ah Derby, who endowed it with funds for its support. She died in
1790, and the school was opened in 1791, since which time it has
continued uninterruptedly to educate many pupils in the town as well as
a number from neighboring towns. The list of graduates contains the
names of many who became distinguished in after life. It is for both
males and females, and is managed by a board of trustees. Its history is
one of credit to its founder and to the town. Mrs. Derby's first
husband, from whom she acquired her property, was Dr. Ezekiel Hersey, of
Hingham, well known as the founder of the professorship bearing his name
in Harvard College.

Among the other benefactions to the town must be mentioned the Hingham
Public Library, opened for the use of the inhabitants, in 1869, through
the liberality of the late Hon. Albert Fearing. By liberal gifts of
money from him a building was built and books were purchased. Large and
valuable donations of books were also made by other public-spirited
citizens until several thousand volumes were collected together. The
building and its contents were totally destroyed by fire, Jan. 3, 1879.
A more commodious building was immediately erected, and opened to the
public April 5, 1880. Its shelves are well filled with standard
literature. The library is managed by a board of trustees under a deed
of trust from Mr. Fearing.

The industries of Hingham are varied, and, from a business point of
view, it must be admitted that there has been a considerable decline
during the last fifty years. Although never a manufacturing town, within
the usual meaning of that term, there were formerly many small
manufactories of various articles, among which may be mentioned buckets,
furniture, hatchets, etc. The mackerel-fishery was also extensively
carried on from this port; but that has all disappeared, and Hingham is
becoming, more and more every year, a surburban town of residences. With
the increased facilities afforded by railroad and steamboat for daily
access to the city of Boston, many of its citizens, whose business is in
the city, have their residences in Hingham; and it is also the summer
home of many others. The railroad was opened in 1849, and a steamboat
has made regular trips to and from the city during the summer months for
the past fifty years. Downer Landing, the well-known summer resort, with
its pleasure-gardens, summer cottages, and hotel, the Rose Standish
House, built up through the philanthr