Washington Stone

Tucked away in an unassuming corner of Boston, lies the Washington Stone. It’s an intriguing piece of history, often overlooked. The Washington Stone isn’t grand or imposing. It’s a simple, flattened sphere, about two feet across. You’ll find it embedded in the foundation of a building on Marshall Street. A plinth below it reads “Boston Stone 1737”. This seemingly ordinary stone holds a unique story. It began its life as a millstone, a “muller”. It was used to grind paint pigments. Imported from England around 1701, it belonged to a painter named Tom Childs. The stone even bore a painted plaque with Child’s initials and the date. Years later, John Howe purchased Child’s estate. During construction around 1737, Howe rediscovered the stone. To protect his new building from passing carts, he placed the stone at the corner of his property. When James Davis rebuilt the building in 1835, the stone was given its current location. It was placed in the brick wall above the inscribed plinth. Howe’s daughter recounted the story. A neighbor, familiar with the London Stone, suggested they create a similar landmark in Boston. Thus, the “Boston Stone 1737” inscription was added. Interestingly, a popular legend claims the Washington Stone marks Boston’s geographic center. It was supposedly used by colonial surveyors. However, no evidence supports this claim. It’s more likely that the story originated as a 19th-century advertising ploy for the nearby Marshall House inn. The Washington Stone offers a glimpse into Boston’s past. It’s a reminder of the city’s early industries and the quirky stories that shape its identity.