The Unitarian Church was organized in 1838.

The First Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1839.  The meeting-house they first occupied was on Park Street; it has been recently sold to the Grand Army of the Republic.  The edifice they now occupy is on Walnut Street.

[Illustration:  REVERE RUBBER COMPANY.]

The St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and the First Congregational Church were organized in 1841.

The First Universalist Church was organized in 1842.

The Central Congregational Church was organized in 1843, under the name of Winnisimmet.

The St. Rose Catholic Church was organized in 1849.

The Mount Bellingham Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1853.

The Cary-avenue Baptist Church was organized in 1859.

The Third Congregational Church was organized in 1877.

[Illustration:  T.H.  BUCK & BROTHER’S LUMBER YARD.]

The importance of education for the children was recognized at an early date by the settlers of Winnisimmet and Rumney Marsh.  Brother Oliver may have given instruction; Thomas Cheever certainly did, and for his services received twenty pounds per annum from the town of Boston, as shown by the vote of January 24, 1709.

In 1833, the town of Chelsea was divided into three districts, known as the Ferry, Centre, and Point.  In 1834, Point Shirley district was set off from the Point; and in 1838 the northern district was set off from the Centre.  The school committee, first elected in 1797, made their first written report in 1839; their first printed report in 1841.

The first schoolhouse in Ferry district was built in 1833, near the corner of Chestnut Street and Washington Avenue.

[Illustration:  BOSTON RUBBER COMPANY, WINNISIMETT STREET.]

In 1837, the Park-street schoolhouse was built, and the following year a grammar school was kept.

In 1839, a primary school was started at Prattville.  From the committee’s report one is led to infer “that a stump with a piece of board on top for a seat, having no back attached, affords no enviable resting-place.”

In 1840, there were two primary schools in Ferry village, one occupying the site of the Pioneer newspaper office, the other near the corner of Shawmut Street and Central Avenue.

The question of starting a high school was agitated in 1840, but no action was taken until 1845.  In 1850, a high school building was erected on Second and Walnut Streets.

In January, 1873, the present high school building, on Bellingham Street, was dedicated with appropriate exercises, Tracy P. Cheever delivering the address.

The tithingmen were the ancient conservators of the peace, and were chosen annually as late as 1834; after that date their duties devolved upon the constables.  In 1847, a night-watch was first deemed necessary.

In 1854, the first steps were taken toward organizing a police force.  During the year occurred the memorable Know-Nothing riot, which resulted in the pulling down of a cross.