The sidewalks of Boston are not only a pathway to history but also contain historic coal vault covers with prism lights that were part of another time.
Click on any small image to pop up a larger view.
A few are in great condition and may still let light into spaces below the sidewalk. Others are dangerous, with holes that could catch heels or puppy paws and ugly concrete, covering what was once a thing of craftsmanlike beauty.
In the days before the electric light, these were important features. The sidewalk access meant that dirty coal deliveries did not have to come through the house. And, the beams admitted and intensified by prism lights allowed you to see in dark basement spaces.
We are just beginning our research on these and photographing as many as we can. If you'd like to share your photos of coal vault covers you can upload them to the BostonZest Photo Pool on Flickr.
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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino
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