Our Friday Find: A recent donation of an aerial photo of the Trotting Park on Russell Street (no date).
According to the donor, Aaron Lund took this picture in his biplane. He was a WWI pilot in France with the Escadrille (French Air Force). His house was on the corner of Great Road and Russell Street. now occupied by Charles Bell / Nashoba Securities.
It’s a great birds-eye view of the stables and trotting park and to see so much vacant open space and trees! Along the left side of the road from bottom to top: Lund’s house; “Stan’s vegetable stand” house; old Chase Farm (taken down for the police station), Proctor Farm. Along the right side: The Long Store; Carrigan house; Poor Farm; SpringDell and Spring Brook farms barely visible at top.
The trotting park is always a fascinating story and would have been something to see in its heyday. Later it became home to the National Lancers.
Russell Street Trotting Park
The first horse trots were on 4 September 1893 and according to the news clipping “witnessed by 1600 people. Those interested pronounce it a success, both morally and financially.” Familiar Littleton names mentioned are Hosmer, Fletcher, McDonald, Gardner, and Durkee.
All during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s July 4th celebrations and picnics were held here with bicycle and horse races and meets.
Lancers Stable
The National Lancers were organized in 1836 by Gov Edward Everett as his personal mounted militia. He wanted the mounted unit to escort him to the Harvard commencement with the pomp and ceremony he felt his office deserved. The troop was given an official position in the State Militia.
The Lancers were called upon to keep the peace in the 1837 riot at Faneuil Hall, the 1842 threat against rev Elder Jacob Knapp, 1863 Boston draft riot. During the Civil War, in 1861, the Lancers had 2 war troops, Companies C and D, 1st Massachusetts Volunteer Cavalry. They fought in 11 major battles and campaigns including Gettysburg.
In 1916, they were called to patrol the border between Texas and Mexico after attacks by Mexican terrorists. In 1917 they were ordered into active duty for WWI. They fought in six campaigns in France.
After WWI , the unit became mostly ceremonial, reenacting the rides of Paul Revere and William Dawes.
In 1945 the DiCarlo brothers purchased the old riding academy on Russell Street complete with 25 horses, 90 acres, and a half mile track. They converted the old tack room into officers’ quarters and the hayloft into barracks and armory and leased it to the Lancers for $1 a year. By 1977 the Lancers had relocated to Framingham and a suspicious fire destroyed the barn on 12 May 1978.
We were lucky that an alert citizen cut out the plaster murals from the remaining buildings after the fire and donated to the society. We are now trying to find a way to preserve them.
