Category: History

Then and Now: Thomas F. Galvin’s Flower Shop

Once, the corner of Boylston and Fairfield Streets was home to a lovely building housing Thomas F. Galvin's Flower Shop.

Click on this image to see a larger version pop up.

The panoramic photo above is from the Library of Congress Collection. (photo credit E. Chickering & Co.; October 29, 1903)

This is Thomas F. Galvin from an article in the 1900 edition of The Successful American. The editors talked about his accomplishments, "…he has created at the corner of Boylston and Fairfield Street one of the most exquisite and charming conservatories to be found in the world."

I have to wonder what he would think about what is left of his treasure today.

When renovations began for a bank to take over his space, I had hopes for something tasteful. Remember when banks were elegant places? I was so hopeful that I tucked away the top photo from a post by And This Is Good Old Boston. (You'll find a lot more about this building at this link.)

Instead, it became a "bank cafe" with a sign that has become a topic of conversation as a neighborhood eyesore.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2013, 2014 Penny Cherubino

March 6, 2014
Then and Now: Thomas F. Galvin’s Flower Shop

Once, the corner of Boylston and Fairfield Streets was home to a lovely building housing Thomas F. Galvin's Flower Shop.

Click on this image to see a larger version pop up.

The panoramic photo above is from the Library of Congress Collection. (photo credit E. Chickering & Co.; October 29, 1903)

This is Thomas F. Galvin from an article in the 1900 edition of The Successful American. The editors talked about his accomplishments, "…he has created at the corner of Boylston and Fairfield Street one of the most exquisite and charming conservatories to be found in the world."

I have to wonder what he would think about what is left of his treasure today.

When renovations began for a bank to take over his space, I had hopes for something tasteful. Remember when banks were elegant places? I was so hopeful that I tucked away the top photo from a post by And This Is Good Old Boston. (You'll find a lot more about this building at this link.)

Instead, it became a "bank cafe" with a sign that has become a topic of conversation as a neighborhood eyesore.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2013, 2014 Penny Cherubino

March 6, 2014
Then and Now: Thomas F. Galvin’s Flower Shop

Once, the corner of Boylston and Fairfield Streets was home to a lovely building housing Thomas F. Galvin's Flower Shop.

Click on this image to see a larger version pop up.

The panoramic photo above is from the Library of Congress Collection. (photo credit E. Chickering & Co.; October 29, 1903)

This is Thomas F. Galvin from an article in the 1900 edition of The Successful American. The editors talked about his accomplishments, "…he has created at the corner of Boylston and Fairfield Street one of the most exquisite and charming conservatories to be found in the world."

I have to wonder what he would think about what is left of his treasure today.

When renovations began for a bank to take over his space, I had hopes for something tasteful. Remember when banks were elegant places? I was so hopeful that I tucked away the top photo from a post by And This Is Good Old Boston. (You'll find a lot more about this building at this link.)

Instead, it became a "bank cafe" with a sign that has become a topic of conversation as a neighborhood eyesore.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2013, 2014 Penny Cherubino

March 6, 2014
Then and Now: Then It Was Charlesgate Stables, Now It Is…

Did you pass this building in the last week? Were you inside it? It was a stable when this photo from the Boston Public Library Collection was created sometime between 1893 and 1895.

Designed by renounded architects Peabody & Stearns, this was a proud and needed addition to the Back Bay in its day. Stables were necessary, but no one wanted them too close to their home because of the danger of fire.

Here is the spot on an 1889 Atlas. At the wonderfully informative site Good Old Boston, the reason for those X marks across buidlings is explained. "These maps were created by the fire insurance industry, as an aid for determining the risk, and coverage cost, of each property. The 'X' drawn from corner to corner of a building was used to signify the storage of hay for horses, and thus a high fire risk." Click over to learn more.

The Charlesgate Stables also served area hotels. Here's a bill for services rendered in 1902. This is from the John J. Burns Library, Boston College.

Update: 03/05/14 thanks to www.backbayhouses.org and the hardworking research team over there.

As a matter of trivia, Charles Kenny one of the owners of the stables lived in the Back Bay, first at 381 Beacon Street and later at 213 Beacon Street.

From reading building permits and violations, I've learned that the horses were often led up ramps to second floor stables leaving the first floor for carriage storage. This made it very difficult to save horses when fires occured.

Today, you'll see retail on the corner of Newbury Street and Massachusetts Avenue. Many features of the original building remain.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny Cherubino; Boston Public Library photo; document from the John J. Burns Library, Boston College; and map from the Massachusetts State Library used under this creative commons license.

February 27, 2014
Then and Now: Then It Was Charlesgate Stables, Now It Is…

Did you pass this building in the last week? Were you inside it? It was a stable when this photo from the Boston Public Library Collection was created sometime between 1893 and 1895.

Designed by renounded architects Peabody & Stearns, this was a proud and needed addition to the Back Bay in its day. Stables were necessary, but no one wanted them too close to their home because of the danger of fire.

Here is the spot on an 1889 Atlas. At the wonderfully informative site Good Old Boston, the reason for those X marks across buidlings is explained. "These maps were created by the fire insurance industry, as an aid for determining the risk, and coverage cost, of each property. The 'X' drawn from corner to corner of a building was used to signify the storage of hay for horses, and thus a high fire risk." Click over to learn more.

The Charlesgate Stables also served area hotels. Here's a bill for services rendered in 1902. This is from the John J. Burns Library, Boston College.

Update: 03/05/14 thanks to www.backbayhouses.org and the hardworking research team over there.

As a matter of trivia, Charles Kenny one of the owners of the stables lived in the Back Bay, first at 381 Beacon Street and later at 213 Beacon Street.

From reading building permits and violations, I've learned that the horses were often led up ramps to second floor stables leaving the first floor for carriage storage. This made it very difficult to save horses when fires occured.

Today, you'll see retail on the corner of Newbury Street and Massachusetts Avenue. Many features of the original building remain.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny Cherubino; Boston Public Library photo; document from the John J. Burns Library, Boston College; and map from the Massachusetts State Library used under this creative commons license.

February 27, 2014
Then and Now: Then It Was Charlesgate Stables, Now It Is…

Did you pass this building in the last week? Were you inside it? It was a stable when this photo from the Boston Public Library Collection was created sometime between 1893 and 1895.

Designed by renounded architects Peabody & Stearns, this was a proud and needed addition to the Back Bay in its day. Stables were necessary, but no one wanted them too close to their home because of the danger of fire.

Here is the spot on an 1889 Atlas. At the wonderfully informative site Good Old Boston, the reason for those X marks across buidlings is explained. "These maps were created by the fire insurance industry, as an aid for determining the risk, and coverage cost, of each property. The 'X' drawn from corner to corner of a building was used to signify the storage of hay for horses, and thus a high fire risk." Click over to learn more.

The Charlesgate Stables also served area hotels. Here's a bill for services rendered in 1902. This is from the John J. Burns Library, Boston College.

Update: 03/05/14 thanks to www.backbayhouses.org and the hardworking research team over there.

As a matter of trivia, Charles Kenny one of the owners of the stables lived in the Back Bay, first at 381 Beacon Street and later at 213 Beacon Street.

From reading building permits and violations, I've learned that the horses were often led up ramps to second floor stables leaving the first floor for carriage storage. This made it very difficult to save horses when fires occured.

Today, you'll see retail on the corner of Newbury Street and Massachusetts Avenue. Many features of the original building remain.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny Cherubino; Boston Public Library photo; document from the John J. Burns Library, Boston College; and map from the Massachusetts State Library used under this creative commons license.

February 27, 2014
Paul Revere Maps among those “Made In Boston” BPL Map Center Exhibition

You only have until March 10th to visit the exhibition "Made in Boston" at the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the Boston Public Library.

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of walking through this collection with Assistant Curator Stephanie Cyr while photographing it for a newspaper feature. She was excited to have this gathering of materials brought together, "…for the first time in decades, a majority of maps made in Boston in the century before the American Revolution."

Boston Harbor in New England, [Cyprian Southack, 1769]

Before chatting with Stephanie, I had not thought of Boston as a center for map making. But, it was. And, this is your opportunity to see some of the early work of men like John Bonner, William Burgis, and Paul Revere

Yes, as an engraver, Revere was a map maker and two of his views (above) are on display.

As they always do, the Map Center and Library staff have created an interesting, thought provoking, and educational opportunity with this presentation.

If you are one of our readers from other places, you can see the exhibition on line here.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny Cherubino, Southack image courtesy of Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the Boston Public Library.

February 14, 2014
Paul Revere Maps among those “Made In Boston” BPL Map Center Exhibition

You only have until March 10th to visit the exhibition "Made in Boston" at the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the Boston Public Library.

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of walking through this collection with Assistant Curator Stephanie Cyr while photographing it for a newspaper feature. She was excited to have this gathering of materials brought together, "…for the first time in decades, a majority of maps made in Boston in the century before the American Revolution."

Boston Harbor in New England, [Cyprian Southack, 1769]

Before chatting with Stephanie, I had not thought of Boston as a center for map making. But, it was. And, this is your opportunity to see some of the early work of men like John Bonner, William Burgis, and Paul Revere

Yes, as an engraver, Revere was a map maker and two of his views (above) are on display.

As they always do, the Map Center and Library staff have created an interesting, thought provoking, and educational opportunity with this presentation.

If you are one of our readers from other places, you can see the exhibition on line here.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny Cherubino, Southack image courtesy of Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the Boston Public Library.

February 14, 2014
Paul Revere Maps among those “Made In Boston” BPL Map Center Exhibition

You only have until March 10th to visit the exhibition "Made in Boston" at the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the Boston Public Library.

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of walking through this collection with Assistant Curator Stephanie Cyr while photographing it for a newspaper feature. She was excited to have this gathering of materials brought together, "…for the first time in decades, a majority of maps made in Boston in the century before the American Revolution."

Boston Harbor in New England, [Cyprian Southack, 1769]

Before chatting with Stephanie, I had not thought of Boston as a center for map making. But, it was. And, this is your opportunity to see some of the early work of men like John Bonner, William Burgis, and Paul Revere

Yes, as an engraver, Revere was a map maker and two of his views (above) are on display.

As they always do, the Map Center and Library staff have created an interesting, thought provoking, and educational opportunity with this presentation.

If you are one of our readers from other places, you can see the exhibition on line here.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny Cherubino, Southack image courtesy of Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the Boston Public Library.

February 14, 2014
Emancipation Statue in Park Square, Abraham Lincoln In Boston

We were looking for a great photo for our What's Open on Presidents' Day Post when we came across this photo of Abraham Lincoln as he was memorialized by sculptor Thomas Ball in the Emancipation Memorial or Emancipation Statue.

Since tomorrow is the actual date of Lincoln's birth, we thought we'd share it with our readers. Perhaps, some of you will stop by and see it to honor the man and the spirit of Black History Month.

(Photograph from the Boston Public Library Collection circa 1877-1895)

It's located in Park Square, but we had never noticed the monument before this research pointed us to it. The memorial is still there today but the view that once existed from the Boston Common and Statehouse is now blocked.

Here's how it looked circa 1930 in this photo from the Leslie Jones Collection at the Boston Public Library.

To orient yourself with the photo above, here's the area (with the Emancipaton Statue as a green triangle just below the words Park Square) from the 1912 Bromley Atlas. (Source: State Library of Massachusetts.)

About the Emancipation Statue

In Boston, this is called the Emancipation Statue. Moses Kimball gave the sculpture to the city in 1874. It's a copy of the original work by Thomas Ball called the Emancipation Memorial in Washington DC.

The Smithsonian American Art Museums descibes the statue in their inventory of outdoor sculputure.

" A portrait of Abraham Lincoln standing by a kneeling male slave, his proper left hand raised as he is about to emancipate the slave. In his proper right hand, which rests on a bronze podium, Lincoln holds an unrolled copy of the Emancipation Proclamation. To the rear of the figures is a whipping post, chains, shackles, and a frayed whip. On each corner of the podium are fasces and around the base of the podium are thirteen stars. A bas-relief of George Washington decorates the angled face of the podium and a Union shield decorates the inner face of the podium."

The artiist, Thomas Ball, was born in Charlestown and is also the sculptor of the Public Garden's iconic statue of George Washington.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: from the Boston Public Library and State Library of Massachusetts

February 11, 2014