248 History of Hingham. 



July 10, 1864, she was impressed into the United States gov- 

 ernment service for about twelve days, for war purposes, when 

 she made a trip to Alexandria, Va. 



In 1869 the company established a route to Nantasket Beach, 

 and after that time the fleet of boats belonging to the company 

 gradually increased. For several seasons the " Rose Standish " 

 made the spring and fall trips from Hingham. Later on she was 

 rebuilt and finally sold for service in the vicinity of Eastport, Me. 



For thirty-six years — from 1831 to 1867 ■ — the Boston and 

 Hingham Steam Boat Company was the only one running boats 

 between Hingham and Boston. This company was the child of 

 Hingham enterprise, and largely of Hingham capital, and it is 

 not to be wondered at that any invasion of its territory 

 should be looked upon with uneasy feelings by its managers and 

 stockholders. 



In 1867 the " People's Independent Line " advertised to run 

 steamboats between Hingham and Boston. This company was 

 under the management of Harvey T. Litchfield, who had pur- 

 chased the wharf next west of the old company's pier, in 

 Hingham, formerly occupied as a lumber wharf and known as 

 Cushing's Wharf. A pier was extended from this wharf, and a 

 channel dredged to it. The steamer " Emcline," formerly the 

 " Nantasket " already spoken of, began her trips for this com- 

 pany, under command of Capt. Alfred L. Rouell, June 24, 1867. 

 In the same month the " Win. Harrison," Capt. Rouell, came to 

 the route, the " Emeline " being transferred to a route between 

 Boston, Hull, and Strawberry Hill, where a wharf had been built. 

 It may be mentioned that Hull had always been an intermediate 

 landing for boats of the old company. 



The " Win. Harrison " was built in Keyport, N. Y., in 1865. 

 The fare on both lines during the season of 1867 was 25 cents, 

 except for a short time in the beginning of the season, when it 

 was 30 cents on the old line. 



In 1868 the " Rose Standish " ran from Hingham for the Bos- 

 ton and Hingham Steam Boat Company, and the " Wm. Harrison," 

 Capt. E. S. Young, with the " Emeline," Capt. A. F. Doane,a part 

 of the summer, for the People's Line, with the fare at 25 cents. 



In 1869 the Boston and Hingham Steam Boat Company pur- 

 chased the very fast steamer " John Romer " in New York, and 

 she made her first trip May 20. She was commanded by Capt. 

 Charles E. Good. Fares on this line were reduced to ten cents 

 during a portion of the season. The " Rose Standish " was put 

 upon the beach route. The " Wm. Harrison," Capt. E. S. Young, 

 was the boat of the People's Line, with fares at twenty-five, ten, 

 and five cents, as competition increased and excitement ran high. 

 In this year Litchfield's Grove was opened for picnics and pleasure 

 parties in connection with the People's Line. This grove was 

 southeast of the Old Colony House station of the railroad, on 

 Summer Street. 



