Dorchester Illustration of the Day no. 2063
Yesterday we saw a postcard view of Pierce Square. The Bispham House, building on the corner of Dorchester Avenue and Washington Street (where Dark Horse Antiques is located today), is shown again today in a painting of the building on the face of a brick that was once part of the building.
Eleazer Johnson Bispham, for many years a well-known and highly respected citizen of Milton Lower Mills, Dorchester, was born in Dorchester, September 17, 1804, son of Eleazer and Jerusha (Leeds) Bispham. He was educated in the public schools of Dorchester andMilton, and at about the age of seventeen he began to be self-supporting, working in different stores and for some time as clerk for a Mr. Leeds, ofBoston. Then coming to Milton Lower Mills, he established a dry-goods store about 1822 or 1823, which he carried on successfully until about 1852.
In 1848 he was appointed cashier of the oldDorchesterand Milton Bank, subsequently known as the Blue Hill Bank, and still later as the Blue Hill National Bank, and held that position until March 1, 1876. In the year last named he became president of the bank, and so remained till his death, which occurred November 10, 1892. Prominent in local politics, he served nearly ten years as Selectman, was a member of the Dorchester School Committee, and was twice elected to the Legislature, besides being otherwise active in town affairs. He was married on May 25, 1833, to Miss Mary Elizabeth Tolman, daughter of Robert Pierce and Mary (Walker) Tolman, of Dorchester.
The house was used as the Village Inn in the late 19th century.
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