Augustus Hemenway¹

Augustus Hemenway was born in Boston on October 10, 1853 and graduated from Harvard University in 1879. He then set about becoming a philanthropist and public servant after marrying Harriet Lawrence in 1881. He served in the Massachusetts Legislature as a Representative from Milton (1890) and Canton (1891). In addition he served as treasurer of the Boston Eye and Ear Infirmary, trustee of Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and a member of the Canton School Committee. He also supported several institutions in Canton including the Public Library, donating the structure in which it currently resides in 1901 and the High School which he gave $28,000 to assist in the building of a new structure that was placed on the property of Frank Ames. He also assisted in the construction of the Revere School in 1914.  Augustus Hemenway died on May 25, 1931 at the age of seventy-eight (78).

Resources¹

“Sudden Death of Augustus Hemenway Local Philanthropist,” Canton Journal May 29, 1931, 1 and 4.

Town of Canton, "Annual Town Report, 1914," 186-191.

“Augustus Hemenway '75 Dies Presented Gymnasium to College on His Graduation,” Harvard Crimson May 26, 1931. http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1931/5/26/augustus-hemenway-75-dies-pharvard-lost/.

Canton: Postcard History Series, 59 and 65 by George T. Comeau