Harvard Church, Main Street from Green to Wood Streets. Built 1817

Harvard Church, Main Street from Green to Wood Streets. Built 1817. Built by the Unitarians who first organized here in 1816. The second minister of this congregation, Rev. James Walker serving here from 1818 to 1839, declined calls to many other large churches, but finally resigned to become Alford Professor at Harvard and later Harvard's president. The third minister, Rev. George E. Ellis, founded a Unitarian chapel on Edgeworth St., which continued for 30 years to minister to the less fortunate citizens of Charlestown. Dr. Ellis during his last 12 years here served also as Professor of Systematic Theology at Harvard. Harvard Church was built on the spot where the old Indian Chief Hotel stood on Main Street. The original steeple of 1817 was left inside the new and taller spire of about 1851; and was revealed when the demolition of the steeple and tower began, March to May, 1905. Church was of dull red brick, spire of wood, and painted greyish.
Courtesy of Boston Public Library