Eagle Feathers #287 – Dropping Anchor

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

Somerville’s nautical history and its environs go way back. It is believed that Vikings explored the Charles and Mystic Rivers’ shores from 1000-1004, five hundred years before Columbus. In the 1600’s, our location was a fledgling tidal island christened “Charlestown Beyond the Neck.” Its watery perimeter was made up of the Mystic River to the north, the Alewife Brook to the west, the Tannery Brook and the Miller’s River to the south, and the Charles River with its millponds to the east.

• In 1621, Pilgrim Captain Myles Standish was the first European to sail up the coast from Plymouth and drop anchor to explore what is now Somerville.
• The first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, John Winthrop, dropped anchor in the Mystic in July of 1630, taking up residence at what is now Ten Hills.
• The first ship built in Massachusetts was the Blessing of the Bay. Built by Winthrop and later captained by his son John Jr., it was christened and slid into the swash of the Mystic River on the 4th of July, 1631.
• Captain William Kidd was one of America’s most famous pirates. While in concealment at Ten Hills, it was believed that his treasure was hidden somewhere along Somerville’s shore.

The era of the American Revolution and after produced many maritime names that would drop anchor in Somerville.

• Foremost was General George Washington who, after organizing the Colonial Army here, raised our first flag. He also established Washington’s Navy, a fleet of successful Colonial Privateers.
• Patriot Paul Revere rode hard through the swash of Charlestown Neck on his midnight ride through Somerville after averting anchored British ships and calvary.
• One of our heroic naval officers who gave his life in America’s war with Tripoli was Captain Richard Somers, Somerville’s namesake. He planned his last mission while on board the anchored USS Constitution. Regrettably, he and his crew never survived to return to her deck. To this day, their remains lie controversially beneath the swash on the edge of Tripoli’s harbor.
• Two Admirals from Somerville dropped anchor many times during World War II. Admiral Ralph Christie of Belmont Street was the commander of submarines in The Seventh Fleet. He was the highest-ranking flag officer to engage in actual submarine wartime patrols. Admiral Alfred Pride of 105 Hudson Street was the first man to land a helicopter on an aircraft carrier and the second man to land an airplane on a carrier’s deck. He was considered the most knowledgeable man in the world on aircraft operations.
• After dropping anchor and coming ashore in the battle of Iwo Jima, Somerville’s Marine Corps Sergeant Henry O. Hansen and his squad raised two of the first flags on Mount Suribachi. Hansen died ten days later.

When called upon throughout our history, patriotic legions of Somerville’s men and women stepped up to drop protective anchors around the world to shield our freedom. Anchors away!