Page 16 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, June 28, 2024 Artists Took the Street in Malden A diverse group of artists and musicians took over a block of Pleasant Street on Saturday, June 22. Sponsored by the Mass Cultural Council, East Cambridge Savings Bank and The Gallery@57, Creative Malden offered the community a chance to enjoy an afternoon of merriment. Local artists Grace Julian Murthy, Beth Copp, Ginny Remedi Brown, Ella Bessmer and Sarah Morrison demonstrated their artful techniques while Gina De painted faces and Karyn Alzayer created henna designs on children and the young at heart. Tamara Matzkin taught attendees how to make mandalas, and the audience enjoyed musical performances by Malden’s own Santon and Maddie Lam. A fine time was had by all! Grace Julian Murthy and a gentleman enjoy her joyful artistic technique. City Council President Steve Winslow and Helen Weitz A happy family enjoyed procuring artwork from the local artists. Malden's own Maddie Lam performs for all. Sarah Morrison demonstrates her fine artwork. Ginny Remedi Brown makes jewelry. Gina De paints faces of children and the young at heart. (Photos Courtesy of Creative Malden) FOUNDERS | FROM PAGE 8 his office and was formally discharged on November 4, 1646. Ralph also continued to participate in the development and improvement of the settlements. On May 9, 1646, he was appointed to view the bridge construction at Mystic. On May 26, 1647, he participated in the work of a committee to lay out the route to Reading. Being one of the first colonists, Ralph Sprague owned a large estate. At the beginning, his homestead, consisting of one acre of “earable land, ... with a Dwelling house upon it west upon the highway,” was situated “at the east end of the common, butting south and west upon the highway,” having Mystic River on the northeast. Their home stood in Crooked Lane (later called Bow Street) near the Great House and what is now part of the City Square. In 1635, Ralph Sprague’s holdings included five cow commons and five acres of the Mystic Side’s part of Charlestown. A few years later, Ralph and his brother Richard owned large tracts of land along the opposite side of the Mystic River, near Ell Pond, which they called “Pond Feilde” (in the west part of Malden, now Melrose). In 1637, Ralph Sprague was granted 10 acres on the Mystic River side of town. On April 23, 1638, he received 125 acres on the Mystic River side, and his brother RichKaryn Alzayer makes a henna design. ard Sprague received 75 acres. He also had six cow commons. In 1638, Ralph Sprague’s real estate included 12 lots of land in Charlestown. On June 6, 1639, Ralph Sprague received a land grant of 100 acres, “having born difficulties in the beginning.” In March 1649/50, Ralph Sprague deeded his Charlestown property to his brother, Richard Sprague. Ralph’s three youngest children, sons Samuel Sprague (1631/32–1696) and Phineas Sprague (1637–1690), and a daughter, Mary Sprague (1634– 1717), were born in the Mass. Bay colony. When, on May 2, 1649, the “Mystic Side” part of Charlestown was incorporated as a Tamara Matzkin shows Valerie Kelner and a child how to create their own mandala. town of Malden, Ralph and his brother Richard became its earliest settlers. In 1649, Ralph participated in a commission that settled the boundaries between Mystic Side and Charlestown. Just before his death, Ralph Sprague, among others, petitioned to give the Mystic Side of Charlestown the name of Malden, which was granted. At the time of his death, Ralph Sprague’s Malden lands were inventoried at 669 pounds. Ralph Sprague died on November 24, 1650, in Malden and was buried in the old Bell Rock Cemetery. In Forest Dale Cemetery in Malden, there is a monument to Lt. Ralph Sprague. He bequeathed his homestead (on modern Mountain Avenue) and Santon performs at Artists Take the Street. its farm to his sons John and Phineas, and his farm in Pond Field to his sons Richard and Samuel. Ralph Sprague made significant input into the creation of Charlestown and Malden. As historian Frothingham wrote about Ralph in his “History of Charlestown”: “He was a prominent and valuable citizen, active in promoting the welfare of the town and of the colony.” To be continued… (Inna Babitskaya is a Malden historian, a member of the Malden Historical Commission and the author of historical books “From Maldon to Malden,” “Time of Converse” & “Fellsmere Park – Emerald of Malden.”) Like us on Facebook advocate newspaper Facebook.com/Advocate.news.ma
17 Publizr Home