Freeland Street
From Worcester Activist wiki
Also FREE SOIL
The history of Worcester streets is paved with the spirit of great causes, long forgotten.
In 1848, the city seethed with political excitement, daily meetings. No three persons on a street corner failed to discuss the Free Soil question, which was the topic in stores and in the homes. It was the beginning of the big eruption over slavery.
One June 21, 1848, Worcester residents thronged City Hall for a Free Soil meeting. Albert Tolman presided and William A. Wallace kept the minutes.
Among the speakers was Charles Allen, who loudly vindicated his action in repudiating the nomination of Zachary Taylor for President at the Philadelphia convention.
Rev. George Allen proposed a resolution which later spread like oil on fire through Free Soil meetings throughout the State and Union.
“Resolved: That Massachusetts wears no chains, and spurns all bribes; that Massachusetts goes now, and will ever go, for free soil and free men, for free lips and free press, for a free land and a free world.”
Henry Chapin and Henry H. Chamberlin, who owned this land and were active in development of Worcester, named Freeland street for the cause in 1857.
The core of this article comes from A History of Your City Streets.
