38 Maple Street
Middleton, Massachusetts
“In the decades following the Civil War, thousands of itinerant men, ‘tramps,’ followed the railrose to points north in search of work. By the 1870’s, the problem of coping with the increasing numbers of tramps prompted the town to purchase a plot of land from A.A. Averill for $25, and to contract with George B. Flint to build a lock-up or ‘Tramp House’ for $355. The Tramp House was completed in 1878, and was used to temporarily shelter these homeless men. In the early 20th century, as the tramp problem diminished, the Tramp House was utilized as a jail and briefly as the Police Station.
The following Middleton persons and organization have generously contributed their considerable talents, time and materials to the restoration of the Tramp House.
William F. Cashman
Raymond A. Farnsworth
Gerald X. Gerrior
Henry A. Traget
North Shore Technical High School
Middleton DPW
George Nash
John O. Kunz”
I’ve had a visit to the Tramp House in Middleton on my “to-do list” ever since reading a newspaper article about it several years ago. As often as I drive through Middleton, it is always en route to someplace so I cannot stop.
Today, I had the pleasure of visiting the Middleton site as part of a Rails and Sails tour. It was very interesting to hear of the background that led to building the house.
Thank you.
I was just wondering how much my home town had changed. It’s nice to see the old jail fixed up. I use to play there when I has was a lot younger.. I lived across the st in the White House. On the first floor.
I was wondering if you had any historic pictures of King St. and Mount Vernon St. ?
Thank you for your time.