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Digging up the Square

By adamg on Mon, 01/12/2015 - 11:02am
Construction in a square in old Boston

But which square? The folks at the Boston City Archives wonder if you can place this photo. See it larger.

Neighborhoods: 
Boston
Topics: 
History


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Comments

By Amanda on Mon, 01/12/2015 - 11:18am.

No idea where this is, just wanted to say that I love these kinds of posts! Seem to be popping up more frequently these days too. Thumbs up.

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By Robert Paulson on Mon, 01/12/2015 - 11:24am.

Im going to guess ashmont between 1915-1920. I would be interested to hear if anyone knows more about Henshaw Motor Company. From what I could find it sounds like they were set up with the help of the Dodge Brothers.

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By Ron Newman on Mon, 01/12/2015 - 11:34am.

I bet the left storefront sign, mostly hidden by cranes, is "Ashmont Spa".

It has to be after 1911, as there's a Socony (Standard Oil Company of New York) sign on the garage, just to the right of the construction.

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By jedH on Mon, 01/12/2015 - 11:31am.

I see the same thing.

Also, the trolley on the left says "Peabody" as in Peabody Square. This must be subway construction - "cut and cover" technique.

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By Robert Paulson on Mon, 01/12/2015 - 1:16pm.

There is also a trolley on the right side that says "Milton" so I assume that is Dorchester ave, looking south. EDIT: I guess I cant assume thats south

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By anon on Mon, 01/12/2015 - 11:24am.

Looking northbound at the intersection of Dot and Talbot.. Perhaps the construction is related the building of the new subway in the 1920s.

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By bulgingbuick on Mon, 01/12/2015 - 11:27am.

for the 2024 Olympics at Ashmont/Peabody Square Dorchester.

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By theszak on Tue, 01/13/2015 - 11:24am.

What are the folks at the Boston City Archives doing to digitize the Archives/Records of Boston City Council, historic preservation of the materials!?... Departmental Annual Reports, for example City Messenger Department Annual Report. If visiting the Offices of Boston City Council, ask to see the closet with stacks of Archival materials!

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/west/2015/01/11/boston-public...

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By dmcboston on Tue, 01/13/2015 - 1:35am.

Sending it to Adam?

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By adamg on Tue, 01/13/2015 - 7:56am.

They're digitizing things as fast as they can.

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By Waquiot on Tue, 01/13/2015 - 9:34am.

Don wants the City Archives to preserve and digitize that which they don't have, like the stenographic record of the proceedings of the Boston City Council.

However, as I am replying to him and not you, I will not cite the law that forbids the publication of what he wants.

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By BostonDog on Mon, 01/12/2015 - 12:09pm.

I guess it's somewhat depressing (or comforting?) that even back then they had cops standing around construction sites without anything to do. At last Boston cops are historically correct when they say a detail is needed at every job site.

I also like the small movable "KEEP to the RIGHT" sign. It looks like the other side says "GO SLOWLY".

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By BlackKat on Mon, 01/12/2015 - 1:09pm.

I would assume that is Peabody Square [the store and the trolley] by Ashmont. But maybe someone can be more precise than that.

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By Felicity on Mon, 01/12/2015 - 1:20pm.

Twin Donuts Square in Brighton.

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By bostnkid on Mon, 01/12/2015 - 1:34pm.

nt

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By anon on Mon, 01/12/2015 - 1:35pm.

I'd like to publicly posthumously thank the civic leaders from the early 20th century, for having the foresight to build such an amazing subway line as the Red Line. Nothing built in Boston before or since then has ever come close to being as useful for getting around the city.

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By MM on Mon, 01/12/2015 - 1:39pm.

I notice in many of these pics that there are rarely women. Did they not go out during the day? Were they confined to the home? They just seem absent in all the old photographs.

Just saying....

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By kancamagus on Mon, 01/12/2015 - 3:59pm.

There are a couple of women on the sidewalk on the right side.

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By Markk02474 on Mon, 01/12/2015 - 6:00pm.

in these photos.

Also amazing how people survived without Dunks!

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By MM on Mon, 01/12/2015 - 1:40pm.

Keeps these coming. I love this old photos and although I always guess the wrong location it's fun.

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By SFPD12 on Mon, 01/12/2015 - 1:41pm.

IT COULD BE PACKARDS CORNER OR FURTHER OUT ON RTE 20

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By Anne Marie on Mon, 01/12/2015 - 3:47pm.

Mattapan

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By Boston City Archives on Mon, 01/12/2015 - 6:31pm.

Those of you who guessed Peabody Square are correct! The date is 1927 and the photograph, which is from our Dorchester Rapid Transit Collection is labelled "north opening of Peabody Square Bridge."

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By anon on Tue, 01/13/2015 - 10:38am.

Is the picture looking towards the north or south? And what bridge? There is no bridge today.

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By theszak on Tue, 01/13/2015 - 11:12am.

Boston City Council Archives include Annual Reports, for example Annual Reports of the City Messenger Department.

See also
https://www.google.com/search?q=boston+city+hall+floor+plan&tbm=isch

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