The Powder Magazine.

The white, cylindrical building on Magazine St., south from Central Square, has doubtless attracted everyone's attention. This light-house-looking structure is the Cambridge Powder Magazine, and following are a few facts concerning its history.

By a resolve of the Legislature which became a law February 6th, 1816, authority was given to sell the magazine at Charlestown, and to erect a larger one at Cambridge. This, it will be seen, was soon after the war of 1812, which had effectually shown the need of powder and suitable places in which to keep it. Captain's Island, as that part of the town of Cambridge was called, was chosen for the location of this new magazine, and the State immediately opened Magazine Street as a mode of access to it.

On August 9th, 1818, Amos Davis, Quarter-Master General, wrote to the Honorable Council as follows: "A stone powder magazine has been built on Captain's Island in Cambridge; a brick wall inclosing the magazine will be finished in about twenty days. The building will then be in complete order for the reception of powder."

The magazine had capacity for fifty tons of powder, and was usually kept pretty well filled. The bulk of the powder belonged to private parties, although the State always stored there to some extent.

The building was sold in 1884; and is now leased by the Pope Manufacturing Company, who use it as a workshop in which to carry on some of their secret processes.

P.