Turns out, the fellow who wrote the words to My Country Tis of Thee was born on Sheafe Street

Ever notice that plaque on the second story of 37 Sheafe St? Behind the fire escape? Next to the abondoned building? No?

It reads:

Birthplace of
Rev S.F. Smith
Author of "America"
1808 - 1895

Erected by the Old South Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution
1897

The "America" referenced in the plaque is the song commonly known as My Country, Tis of Thee. Reverend Smith was born at 37 Sheafe Street - although not in the present structure with the plaque on it, which had yet to be constructed in 1808. He later wrote the lyrics while studying at Andover Theological Seminary and set them to the existing song God Save the King.

The song was extremely popular and served as a de facto national song up until the US adopted the Star Spangled Banner as its official anthem(🤘) in 1931.

The plaque was erected two years after Rev Smith died at the age of 87. The Boston Globe covered the event, complete with several awesome sketches.

1897 Boston Globe article

The article stressed the "valuable lesson" in patriotism of the event to the Eliot schoolboys that were in attendance because more than 50% of them were foreign born!

The foreign-born Eliot schoolboys learned a valuable lesson in patriotism that day

Interestingly, the Boston Globe listed the site in its "Strangers' Directory" for years after the plaque was erected. Here's an example of it from 1904 right next to a listing for Jumbo, the PT Barnum elephant turned stuffed Tufts mascot. Stuffed Jumbo would, of course, be lost to a fire some 70 years later.