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As good a place as any to ask
I recently interviewed at HKS, and I forget what it was exactly, but I read or noticed something that had dawned on me as being the reason the 77 bus/trolley were named such. From what I recall, it had something to do either with the old rail line that used to run this way, or something historical having to do with Harvard itself, but I can't find anything on Wikipedia or the broader Internet to figure it out. Anyone know?
I've never heard any stories
I've never heard any stories about the number 77 meaning anything special.
The T's core bus routes are numbered geographically. The single-digit routes run downtown and in Southie, and the numbers increase going counterclockwise, until you get to the 120-series routes in East Boston.
Still does
Only on the outskirts though.
Well not really
There are trackless trolleys (aka buses with overhead electric power) but unfortunately there are no more actual trolleys.
Trolley
Refers to the piece of equipment which collects power from the overhead line, so a trackless trolley is still a trolley.
Trolley v. Pantograph?
Does that mean the only tracked trolleys in Boston are on the Mattapan line?
Technically yes
Which is probably why the term "Light Rail" was invented. On the other hand, the original meaning of "trolley" referred to a collector that rode above the wires. Then that was used in reference to cars with "trolley poles" later on. So I don't think anyone would object to the continuing usage of the word.
Heck, these days, rubber-wheeled gas-engine powered buses with "heritage styling" are called trolleys by us. Yuk!
That headhouse is beautiful.
That headhouse is beautiful. It's too bad it no longer exists. When was it torn down and what is there now?
The original headhouse was
The original headhouse was built in 1912, along with the original station, back in the day when Harvard Square was a real road intersection. Because it was in the middle of the intersection, blocking the view, it was deemed a hazard to vehicular traffic, and was replaced in 1928 by a smaller headhouse that had low opaque walls and lots of windows, so that drivers could see through it to the cars beyond. That headhouse was replaced in the 80s when the station was rebuilt, but is still there and in use as a newsstand.
Also, if you like that, check out the old headhouses at Scollay Sq and Adams Sq.
Scollay Square Headhouse
Just where IS this?
Time machine
Get a Time Machine, go back to 1960.. then you can see it.
Its where Government Center is now.
Hmm
I'm guess that is facing down mass ave, and taken from the vantage point from where Curious George is now. The 'house' there in the picture is still there (Wadsworth house?), as is the gate into Harvard Yard.
The head house makes me scratch my head, as I know the current head house was built in 1985. And the old head house is where the "out of town" news stand is now (it was re-fabricated), which is far smaller than what is pictured. (although I've never seen a picture of the head house prior to 1985 so I could be wrong)
What makes me wonder is this photo is too 'clean' for a subway to JUST be built. (It opened March, 1912). So that head house is *brand* new, and whoever did the construction should be commended. You can hardly tell that a year or two before it was all dug up (prior to today where you can STILL tell where the Big Ditch was dug up).
Interesting photo AdamG.. kudos!
Okay I take that back
OK I take that back, I *have* seen a picture of the head house from prior to 1985. It doesn't look like what was there from what I recall. It was similar to the Out of Town News Stand. (I only remember the picture because it was from the 1950s and had a sign that said "ALL POINTS TO BOSTON")
I wonder if in the 1950s when the physical square itself was formed (for traffic reasons) if that old head house (that is pictured here) was torn down, the physical location here seems right for the pre-1985 head house.
If I ever find the picture again, I'll post it. I just look at so much MBTA history pictures online, I can't recall where I saw it.
The 1912 headhouse was
The 1912 headhouse was replaced in the 1920s by the structure that is now the Out o Town News.
1927
It was replaced because it was hazardous for both cars and pedestrians to make their way in narrow areas around blind corners.
http://www2.cambridgema.gov/historic/hsqhistory3.html
Pre 1985 Harvard Square Head House
I remember it had that ancient wooden escalator that was on such a steep incline and had those rotating blades at the top. Those things looked like they could do some serious damage. Fortunately, nobody wore flip flops as street wear like they do today. I think it was one of the last stations to have one of those, as did the Downtown Crossing exit to Chauncy Street. Maybe South Station also.
I remember that wooden escalator
I grew up in Arlington with a mother who didn't drive and we made weekly trips to Boston via Harvard Sq and that wooden escalator scared the crap out of me!!
Taken down in 1928
The photo shows the original headhouse from when the subway opened in 1912. This one was take down in 1928 and replaced with the one that later became Out-Of-Town News. Apparently there were a large number of auto accidents and near-misses involving pedestrians exiting the station; people complained that the columns and stone walls of this headhouse offered no visibility. So this one was taken down and replaced with one that had lots of windows and a wide overhanging roof.
"Apparently there were a
"Apparently there were a large number of auto accidents and near-misses involving pedestrians exiting the station"
So nothing's changed then.
Really? How are a large
Really? How are a large number of pedestrians hit or near-hit leaving the current station, when it leads to a large pedestrian plaza, with crossing-free connections in two directions, and fully protected signalized crossings and a quiet unsignalized crosswalk in the other three directions?
Have you actually ever *been* there?!?!
I've gone through Harvard Square almost every weekday for the past 28 years. The number of pedestrians, bicyclists, and cars that I see ignoring the lights/signs at the crossing between the subway and the Coop is countless. Yes, many near-misses, curses, and gestures DAILY.
No. I've never been to
No. I've never been to Harvard Square. So I have no idea where I got all that information I posted about the pedestrian connections from the T headhouse.