'66 THE MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY 



erection of booths, tents or buildings upon either the half- 

 acre or the four-acre premises, for the vending of liquors, 

 refreshments or articles of an} 7 description, shall be subject 

 to the approval of the grantor. There is a stipulation that 

 the agricultural hall shall belong to the society in any 

 event. 



The boundaries of the half-acre lot have been obliter- 

 ated by the conveyances of later times ; but a distinct 

 landmark appears in the public highway, now called 

 Dighton place, but, prior to annexation, Winship 

 place. This roadway, though originally four rods wide, 

 was the avenue of approach from Washington street to 

 the half-acre lot. The building erected by the society 

 was known as Agricultural Hall, and it stood in the centre 

 of the half-acre lot. Its site is within the open area that 

 makes the upper end of Dighton place, in front, or north 

 of the Bennett primary school house there. The position 

 of the south end of Agricultural Hall corresponds very 

 nearly with that of the north end of the school house. 

 The hall stood upon or near the height of land, and the 

 whole extensive tract about it thereafter took on the name 

 of Agricultural Hill. Many years afterwards the society 

 obtained a deed, from the administrator of the Winship 

 estate, of three and a half acres, adjoining the half acre 

 tract, so phrased that it could convey a good title to the 

 whole, without conditions. It sold the land to Stephen 

 H. Bennett, who made a donation of the school house lot 

 to the town of Brighton. 



Agricultural Hall was a structure of 70 by 36 feet, 

 ground dimensions, and two stories high. The lower 

 story finished at twelve feet height, and the upper at ten 

 feet and seven inches. In the upper hall were hung vari- 

 ous paintings and engraved pictures, illustrative of agri- 

 cultural matters. The building was constructed during 

 the summer of 1818 and occupied by the society for the 

 show of that year. No ceremonies of breaking ground 

 or dedication took place, but, in conformity to the usage 



