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Photograph of 1767 Milestones
Photograph by User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0. Via Wikimedia Commons.

1767 Milestones

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. A historic map-sheet match is not published yet. The record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary.

From the record

“The 1767 Milestones are historic milestones located along the route of the Upper Boston Post Road between the cities of Boston and Springfield in Massachusetts. The 40 surviving milestones were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.”

Wikipedia article 1767 Milestones, CC BY-SA 4.0.

one of 123 National Register listings in Hampden County · listed in 1971 · category: District.

Sources: the Wikipedia article · the case file at the National Archives · the National Register database, National Park Service

The listing

  • What is counted as historic. The nomination lists 40 objectss as contributing to the listing.
  • Address. Between Boston and Springfield along Old Post Rd., Springfield, 02119
  • When was it listed? 1971-04-07
  • Category. district
  • National Register reference number. 71000084 - the number the National Park Service assigned this property when it was listed, and the key its nomination file is catalogued under at the National Archives.

Storms near this property

60 of 134 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Springfield, the town this property stands in, in 134 storm reports between 1993 and 2025: 69 thunderstorm wind, 41 hail, 11 flood, 6 lightning. The reports record 2 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
July 2008Thunderstorm WindWest Springfield2 hurt, $10,000A tree on Interstate 91 near the Massachusetts Turnpike was downed by thunderstorm winds onto a car, puncturing the windshield. A 61 year old man and a 57 year old woman were injured. Rescuers had to cut through the tree before they could get to the people in the car. The man was able to climb out by himself once the tree was out of the way, but the woman had to be extricated. This also blocked both southbound lanes of Interstate 91 bringing traffic to a complete stop.
August 2013HailWest Springfield$3,000,000Quarter to half dollar size hail fell on Main Street, accumulating up to two inches in spots. A car on Fairview Avenue was damaged with numerous hail dents. There were also several reports of nickel size hail in the area of Riverdale Road. About 500 cars at the Balise family of car dealerships were damaged. Damage ranged from minimal to extensive. Further damage was found two weeks later, when heavy rain fell through small holes in the roof of Chestnut Middle School, resulting in water damage.
August 2006Thunderstorm WindWest Springfield$275,000no account filed
August 2011FloodWest Springfield$200,000After receiving three to eight inches of heavy rain from Tropical Storm Irene, flooding resulted in the closure of Route 20 in West Springfield at Sibley Avenue.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindEast Springfield$75,000Trees and wires on Berkshire Avenue, Locust, Paramount, Stuart and Brewster Streets, Wellfleet Drive, Memorial Drive, and several other streets in the Indian Orchard neighborhood were downed by thunderstorm winds. Trees fell on houses on Paramount and Brewster Streets. A person was trapped in the house on Paramount Street, but was uninjured.
May 2010Thunderstorm WindWest Springfield$75,000Multiple utility poles and trees were downed across West Springfield and Agawam, including several utility poles along Route 5 in West Springfield.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindEast Springfield$50,000Trees were downed onto several houses on Grochmal Avenue in the Indian Orchard section of Springfield. These trees fell in such a way that people were trapped inside the houses. No one was injured. Several trees in the area were also uprooted.
June 2011Thunderstorm WindEast Springfield$50,000Large trees were downed onto two houses and a car. The houses were on Quincy Street.
July 2010LightningEast Springfield$50,000A lightning strike ignited an attic fire at a house on Locust Street.
May 2010Thunderstorm WindWest Springfield$50,000The Automated Surface Observing System at Barnes Municipal Airport (KBAF) recorded a wind gust of 58 mph. In addition, many trees and wires were downed by thunderstorm winds, including a four foot diameter oak tree on Morgan Road in West Springfield. On City View Avenue in West Springfield, a tree and utility pole were downed, blocking the road. Two power poles were downed near the intersection of East Elm Street and Riverdale Road.
May 2010Thunderstorm WindSpringfield$35,000Multiple trees on Cottage and Garden Streets and Roosevelt and Berkshire Avenues were downed by thunderstorm winds.
July 2006Thunderstorm WindSpringfield$35,000no account filed
August 2018FloodSpringfield$30,000At 1:11 PM EST, water was reported entering basements on the 1300 block of Main Street in Springfield.
May 2010Thunderstorm WindWest Springfield$30,000Trees and wires were downed along Route 20 in West Springfield and in Springfield. A large tree was downed onto a house on Forest Park Avenue in Springfield.
May 2010Thunderstorm WindEast Springfield$25,000Numerous large trees were downed by thunderstorm winds.
August 2004Thunderstorm WindWest Springfield$25,000no account filed
February 2016Thunderstorm WindWest Springfield$20,000Trees on Adrian Avenue, Craiwell Avenue, Upper Beverly Street, and Sibley Avenue in West Springfield were downed by thunderstorm winds.
June 2011Thunderstorm WindWest Springfield$20,000A tree on Cold Spring Avenue was downed onto a car by thunderstorm winds.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindWest Springfield$20,000Several trees were downed across West Springfield, including one down on a car on Route 5 near Memorial Bridge and one down on Circuit Avenue. Several large limbs were also downed on Fairview Avenue.
July 2010LightningEast Springfield$20,000A lightning strike ignited a house fire on Perkins Street.
September 2008FloodWest Springfield$20,000Heavy rain associated with Tropical Storm Hanna ranged from three and a half to five and a half inches. This resulted in widespread street flooding across central Hampden County. The Union Street underpass in West Springfield was flooded. In Wilbraham, multiple roads were flooded, including Main Street and several locations on Route 20 and Route 32. Minor mudslides occurred on Route 32. Both Holyoke and Springfield experienced widespread street flooding. Route 32 and several other roads were rendered impassable by floodwaters in Monson. Several vehicles on these roads became disabled. In addition, three residences were flooded along a retention road.
July 2014Thunderstorm WindWest Springfield$15,000Trees were downed on several streets, including Park and Main. A tree was downed onto two cars on Amostown Road.
July 2008LightningEast Springfield$15,000A house on Wistaria Street was struck by lightning and caught fire.
August 2005Thunderstorm WindWest Springfield$15,000no account filed
May 2025Thunderstorm WindEast Springfield$12,000In Springfield, there was a large tree blocking Delmore St. There was a large tree on two houses on Jeffery St. There was a tree down on a house near Allen St. There was a tree down on a house near Providence St. There was a tree down near Peekskill Ave.
May 2006Thunderstorm WindWest Springfield$12,000no account filed
July 2022Thunderstorm WindEast Springfield$10,000In Springfield, a large tree was down on cars on Brookdale Drive. Photo shared on Twitter.
July 2014Thunderstorm WindWest Springfield$10,000Trees on Highland Avenue were downed by thunderstorm winds.
July 2014Thunderstorm WindWest Springfield$10,000A tree on High Street was downed by thunderstorm winds, blocking the road. Trees and wires along Prospect Avenue were downed as well.
July 2014Thunderstorm WindEast Springfield$10,000A large tree was downed onto a house on Ambrose Street. Wires were downed on Prospect Avenue and Hunter's Place.
August 2013Thunderstorm WindWest Springfield$10,000A tree was downed onto a car on Elm Street in West Springfield. In addition, a window was broken on Main Street, presumable from the windblown large hail.
May 2010Thunderstorm WindWest Springfield$10,000Trees on Cooper Street were downed by thunderstorm winds.
July 2008Thunderstorm WindEast Springfield$10,000Trees and wires in the Porter Lake area, including Berkshire Avenue and River Street, were downed by thunderstorm winds. One of these trees was downed onto a car.
June 2006Thunderstorm WindSpringfield$10,000no account filed
May 2006Thunderstorm WindWest Springfield$10,000no account filed
July 2002Thunderstorm WindWest Springfield$10,000no account filed
August 2021Thunderstorm WindWest Springfield$8,000In West Springfield, there were numerous trees downed by an isolated severe thunderstorm. On Elm Street there was a six-inch branch down. Trees were down on Woodmont Street and on Amostown Road at Fausey Drive. A large tree and wires were down on Piper Road. A large tree was down on a house on Churchill Street. Wires were down on on Vincent Drive, Morgan Road, and Smyrna Street.
October 2008FloodSpringfield$8,000Heavy rain fell across Hampden County. Up to two feet of water collected in several locations in Springfield and West Springfield, including Cambridge Street and Route 5. Several cars flooded out.
July 2021Thunderstorm WindWest Springfield$6,000In West Springfield, a utility pole was down on Route 20 at Dewey Street. A tree was down on wires on Birnie Avenue.
August 2024Thunderstorm WindSpringfield$5,000In Springfield, a tree fell down on a car on Dwight St. The person inside was freed and was ok.
July 2018Flash FloodWest Springfield$5,000At 2 PM EST, a thunderstorm moving over Westfield and West Springfield created downpours over the area. A car was trapped in flood waters on Old Westfield Road in West Springfield.
July 2018Flash FloodWest Springfield$5,000At 2:10 PM EST, heavy rain from a thunderstorm flooded and closed U.S.Route 20 in Westfield at the intersection with East Mountain Road. A car was trapped in the flood waters.
August 2016Thunderstorm WindWest Springfield$5,000A tree at the corner of Main Street and Burford Avenue was downed by thunderstorm winds.
July 2014Thunderstorm WindEast Springfield$5,000A large tree was downed onto a home on Ambrose Street.
August 2012FloodWest Springfield$5,000One car was stuck at a restaurant on Route 5. Water was up to the floor boards of another car on Prospect Street. The Automated Surface Observing System at Barnes Municipal Airport (KBAF) recorded 1.14 inches of rain in 20 minutes and a total of just under 1.50 inches.
August 2012FloodWest Springfield$5,000In West Springfield, West School Street was flooded and impassable. The River Street underpass also was flooded with a car stuck in the floodwaters. Meadow Street in Agawam was flooded and impassable.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindEast Springfield$5,000A tree and wires on Chestnut Street were downed by thunderstorm winds.
August 2009Thunderstorm WindEast Springfield$5,000A tree and large limbs on Paxton Road and Riverdale Street were downed by thunderstorm winds.
August 2008LightningEast Springfield$5,000Lightning struck a garage on Menthuen Street resulting in a fire.
August 2006Thunderstorm WindWest Springfield$5,000no account filed
June 2005LightningSpringfield$5,000no account filed
August 2005Thunderstorm WindWest Springfield$5,000no account filed
August 2005Thunderstorm WindWest Springfield$5,000no account filed
August 2005HailSpringfield$5,000no account filed
October 2020Thunderstorm WindEast Springfield$4,000In Springfield, a tree was down on Liberty Street. A tree and wires were down on Birchland Avenue. A tree split and landed on a house on Jeffrey Road.
July 2006FloodSpringfield$4,000no account filed
August 2020LightningEast Springfield$2,000In Springfield, lightning struck a house causing a fire on White St.
July 2019Thunderstorm WindEast Springfield$2,000A tree was downed on wires on Route 5 and Route 91.
May 2002Thunderstorm WindSpringfield$2,000no account filed
July 2002Thunderstorm WindSpringfield$2,000no account filed

Every storm recorded in Hampden County

Newspapers printed here

0 digitised pages

2 papers published in this town, digitised by the Library of Congress and free to read: 0 issues, 0 pages. Every page is searchable, so a name or a street can be looked for directly in what the town printed about itself at the time.

NewspaperPublished
Springfield Weekly Republican1851 to 1946
Springfield Republican1838 to 1851

Map coverage status

No historic map-sheet match is published for this property yet. That does not mean no map exists. This record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary. Browse the county's mapped places while that work is pending.

From the nomination file

5,912 words on record

When this property was proposed for the National Register, someone wrote the case for it: what the building is, and why it matters. That document is a federal record in the public domain. It is quoted below word for word, never summarised. The text was read off the scanned case file by machine, so the occasional stray character is the recogniser's and the 1970s typewriter's.

Description of the property

The 1767 Milestones, among which is the Roxbury Parting Stone, marked mile intervals along the Old Post Road from Boston to Springfield. Forty of these stones, or their replacements, have been located. The siting of the stones varies. A major- ity are set atthe edge of state routes between the road and private property. A few are set on privately owned lawns, and five, imbedded in concrete, are incorporated in walls and a monument. The stones east of Worcester County are granite; those in Worcester and Hampden Counties are gray or brown sandstone.

Except for the few which are fragments, these round-headed or rectangular monoliths range from approximately one foot ten inches to five feet in above-ground height; from approximately eighteen inches to three feet wide; and from four inches to over a foot in depth. Most öf the stones carry a simple three to four line inscription: " number / Mile (or Miles) From/ BOSTON;" "number / Mile (or Miles) From BOSTON/ number to Springfield;" BOSTON/ number Miles/ date / initial. " Those in the present city of Boston which were erected by Paul Dudley bear his initials and are dated. The most un interesting of these stones is the "Parting Stone". The inscription on the main (south- east) side reads "THE/PARTING/STONE/1744/ P.

Dudley;" the southwest side is in- M scribed "DEDHAM/ & RHODE/ISLAND;" and thenortheast side "CAMBRIDGE/ WATERTOWN." Originally the stone held an iron shaft which supported a street lamp; this has been removed. The milestone set in Harvard Square now stands in the Old Burial Ground in Cambridge. The inscription on one face reads "BOSTON/ 8 miles/ 1734/ A.I. " while on the opposite face is cut "Cam bri(dge)/ New Brid(ge)/ 2 1/4 Miles/ J794. " Replacements in Sudbury have on them modern directions in paint.

Read the complete 5,912-word case file.

Statement of significance

The placing of the 1767 Milestones on the Old Post Road from Boston to Spring- field marks an important step in the history of American transportation. It was the executive action of the Lords of Trade and Plantations, followed by legislative action in Parliament (Geo. III, 5, Ch. 25) which directed Massachusetts and the other colonies to survey their post roads. This the Province did by Chapter 275 of the Resolves of the Political Year 1764, "provided that the whole of the expense do not exceed two hundred pounds." In 1767, on the 8th of July, the Honorable the Council advised his Excellency the Governor that the Secretary write to the Justices of cer- tain counties directing that the mile marks of Captain Miller's survey of roads be preserved by fixing stones at the said marks.

This was done from Boston to Spring- field, sometimes using existing stones, set earlier by Chief Justice Paul Dudley among others. Thus a road policy, already existing in part, was strengthened by combi combined British and American action. These stones have been the subject of subsequent historic interest. The Works Progress Administration located and described them in 1940, and published its findings in 1941 in Milestones and Markers in Massachusetts. In 1960, the Massa- chusetts Legislature, by Chapter 621 of the Acts of that year, directed the Depart- ment of Public Works to preserve the milestones.

Much effort by the Department of Public Works has located and photographed forty of the original ninety-nine milestones; the Department is now securing protective easements on those stones not on state highways. 21 RECEIVED 13) MAR 11 1971 NATIONAL J4L151 TET REGISTER 18

The whole case file for this property - 5,912 words, 39 pages, reproduced complete.

Quoted from the National Register nomination for reference 71000084, 39 pages, held by the National Archives in Record Group 79. See the catalogue record.

Sources for this property

National Archives recordThe nomination case file for reference 71000084 in Record Group 79.
Wikipedia articleCommunity-written account of this property, licensed CC BY-SA.
Hampden CountyAll 123 listed properties in this county.

Provenance

  • Listing record. National Park Service National Register of Historic Places, listed-properties dataset, current to 2026-05-22.
  • Map join. Address geocoded through the United States Census geocoder, then tested against the published boundary of every sheet in the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection.
  • How this page is made. Listing fields come from federal records; map-sheet coverage is a labelled coordinate-to-boundary calculation, not a source-field claim.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.