Today, we nominate Charter Street Park and Greenough Lane (map) in the North End as a delightful pocket of serenity. Ever since we met Lynn Schweikart author of Peaceful Places Boston, we've been taking note of places to nominate for her consideration in a future edition.
Running through Charter Street Park is Greenough Lane. Early records of Boston’s streets listed this as Greenough's Alley. In 1732, it was called Greenough’s Lane, which changed to Greenough's Avenue in 1848. Finally, the apostrophe "s" was dropped and it has been Greenough Lane, since 1858.
As we were researching Greenough Lane, we came across this Henry Blaney sketch of the scene as it stood in July 1891. It is part of the Boston Public Library Collection.
We'd also like to encourage our readers to stand up for and protect a few of these little gems. We need a few places where you can sit and enjoy nature without organized events, street performers, or other diversions planned by all the sad, little, busy minds who need constant distraction to keep from thinking.
Discover more peaceful places here and around the country. And, please nominate your favorite pockets of serentity for one of our upcoming posts.
For those who read us from other parts of the country, the publisher has some peaceful books for other cities.
Peaceful Places: Boston: 121 Tranquil Sites in the City and Beyond
Peaceful Places: Chicago: 119 Tranquil Sites in the Windy City and Beyond
Peaceful Places: San Francisco: 100+ Tranquil Sites in The City and the Greater Bay Area
Peaceful Places: Los Angeles: 100+ Sites for Tranquility Across the City of Angels
Details:
Words: Penny Cherubino
Cover art © 2012 Lynn Schweikart
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