Calendar of Events
A BRIEF HISTORY OF STONEHAM
Before the coming of the white men, this area was inhabited chiefly by the Indians of the Agawome and Naamkeek tribes. The earliest record we have of white men in this region is the year 1632 when Governor Winthrop and a party came to this area on a picnic. They found Spot Pond and ate their lunch on Cheese Rock, which was later renamed Bear Hill.
From that time until 1658, all of this region was claimed by Charlestown. In 1658 the land was divided among the people according to their rating as taxpayers.
Some of the early settlers included John Gould, Thomas Gerry, Matthew Smith, William Rogers, and Thomas Cutler. Most of the homes were built near Reading for protection and to be near the meeting house. In 1685 a road was built from Reading to Woburn and it passed through Stoneham.
The earliest industries included cedar posts, wooden shingles and clapboards--�all products of saw mills such as the Gould Saw Mill built in 1708. There was also a Grist Mill built in 1737 to grind the corn produced by the settlers for their many needs.
In 1725 the residents of the area petitioned Charlestown to let them withdraw and become a separate town. This move for "independence" was led by Captain Benjamin Geary. The request was denied by the Town of Charlestown, However, in December of that same year, the General Court granted the desires of the people and told them they might incorporate as a separate town. There were then sixty-five male taxed inhabitants (legal voters). In all, the population of the area at that time was about 250-300 living in about 50 houses. Actually, this new town, incorporated on December 24, 1725, was inferior to its neighboring towns in population, wealth, and territory.
Most of the people were humble and hardworking. There were no professional or learned people. Living conditions were very primitive. There were no slaves, however, until the eighteenth century.
Upon receiving permission to incorporate, a Town Meeting was held on December 24, 1725 for this purpose. Timothy Baldwin was the person chosen as our town's first moderator. The first meeting was held in the schoolhouse. At this meeting the freemen elected committees to provide for education, a meeting house, and a burial ground.
Stoneham in 1725 was much larger than it is today. From 1725-1899 its territory was gradually cut down by sections of land being granted to the towns of Woburn, Winchester, Medford, Malden, Melrose, Wakefield, and Reading. Since 1899 there have been no major changes in the boundaries of Stoneham. Its present area is about 6.66 square miles. There has, however, been a tremendous growth in population and an increasing number of houses and buildings erected. In 1940 the population was about ten thousand. Today (1958) it is approximately sixteen thousand.
Source: "A Unit of History and Town Government", Stoneham Junior High School, 1958.