Courtesy of the Medford Historical Society & Museum
Exhibit Tags:: photographs College Avenue Stearns Estate Medford Medford Historical Society and Museum

9. Residence of George L. Stearns

Exhibit Description:: Etching of the Stearns Estate as seen from College Avenue in Medford, showing the Evergreens mansion and several outbuildings.
Attribution Statement:: Courtesy of the Medford Historical Society & Museum
Exhibit Tags:: Stearns Estate George L. Stearns Mary E. Stearns drawings Medford Historical Society and Museum Medford College Avenue

10. College Ave., Tufts College, Medford, Mass. Postcard

Exhibit Description:: Postcard of the "Willows" on College Avenue in Medford.
Attribution Statement:: Courtesy of the Medford Historical Society & Museum
Exhibit Tags:: photographs College Avenue Stearns Estate Medford Medford Historical Society and Museum

11. Road to the Stearns Estate

Exhibit Description:: Photograph of the road off of College Avenue leading to the Stearns Estate mansion.
Attribution Statement:: Courtesy of the Medford Historical Society & Museum
Exhibit Tags:: Stearns Estate photographs Medford Historical Society and Museum Medford College Avenue

12. Excerpt from Medford Brainard Map, 1880

Exhibit Description:: Excerpt from the Brainard map of Medford, 1880, showing South Medford. The Evergreens (Stearns Mansion) and the Willows (College Avenue) are labeled in the lower left.
Attribution:: Brainard, Charles H.; O.H. Bailey & Co
Attribution Statement:: Courtesy of the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center, Boston Public Library.
Exhibit Tags:: maps Medford Stearns Estate College Avenue Boston Public Library

13. Stearns Estate Marker

Exhibit Description:: Plaque in front of Cousens Gym in Medford, MA, commemorating the former site of the Stearns Estate. The plaque reads, "Site of the Stearns Estate: A waystation on the Underground Railroad, a haven for slaves seeking freedom. 1850-1860. Placed here by members of the Tufts community, who continue to honor the tradition of sanctuary. Dedicated April 8, 1987." The plaque was dedicated one day shy of the 120th anniversary of the death of George L. Stearns. This photograph was taken in August 2017.
Exhibit Tags:: Stearns Estate Cousens Gymnasium Tufts University photographs Medford plaques College Avenue

14. College Avenue Photographic Postcard

Exhibit Description:: Photographic postcard of the College Avenue Bridge leading to the Willows. Visible to the far left is the Stearns Estate mansion.
Attribution Statement:: Courtesy of the Medford Historical Society & Museum
Exhibit Tags:: photographs College Avenue Stearns Estate Medford Medford Historical Society and Museum

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Exhibit Tags

1. Lefavour Map of Tufts College in Medford and Boston

2. Map of Tufts College

3. Chase Map of Tufts College in Medford and Boston

4. Pansy Park, ca. 1910

5. A Study of the Campus at Tufts College Showing the Positions of the Present Buildings and Suggesting Possible Locations for Future Buildings, 1932

6. The Stearns Estate by Justin Wyner, Tuftonian Spring 1945

7. The Stearns Estate, 1899

8. Old Windmill Tower on the Stearns Estate

9. Residence of George L. Stearns

10. College Ave., Tufts College, Medford, Mass. Postcard

11. Road to the Stearns Estate

12. Excerpt from Medford Brainard Map, 1880

13. Stearns Estate Marker

14. College Avenue Photographic Postcard

Contact Us

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Area of Interest

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1. Lefavour Map of Tufts College in Medford and Boston

2. Map of Tufts College

3. Chase Map of Tufts College in Medford and Boston

4. Pansy Park, ca. 1910

5. A Study of the Campus at Tufts College Showing the Positions of the Present Buildings and Suggesting Possible Locations for Future Buildings, 1932

6. The Stearns Estate by Justin Wyner, Tuftonian Spring 1945

7. The Stearns Estate, 1899

8. Old Windmill Tower on the Stearns Estate

9. Residence of George L. Stearns

10. College Ave., Tufts College, Medford, Mass. Postcard

11. Road to the Stearns Estate

12. Excerpt from Medford Brainard Map, 1880

13. Stearns Estate Marker

14. College Avenue Photographic Postcard