Until, perhaps twenty-five or thirty years ago, there was an ancient footway leading from Cole’s Hill at a point nearly opposite the south front of the house of Henry W. Barnes, next to the Universalist church, to Leyden street, directly opposite to the way to the fording place above mentioned. That footway doubtless ante-dated the opening of a way between Cole’s Hill and the water, and served to enable those who were occupying lots on North, then New Street, to make a short cut over the hill to Leyden street, and thence to either the boat harbor landing or across the ford to the south side of the settlement. The John Rickard land referred to in the laying out of Leyden street included all the land between LeBaron’s alley on the west, Leyden street on the south, and the footway on the east, and extended to Middle street. It was occupied for one hundred and eighty-seven years by a house built in 1639 by Robert Hicks, which was taken down in 1826, when the Universalist Church was erected on its site. If it were standing today, as it stood when I was four years of age, it would be the oldest house in New England, and invaluable as a relic of the Pilgrims. It was reached by a path or private way leading from Leyden street, and this way was never laid out as a public way until 1827, after the Universalist church was built. A picture of this house may be seen in Mr. Wm. S. Russell’s Pilgrim Memorials, where in accordance with tradition it is called the Allyne house, after Joseph Allyne, who never owned it, but merely occupied it a short time as a tenant. It is often the case that a passing and perhaps trifling incident fastens on a spot or house a name, which has no rightful claim. I remember an illustration of this, which made Hon. Isaac L. Hedge very indignant. He was born in the house now occupied and owned by Wm. R. Drew on Leyden street, and lived there until he was married, the house remaining in the possession of his father until his death in 1840, and of his mother until her death in 1849, and of their heirs until 1854, when it was sold. For a short time after 1854, before it was sold to Mr. Drew, Zaben Olney occupied it as a hotel. Mr. Hedge became entirely blind, and employed John O’Brien to take his arm and walk with him about the streets. One day in walking down Leyden street he said: “Where are we now, John?” “Right by the old Olney house,” John replied. Alas! “how soon are we forgot.” The names of the wharves are gone, and Jackson, Hedge, Davis, Nelson and Carver have given way to Long, Pilgrim, Atwood, Millar and Craig, to be christened again by succeeding owners and occupants.