Federal Street Hymn
From Salem Links and Lore
- The hymn, Federal Street, was composed by Henry Kemble Oliver,(1800-1885) of Salem. He taught school in Salem from 1818-1842, and played organ first at St. Peter's Church and later at North Church.
- After periods in Lawrence, Mass. and a stint as state treasurer during the Civil War, he returned and was elected mayor of Salem for four years.
He started two musical organizations in Salem, the Mozart Association and the Salem Glee Club. His collection of Original Hymn Tunes came out in 1875. He also published a Collection of Church Music (1860) and the National Lyre (1848).
- The hymn was named after the street in Salem which his wife Sally (Cook) had grown up on.
See Also
Essex Institute Historical Collection Vol. 49, p. 184
American Hymns Old and New] by Charles W. Hughes, p. 505
