Church Street looking westerly down Piedmont Street towards the what is now the former Boston Gas, then Charter School, soon apartment building. There was a gas tank there at one point. This would be the rear of the late 1970's very quiet apartment building which fronts onto Stuart Street.
But as to when, it must be after 1975. I'm assured by my parents that nobody ever in the entire history of the universe would have written the word "FUCK" on a wall before I was in school.
Endicott looking down Lafayette towards the gas tank that used to be where the Prince Street Park is today. Start of North Margin is visible on the right side of Lafayette.
That means I'm dead wrong again. I haven't come close on any of these. And I'm so much older than so many folks here. I would have thought that might give me a slight advantage, but... well, see my first sentence.
See the exchange between shedway and aldos above. The park on Prince Street was known by locals as "the Gassy" because the site had been occupied by Boston Gas Company -- with huge above-ground tanks of natural gas. Its one of those gas tanks that's visible in the background here. The molasses tank was a few blocks away on Commercial Street.
By City of Boston Archives on Tue, 10/29/2013 - 4:22pm.
Thanks for playing everyone! This photo was taken looking up Lafayette Avenue towards Prince St. It is sometime between 1913 and 1920. The tank you see is not the molasses tank (which was also our first thought), but a gas tank.
I'm sure if one of those kids had shouted"Help", the heads of adults who know those kids would have popped out of some of those open windows in an instant. "It takes a village" isn't a brand-new concept... you didn't need to hover over your kids because you knew that your friends and neighbors had their eyes out for trouble.
Comments
Bay, then Paddy's, Village
Church Street looking westerly down Piedmont Street towards the what is now the former Boston Gas, then Charter School, soon apartment building. There was a gas tank there at one point. This would be the rear of the late 1970's very quiet apartment building which fronts onto Stuart Street.
Not sure where
But as to when, it must be after 1975. I'm assured by my parents that nobody ever in the entire history of the universe would have written the word "FUCK" on a wall before I was in school.
Catcher in the Rye
JD Salinger had a diatribe about wherever he went, someone had written "fuck you", even on the stair risers at the museum - think that was 1951.
(That being said, I didn't hear my first swear word until I was 7 years old - second grade, on the bus. Times have most definitely changed).
Profanity From The Fifteenth Century
Actually, that word has been around since 1475, perhaps even earlier.
Where the fuck?
I can't find where it says that! Since I got here after the answer was given, I embiggened the picture solely to see where it says fuck.
OK, and also because I like history. But, FUCK!
Here's your f#@&ing clue
The fuck is located in the lower fucking left quadrant of the fucking picture, just behind the fucking carriage and below the fucking window.
On the wall by the door
Just to the right, about shoulder high in what looks like chalk.
It might instead be....
...""LUCK". But that wouldn't be as much fun...
;~}
Endicott and Lafayette
Endicott looking down Lafayette towards the gas tank that used to be where the Prince Street Park is today. Start of North Margin is visible on the right side of Lafayette.
And I think that's Anthony in the lower right...
...getting called to dinner, so it would be a Wednesday, Prince Spaghetti Day!
Based on the clothes, fact that it's cobblestones - c. 1905?
You nailed it.
Today.
Holy Sh*t
Is that the molasses tank at Commercial Street pre-flood?
Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com
I wondered that myself
But, that tank was a steel tank, not a concrete one.
Oops!
That means I'm dead wrong again. I haven't come close on any of these. And I'm so much older than so many folks here. I would have thought that might give me a slight advantage, but... well, see my first sentence.
Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com
You may be on the right track
I think that object at the end of the short street is a steel tank. Compare with remnants of the molasses tank after collapse:
http://media.wbur.org/wordpress/11/files/2012/02/0221_GreatMolassesFlood...
There may have been other big tanks in the area besides the doomed molasses tank.
Prince Street Park = "The Gassy"
See the exchange between shedway and aldos above. The park on Prince Street was known by locals as "the Gassy" because the site had been occupied by Boston Gas Company -- with huge above-ground tanks of natural gas. Its one of those gas tanks that's visible in the background here. The molasses tank was a few blocks away on Commercial Street.
Being old may not be an advantage here
It can lead to Irish Alzeimers. You know the symptoms of that--you forget everything except your grudges.
The Answer!
Thanks for playing everyone! This photo was taken looking up Lafayette Avenue towards Prince St. It is sometime between 1913 and 1920. The tank you see is not the molasses tank (which was also our first thought), but a gas tank.
Looks like a 48 star flag
So, this can't be earlier than 1912. We went to 49 stars in 1959. Clothes (and carriage) look closer to 1912 than 1959.
What is in the boy's hand
First boy sitting on curb ... is that a boombox in his hands?
It's A Drum
It's an old (square) tin can he's using as a drum. In his hands are the "drumsticks".
Urchins
No helicopter parents there!
Didn't need helicopter parents
I'm sure if one of those kids had shouted"Help", the heads of adults who know those kids would have popped out of some of those open windows in an instant. "It takes a village" isn't a brand-new concept... you didn't need to hover over your kids because you knew that your friends and neighbors had their eyes out for trouble.