254 History of Hingham. 



Old Colony. For a number of years after that date it had its own 

 equipment of engines and cars, the engines running to Braintree 

 only, where the cars w T ere attached to trains on the main line. 

 In September, 1871, the Old Colony bought the controlling inter- 

 est in the South Shore, and Oct. 1, 1876, it was consolidated with 

 the Old Colony. 



It was largely owing to the enterprise and energy of Mr. Alfred 

 C. Ilersey, a native of Hingham, that the South Shore railroad 

 was established, and he was elected its first president. There 

 was great rejoicing in Hingham, as well as in the other towns 

 on the route, on the day of opening the road, and a salute was 

 fired from Powder House Hill. 



The following account of the opening day's proceedings ap- 

 peared in " The Chronotype," a Boston daily paper, edited by 

 Elizur Wright, in the issue of Jan. 2, 1849 : — 



South-Shore Railroad. 



After infinite palaver, as Carlyle would say, the South-Shore Road 

 has got itself located and opened. Is not this a proof of the feasibility 

 of republics ? The people in the one hundred and one coves and inlets of 

 our many-sided Boston Harbor are somewhat like frogs, — the grant 

 of a railroad for them caused any amount of clack. Should it be here, 

 or there ? One would have said, with such pulling and hauling, it would 

 be nowhere. We can testify it is there. 



Yesterday was one of the brightest possible winter days, and at 12 

 o'clock an immense, long train waited half an hour for the City Govern- 

 ment, and then started, rolled on over the Calf Pasture by Dorchester, 

 Neponset, Quincy, and Braintree, and gracefully curved off upon the 

 new road, which the glorious amphibious people of North Braintree, 

 Weymouth, Hingham, and Cohasset have built for themselves. 



It passes through a populous and thriving country, where the children 

 are abundant, living off from both the land and the sea. They seem to 

 have curved the road a good deal, to suit as many as possible. Passing 

 through the ancient hive of Hingham, the folks made us promise to come 

 back and take supper. Arrived at Cohasset about half-past-two. 



Cohasset is of itself no small place. It has considerable ground to stand 

 upon, besides the water beyond it. We saw two churches, many snug 

 houses, multitudes of people. Probably some, by permission of their 

 mothers, came from Hull. 



At Cohasset is a spacious Car House, some two or three hundred feet 

 long, the whole of which was converted into a summery sort of bower, 

 with evergreens for foliage and red and white bunting for blossoms. Two 

 long tables were bountifully spread, and the crowd passed in without let 

 or hindrance. We should guess there were at least one thousand, per- 

 haps more. After an air from the fine Weymouth Brass Band and the 

 invocation of a blessing, the eatables were attended to. 



We must not forget to mention that besides a most bountiful and 

 various cold collation, with hot coffee, there was a hogshead or two of 

 chowder, piping hot, ladled out. As Daniel Webster was not on hand for 

 the responsible service of superintending the chowder-pot, our friend John 

 Wright, of Exchange Street, had performed that duty. This does not 



