Category: History

Before the Boy and Bird, There Was the Mother and Child: Boston Public Garden History

Over the years, some of the statues that were once in the Boston Public Garden have been replaced. One with an interesting story was the Mother and Child by sculptor, Isidore Konti.

Here is a photo of "Mother and Child" taken by Leslie Jones in 1919. (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection.)

Another view from this wonderful collection that documents so much of Boston's history.

I was curious about what happened to this statue and why it was eventually replaced by the Boy and the Bird.

From the archives of the Boston Globe, I learned that, “The statue was first placed there by the Art Commission in 1912 as one of a number of ‘fountain statues’ exhibited on the Public Garden that summer.” The Park Commission decided that this marble fountain was too fragile to maintain in an outdoor setting.

Groups of citizens including the Metropolitan Improvement League and the Boston City Club had tried to raise the $2500 needed to keep the statue but failed. On May 13th, 1916, it was shipped back to Buffalo, NY to the sculptor.

Today, if you visit that spot, you'll see the Boy and Bird Fountain by Bashka Paeff.

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: Leslie Jones as noted in captions and © 2015 Penny Cherubino

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April 14, 2016
Before the Boy and Bird, There Was the Mother and Child: Boston Public Garden History

Over the years, some of the statues that were once in the Boston Public Garden have been replaced. One with an interesting story was the Mother and Child by sculptor, Isidore Konti.

Here is a photo of "Mother and Child" taken by Leslie Jones in 1919. (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection.)

Another view from this wonderful collection that documents so much of Boston's history.

I was curious about what happened to this statue and why it was eventually replaced by the Boy and the Bird.

From the archives of the Boston Globe, I learned that, “The statue was first placed there by the Art Commission in 1912 as one of a number of ‘fountain statues’ exhibited on the Public Garden that summer.” The Park Commission decided that this marble fountain was too fragile to maintain in an outdoor setting.

Groups of citizens including the Metropolitan Improvement League and the Boston City Club had tried to raise the $2500 needed to keep the statue but failed. On May 13th, 1916, it was shipped back to Buffalo, NY to the sculptor.

Today, if you visit that spot, you'll see the Boy and Bird Fountain by Bashka Paeff.

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: Leslie Jones as noted in captions and © 2015 Penny Cherubino

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April 14, 2016
Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffins

Last week we told you a bit about Jordan Marsh the department store. This week we are remembering those wonderful Jordan Marsh Blueberry muffins.

Just as you see tourists today walking around the North End with boxes from Mike's Pastry, you once saw box after box of both visitors and locals in Downtown Crossing carrying white boxes with blue lettering filled with dozens of Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffins.

Old Jordan Marsh building, side entrance off of Summer street, 1975 photo by Andrew Zalewski from the Boston Public Library print department.

The New England Historical Society explained that it was not unusual for a department store to be known for an edible specialty.

"Each department store had a signature food item: chicken croquettes were a favorite at Shepard’s in Providence, almond macaroons at Gilchrist’s in Boston. Sage-Allen in Springfield smelled like sticky buns, so spicy they almost burned the tongue. The aroma from the bakery wafted up the escalators, drawing customers into the basement. Date nut bread sandwiches with cream cheese were a favorite at G. Fox. And Jordan Marsh’s blueberry muffins were a required treat at the end of shopping trips to Boston."

Here's a Collection of Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffin Recipes

First up is the Boston Globe where this was a favorite topic with food editors across the years. This one is from the team that worked under Sheryl Julian in 2013.

Yankee Magazine offered both history and a recipe.

King Arthur Flour is another source of trusted baking recipes. Here's their version of Famous Department Store Blueberry Muffins.

The Diva of Dining offers a recipe and a bit more muffin history.

My own recipe for the muffins comes from this little book, Mostly Muffins that I borrowed a number of times from the Boston Public Library until the copy they had was literally falling apart and then disappeared. Eventually, I found a used copy on Amazon.

In my favorite version, you mash some of the blueberries to create a deep blueberry color and flavor and the sugar on top is mixed with nutmeg. Nutmeg sugar is now a constant in my pantry adding zing to everything from cereal to banana on toast.

By the way, the muffin in the top photo is fromThe Wholy Grain bakery Café in the South End and they make my favorite bakery version of this treat.

What's on your Food Lover's shopping list?

Details:

Words: Penny Cherubino
Photos: ©2016 Penny, Entrance photo by Andrew Zalewski, used under creative commons license.

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March 30, 2016
Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffins

Last week we told you a bit about Jordan Marsh the department store. This week we are remembering those wonderful Jordan Marsh Blueberry muffins.

Just as you see tourists today walking around the North End with boxes from Mike's Pastry, you once saw box after box of both visitors and locals in Downtown Crossing carrying white boxes with blue lettering filled with dozens of Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffins.

Old Jordan Marsh building, side entrance off of Summer street, 1975 photo by Andrew Zalewski from the Boston Public Library print department.

The New England Historical Society explained that it was not unusual for a department store to be known for an edible specialty.

"Each department store had a signature food item: chicken croquettes were a favorite at Shepard’s in Providence, almond macaroons at Gilchrist’s in Boston. Sage-Allen in Springfield smelled like sticky buns, so spicy they almost burned the tongue. The aroma from the bakery wafted up the escalators, drawing customers into the basement. Date nut bread sandwiches with cream cheese were a favorite at G. Fox. And Jordan Marsh’s blueberry muffins were a required treat at the end of shopping trips to Boston."

Here's a Collection of Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffin Recipes

First up is the Boston Globe where this was a favorite topic with food editors across the years. This one is from the team that worked under Sheryl Julian in 2013.

Yankee Magazine offered both history and a recipe.

King Arthur Flour is another source of trusted baking recipes. Here's their version of Famous Department Store Blueberry Muffins.

The Diva of Dining offers a recipe and a bit more muffin history.

My own recipe for the muffins comes from this little book, Mostly Muffins that I borrowed a number of times from the Boston Public Library until the copy they had was literally falling apart and then disappeared. Eventually, I found a used copy on Amazon.

In my favorite version, you mash some of the blueberries to create a deep blueberry color and flavor and the sugar on top is mixed with nutmeg. Nutmeg sugar is now a constant in my pantry adding zing to everything from cereal to banana on toast.

By the way, the muffin in the top photo is fromThe Wholy Grain bakery Café in the South End and they make my favorite bakery version of this treat.

What's on your Food Lover's shopping list?

Details:

Words: Penny Cherubino
Photos: ©2016 Penny, Entrance photo by Andrew Zalewski, used under creative commons license.

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March 30, 2016
When Jordan Marsh Was the Heart of Downtown Crossing

It was recently announced that with the settlement of a lawsuit Strategic Marks, a company with plans for its future, at least online, has acquired the rights to the Jordan Marsh name. This had me thinking about the past and the importance of Jordan Marsh here in Boston.

This postcard circa 1907-1915 from the Boston Public Library Collection shows the expanded main store on the corner of Summer and Washington Streets.

By 1938 the company had acquired more property and added the home furnishings annex across Avon Street. In the years to follow, they would acquire all the property on those blocks. I seem to recall that they also owned or rented space in some additional buildings in the area that were used for sales support departments. (Disclosure: I worked for Jordan Marsh for a number of years.)

History from Around the Internet

Locally we have the site: Shopping Days in Retro Boston with some great coverage of Jordan Marsh. I found the story of the sky bridge from the main store to the annex, interesting.

There are national sites like the Department Store Museum that specialize in retail history state by state. From the homepage you can look up the major stores in most states.

And the store has been featured on Mass Moments.

What are your Jordan Marsh memories? Did you ever work in a department store? If so, what do you think of service today?

Watch for our upcoming post on Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffins.

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: as noted and linked under each image.

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March 24, 2016
When Jordan Marsh Was the Heart of Downtown Crossing

It was recently announced that with the settlement of a lawsuit Strategic Marks, a company with plans for its future, at least online, has acquired the rights to the Jordan Marsh name. This had me thinking about the past and the importance of Jordan Marsh here in Boston.

This postcard circa 1907-1915 from the Boston Public Library Collection shows the expanded main store on the corner of Summer and Washington Streets.

By 1938 the company had acquired more property and added the home furnishings annex across Avon Street. In the years to follow, they would acquire all the property on those blocks. I seem to recall that they also owned or rented space in some additional buildings in the area that were used for sales support departments. (Disclosure: I worked for Jordan Marsh for a number of years.)

History from Around the Internet

Locally we have the site: Shopping Days in Retro Boston with some great coverage of Jordan Marsh. I found the story of the sky bridge from the main store to the annex, interesting.

There are national sites like the Department Store Museum that specialize in retail history state by state. From the homepage you can look up the major stores in most states.

And the store has been featured on Mass Moments.

What are your Jordan Marsh memories? Did you ever work in a department store? If so, what do you think of service today?

Watch for our upcoming post on Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffins.

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: as noted and linked under each image.

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March 24, 2016
Of Dalmatians & Other Historic Firehouse Dogs

On a walk this week, a Dalmatian trotting along ahead of us set off a conversation about the dog breeds that were once abundant in our neighborhood and now are rare.

Leslie Jones photograph of a Dalmatian as fire chief.

We all think of Dalmatian's as firehouse dogs, but their work began in Dalmatia (a region in what is today Croatia) where they guarded the borders. Wikipedia goes on to outline all the other tasks this working breed has performed.

"The roles of this ancient breed are as varied as their reputed ancestors. They were used as dogs of war, guarding the borders of Dalmatia. To this day, the breed retains a high guarding instinct; although friendly and loyal to those the dog knows and trusts, it is often aloof with strangers and unknown dogs. Dalmatians have a strong hunting instinct and are an excellent exterminator of rats and vermin. In sporting, they have been used as bird dogs, trail hounds, retrievers, or in packs for boar or stag hunting. Their dramatic markings and intelligence have made them successful circus dogs throughout the years. Dalmatians are perhaps best known for their role as fire-fighting apparatus escorts and firehouse mascots. Since Dalmatians and horses are very compatible, the dogs were easily trained to run in front of the carriages to help clear a path and quickly guide the horses and firefighters to the fires.^[39] Dalmatians are often considered to make good watchdogs, and they may have been useful to fire brigades as guard dogs to protect a firehouse and its equipment. Fire engines used to be drawn by fast and powerful horses, a tempting target for thieves, so Dalmatians were kept in the firehouse as deterrence to theft.^[39]"

Dalmatians were not the only dogs to serve as firehouse mascots. Leslie Jones titled the photo above as, "Dog responds to every alarm, Braintree."

This one, photographer Jones noted as, "Dog goes to every fire, Braintree." Both are from 1928.

Here's a photo of one of our current Dalmatian neighbors. His name is Cy Young and he's a year old and very friendly.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2016 Penny Cherubino, Leslie Jones photos courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection.

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March 13, 2016
Of Dalmatians & Other Historic Firehouse Dogs

On a walk this week, a Dalmatian trotting along ahead of us set off a conversation about the dog breeds that were once abundant in our neighborhood and now are rare.

Leslie Jones photograph of a Dalmatian as fire chief.

We all think of Dalmatian's as firehouse dogs, but their work began in Dalmatia (a region in what is today Croatia) where they guarded the borders. Wikipedia goes on to outline all the other tasks this working breed has performed.

"The roles of this ancient breed are as varied as their reputed ancestors. They were used as dogs of war, guarding the borders of Dalmatia. To this day, the breed retains a high guarding instinct; although friendly and loyal to those the dog knows and trusts, it is often aloof with strangers and unknown dogs. Dalmatians have a strong hunting instinct and are an excellent exterminator of rats and vermin. In sporting, they have been used as bird dogs, trail hounds, retrievers, or in packs for boar or stag hunting. Their dramatic markings and intelligence have made them successful circus dogs throughout the years. Dalmatians are perhaps best known for their role as fire-fighting apparatus escorts and firehouse mascots. Since Dalmatians and horses are very compatible, the dogs were easily trained to run in front of the carriages to help clear a path and quickly guide the horses and firefighters to the fires.^[39] Dalmatians are often considered to make good watchdogs, and they may have been useful to fire brigades as guard dogs to protect a firehouse and its equipment. Fire engines used to be drawn by fast and powerful horses, a tempting target for thieves, so Dalmatians were kept in the firehouse as deterrence to theft.^[39]"

Dalmatians were not the only dogs to serve as firehouse mascots. Leslie Jones titled the photo above as, "Dog responds to every alarm, Braintree."

This one, photographer Jones noted as, "Dog goes to every fire, Braintree." Both are from 1928.

Here's a photo of one of our current Dalmatian neighbors. His name is Cy Young and he's a year old and very friendly.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2016 Penny Cherubino, Leslie Jones photos courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection.

Related articles

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March 13, 2016
Riverbank Court Hotel: Then and Now
Most of us have passed or viewed the former Riverbank Court Hotel without a second thought about its history.

Here it is as the Riverbank Court Hotel in the early 1900s. (This photo by Leslie Jones is courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection. Dated: 1934 – 1956 approximate)

Here it is today as Fariborz Maseeh Hall, an MIT residence located at 305 Memorial Drive.

This property found its way onto our "Then and Now" list because a photo of it from American Architect and Building News (January 1, 1901) keeps showing up on eBay labeled Charlesbank.

MIT has owned the building since 1937. In 1969, the building was included in the Historic American Building Survey. From that survey we know the history of ownership based on the Middlesex County Registry of deeds.
"1900 J. Whitman Bailey buys land at 305 Memorial Drive from Embankment Land Co. for the use of Samuel Carr, Francis Peabody, Jr., and Benjamin P. Hyde as trustees of the Riverbank Court Trust, established January 1, 1900. Deed Book £798, p. 220."

"1905 Albert S. Apsey and Hales W. Suter acquire land and buildings after foreclosure of Riverbank Court Trust's mortgage to Mercantile Trust Co. Deed Book 31*43, p. lUo."

"1905 Riverbank Court Hotel Co. acquires land and buildings and in 1906 registers property. Deed Book31^3,P-lW;Land Reg. Book6,p.593."

"1937 Massachusetts Institute of Technology purchases land and buildings. Land Reg. Book 28U, p. 197.:
It also listed the architect as H.B. Ball and set the date of construction at 1900.

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: Top photo Leslie Jones, second photo © 2016 Penny Cherubino, third photo American Architect and Building News (January 1, 1901)

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February 25, 2016
Riverbank Court Hotel: Then and Now
Most of us have passed or viewed the former Riverbank Court Hotel without a second thought about its history.

Here it is as the Riverbank Court Hotel in the early 1900s. (This photo by Leslie Jones is courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection. Dated: 1934 – 1956 approximate)

Here it is today as Fariborz Maseeh Hall, an MIT residence located at 305 Memorial Drive.

This property found its way onto our "Then and Now" list because a photo of it from American Architect and Building News (January 1, 1901) keeps showing up on eBay labeled Charlesbank.

MIT has owned the building since 1937. In 1969, the building was included in the Historic American Building Survey. From that survey we know the history of ownership based on the Middlesex County Registry of deeds.
"1900 J. Whitman Bailey buys land at 305 Memorial Drive from Embankment Land Co. for the use of Samuel Carr, Francis Peabody, Jr., and Benjamin P. Hyde as trustees of the Riverbank Court Trust, established January 1, 1900. Deed Book £798, p. 220."

"1905 Albert S. Apsey and Hales W. Suter acquire land and buildings after foreclosure of Riverbank Court Trust's mortgage to Mercantile Trust Co. Deed Book 31*43, p. lUo."

"1905 Riverbank Court Hotel Co. acquires land and buildings and in 1906 registers property. Deed Book31^3,P-lW;Land Reg. Book6,p.593."

"1937 Massachusetts Institute of Technology purchases land and buildings. Land Reg. Book 28U, p. 197.:
It also listed the architect as H.B. Ball and set the date of construction at 1900.

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: Top photo Leslie Jones, second photo © 2016 Penny Cherubino, third photo American Architect and Building News (January 1, 1901)

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Messing About in Boats, 1939 Style

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A Sunset Sail on the Charles
February 25, 2016