Quincy, Mass. Historical and Architectural Survey

106 Atlantic Street (Kendall Kettle Hole)

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES

ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:
The depression which occupies a large part of Kendall Park in North Quincy is an outstanding example of a feature known as a kettle hole to geologists and glaciologists. It was formed during the glacial outwash of the great continental glacier that 12,000 years ago extended from the Missouri River on the west to Georges Bank on the east. When the great ice mass halted in New England, streams formed to carry away the waste sand, rock and clay. Some of this was dumped in North Quincy. One large chunk of the stagnant ice remained and gradually melted to form the almost perfectly circular Kendall Kettle Hole. It is on this symmetry that the Kendall Kettle Hole bases its chief claim to world distinction. Says geologist Dr. C. Wroe Wolfe: "The Kendall Kettle Hole is certainly the best available kettle hole for study within many miles of Boston."

The Kendall Kettle Hole is located on the former estate of Dr. Walter G. Kendall who deeded Kendall Park to the City of Quincy in 1938. Dr. Kendall was an energetic horticulturist who developed new strains of plant life and produced many prize flowers and fruits. On terraces containing the Kettle Hole he grew over 250 grape vines which produced for over 50 years (written in 1937) some of the finest grapes produced in this or any other country.

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