No. 5160 John Robinson House, painting on brick
Edward A. Huebener, a former Board member of the Dorchester Historical Society, was a collector of materials relating to Dorchester history including a very large collection of graphic materials, including prints and photographs, now owned by the Society. His very own contribution to this group of materials was the idea of taking a brick from a house that had been demolished and asking a local illustrator to paint a picture of the house upon the brick. The painted bricks may be viewed at the Dorchester Historical Society.
The John Robinson House, located on Adams Street between Arcadia and Robinson Streets, was built in 1788 and demolished in 1917 to make way for the New England Telephone Building.
No. 3314 Map detail from 1910 Bromley Atlas
The only reference in Orcutt to John H. Robinson (1809-1883) is as a member of the committee to build Lyceum Hall in the mid-nineteenth-century. John Howe Robinson was a descendant of James Robinson (1646-1694) and Mary Alcock (1645-1718). A few details of John Howe Robinson’s life and of his ancestors and descendants appear in a sketch in The American Series of Popular Biographies. Massachusetts Edition. (Boston, 1901), 568-569.
“John Howe Robinson grew to manhood, and became prominent in town affairs, serving as Selectman. 1k resided on the old homestead, and was engaged in the real estate and insurance business. He was a member of the Unitarian church in Dorchester. His death occurred February 15, 1883. He married Elizabeth Clapp, daughter of Ebenezer Clapp, of Dorchester. His widow now owns the homestead that belonged to her husband’s father. Their children were: Ellen Elizabeth, horn April 6, 1836, who died September 12, 1882 Mary Caroline, born September 22, 1838, who married Charles Lee Brigham, of Boston, and whose only child. Charles Lee, Jr., was drowned July 16, 1879; John Howe, born December 19, 1840. who died March 26. 1862; Edward Francis, born May II, 1843, who died October 6, 1844; Emma Frances, born January 11, 1846, who died October 17, 1847; Lucy Ann, born March 5. 1848, who died November 28, 1864; Emily Pierce, born August 20, 1850, who died in 1899; and Isabelle Howe, born September 2, 1854. Mrs. Mary C. Brigham survives her husband, who died February 8, 1871.
He served as Selectman and lived at the old homestead, earning his living in the real estate and insurance business. He and his wife Elizabeth Clapp, daughter of Ebenezer Clapp, were members of the Unitarian Church (First Parish). John’s father, Major Edward Robinson, who owned the house before him, was a very successful brick manufacturer. He was one of the largest land proprietors of his day, owning most of the land between Washington Street and the waterfront from Field’s Corner to Savin Hill, as well as the whole north side of Savin Hill.
No. 614 Robinson Housem photograph printed on p. 76 of Dorchester Old and New 1630-1930.
No. 5135 Detail from a framed picture of Trustees of the Dorchester Savings Bank at Dorchester Historical Society.
No. 3203 Photograph in the collection of the Dorchester Historical Society.