Plug That Leak!

This entry is an excerpt from the Half Century Sermon of Minister Thomas Gray of the Congregational church, now the Unitarian Universalist at Centre and Eliot streets. The sermon was published in 1842, and this particular paragraph refers to a short-lived mill at Jamaica Pond. Presumably, it sat between Jamaica and Ward's ponds. Water runs down hill, so the owner must have cut a channel across today's Perkins street to provide the drop that turned the wheel. The only other reference to a mill I'm aware of comes from the old name of Bussey brook that flows through the Arboretum. Old maps name the same stream Sawmill brook, but I've never seen any metion of the mill itself. In this case, you have to wonder how much water the mill was taking out of the pond for it to affect the local wells.




"In September, 1788, a difficulty first arose in respect to the waters of Jamaica Pond being drawn off for the supply of a corn mill, so far as to affect the wells of the inhabitants of the Plain, who considered then as altogether supplied by the pond. This difficulty terminated in a lawsuit; John Marston, owner of the mill, plaintiff, and Martin Brimmer, David S. Greenough, and Capt. Daniel McCarthy, defendants (unsuccessful.) Afterwards, in 1795, Mr Marston sold his mill and privileges in the waters of the pond, which had been granted by the town of Roxbury for said mill, to the Aqueduct Corporation, for supplying the town of Boston with Jamaica Pond water."

Quincy A. Shaw - Very Rich Guy

Richards, L.J. 1899

The Shaw estate is at the top of the map along Perkins street.



I don't suppose that Quincy Shaw spent much time on Centre street. He did, however, reverse the pattern of wealthy businessmen who built summer homes on Jamaica Pond. He spent the winter at his Jamaica Plain estate, and summered at Prides Crossing. A couple of years after his death, it was revealed that his executors had underreported an inventory of his estate by half, to the tune of $7,000,000. giving a total of $21,000,000. As a result, a tax of $420,000 was paid to the city of Boston. The property was later owned by the Cabots, and finally shared the fate of so many three-deckers, becoming condos. The location of the property, along the Brookline side of Perkins street, is shown in this map. The story of the Calument & Hecla copper mines that brought Shaw his wealth is told here.


Boston Daily Globe June 13, 1908


Quincy A. Shaw Passes Away

Head of Noted Family Was 83 Years Old.

Gave Large Sums of Money for Philanthropic Purposes.

Heaviest Individual Taxpayer in the State.


Quincy A. Shaw, the heaviest individual taxpayer in Massachusetts, the largest individual owner of Calumet & Hecla stock in the state, and the head of the family whose members in various ways have done much to promote the educational and commercial interests of Boston, died yesterday morning at his home, 241 Perkins st, Jamaica Plain, aged 83 years. He had been in poor health since last fall.

Mr Shaw was born in Boston, Feb 8, 1825. His parents were Robert Gould Shaw of Gouldsboro, Me, and Elizabeth Willard Parkman of Boston. He graduated from Harvard in the class of '45, in the company with the late Justice Horace Gray of the U.S. Supreme court; A.P. Merrill, one-time minister to Belgium; Thomas Russell, who represented this country in Venezuela, Dr John P. Raynolds of Boston and many other distinguished men.

The foundation of Mr Shaw's wealth was a few thousand dollars which he inherited from his father, who was the representative of one of the oldest and most influential families in Boston. Mr Shaw married on Nov 30, 1860, Miss Pauline Agassiz, the daughter of Prof Louis Agassiz, the famous Swiss naturalist. She survives him, as do four children, Mrs L. Carteret Fenno of Boston, Mrs Harry Pratt McKean of Philadelphia, Quincy A. Shaw Jr and Robert Gould Shaw 2d, also of Boston.

Quincy A. Shaw Jr is second vice president of the Calumet & Hecla company, though his father retired from active connection with his mining interests some years ago.

Mr Shaw became interested in Caulmet & Hecla with Maj Henry L. Higganson, who also married a daughter of Prof Agassiz. The property had been prospected by Prof Agassiz, and his son Alexander was trying to develop it. Mr Higginson and Mr Shaw shared the tremendous efforts that were made before the mine became a dividend payer, and it is said that Mr Shaw put in nearly all the money he had before this happened. He picked up all he could afford to buy, even when it was selling at $1 a share.

The public will never know how large a proportion of the Shaw wealth has been dispensed in philanthropic enterprises. In all of them Mr Shaw, the giver, has kept in the background, the active work being done by Mrs Quincy A. Shaw. She is known as the foster-mother of the Kindergarten system of Boston; she has been the main prop of the North Bennett-st school; she it was who placed on a sound financial footing the civic Service house in Salem st and many of the day nurseries in the city, and scores and scores of men and women live in Boston today who have been helped to better things by the Shaw money and influence, in 1870 the Shaws opened the first public kindergarten in this country. Later, at their own expense, they opened two classes for the summer months, one in Jamaica Plain and the other in Brookline; the following year two more were opened, Mrs Shaw presiding over each for the first few weeks.

Mr and Mrs Shaw kept up this work until 1887, when they induced the Boston school committee to take it over; today there are more than 6000 children in that department.

They next turned their attention to day nurseries, establishing several in various parts of the city. And no charitable enterprise has been undertaken in Boston for the last 30 years that has not had Mrs Shaw as a willing subscriber.

Mr Shaw refused to move into Boston for the winter. He preferred to stay in the interesting mansion on the border of the parkway, where he had one of the best collections of Millet's paintings in America. He maintained, however, a summer home at Prides Crossing, known as the Commons, where the family has gone early in the season for a number of years.

Boston's Oldest Wheelman

When browsing obituaries I often come across an interesting person who only came to live in Jamaica Plain near the end of their lives - usually with their grown children. In most cases, I decide not to post their stories, because there just isn't enough local interest to make them relevant to this site. In this case, I think Mr Edwin Brown deserves our interest. For all our modern medical miracles, we don't make 'em any better that him.

It's not history, but it must have been quite a sight when he rode up Centre street.



Boston Daily Globe October 25, 1901


Boston's Oldest Wheelman Dead.

Edwin Brown of Jamaica Plain Passed Away at the Age of 96 -- Rode a Tricycle Up to Last Summer.


Edwin Brown, Jamaica Plain's oldest resident and Boston's oldest wheelman, died yesterday afternoon at the residence of his daughter, Mrs S.E. Barnard, 7 Eliot st, Jamaica Plain, at the age of 96. Mr Brown had been in excellent health up to a short time ago and was frequently seen riding around the streets of the section on his tricycle.

He was born in West Fitchburg, June 19, 1805. His maternal grandfather was in the battle of Bunker Hill, and when a young man Mr Brown himself was captain of a militia company in this city. For the greater part of his life he was identified with the piano business, having been a member of the firm of Woodward & Brown.

When a young man he came to Boston from Fitchburg to learn the cabinetmaker's trade. He was employed by the Chickerings. He devoted considerable time to improvements in construction of pianos. In the rear of his house is a workshop where after retiring from active business he passed many pleasant hours.

For the past 18 years he resided with his daughter. He had a large circle of friends in the section. He always took a keen interest in public affairs.

Not the least interesting feature concerning the old gentleman was his riding of a tricycle up the last summer.

Two years ago the Globe representative visited Mr Brown and had a pleasant chat with him. In the course of his talk he said:

"How long have I been a wheelman? Let me see -- about 15 years. My wheel, I think, keeps me in first-class health. I believe cycling to be an excellent recreation, providing the rider does not over-exert."

That Mr Brown had great faith in his ability on a wheel was shown by a little incident happening when he was 92 years of age. He had been riding around on his tricycle and had stopped in the midst of a crowd of spectators gathered to see such an aged man on a wheel. One of the young men wagered him $10 that he could not ride up a certain steep hill in Jamaica Plain. Mr Brown would not bet, but just to show what he could do he got on his wheel and rode up the hill without difficulty.

Mr Brown was a firm believer in Spiritualism.

The Parkman House, As It Was

The house of Francis Parkman, taken from The Homes of America, by Martha Joanna Lamb.


This is the only picture I know of showing the Parkman house. You can see the location of the house in this 1874 map on the JPHS web site. The memorial erected at the site of the old house sits opposite Jamaica Pond on an isolated patch of ground that is rarely visited. Most commuters who pass by every work day probably have no idea of the man it memorializes, much less that he once lived on the site. A sign on the road around Jamaica Pond with a short discussion about the man and his time in Jamaica Plain would give curious walkers an explanation for the stone monument across the street and maybe an excuse to walk across and take a close look. Are you listening, City of Boston?

Addendum: I just found this photograph of the house, apparently taken from the opposite direction.

Living Large In Jamaica Plain

I found these in the book The Country House: A Practical Manual of the Planning and Construction of, by Charles Edward Hooper. There are many illustrations in the book, and somehow these four from a Jamaica Plain house were used. The book was published in 1905, so it could have been the Quincy Shaw house - he was rich as Croesus. It would be interesting to know where they got the pictures. Where they found in a magazine, or were they taken especially for the book? In any case, we get a look at how the other half lived in J.P. one hundred years ago.

Jamaica Plain Built

Here's a nice advertisement listing some of the many Sturtevant products manufactured in Jamaica Plain. They sold forges for use in school classrooms and ventilation fans that made life bearable belowdecks in Navy destroyers. One brick building remains of the old plant, now used for office space on the Amory street extension near English High School.

Cundy-Bettoney, Where Are You?

Bromley, 1931 - Roxbury (BPL) (Added 7/2008)



Here's a puzzler. The Cundy-Bettoney company published sheet music and manufactured flutes and clarinets. The earliest reference I can find to the company is 1910. The above advertisement, with Jamaica Plain address, comes from the Music Educator's Journal, March, 1936. They were publishing in Hyde Park in 1946-1954, and manufacturing flutes there in 1961. Maybe someone with knowledge of the company will find this site and enlighten us.

Edit: I found an online reference that puts the company at 106 Chestnut avenue. Google Street View shows a house at that address. More questions...

Addendum: I've had an email from Rusty, who informs me that William Cundy played clarinet in Gilmore's band, which was attached to the Mass. 24th Regiment, and travelled with the Burnside Expedition to North Carolina during the Civil War. Cundy started the business, which Bettoney took over in 1907. In 1919, Cundy-Bettoney took over Boston Musical Instruments.

Two Die In Jamaica Pond

After collecting several articles describing drownings at Jamaica Pond over the years, I recently began putting together an entry listing each. When I got to this very detailed article, I decided to use it to represent the others. Most drownings reported between 1875 and 1925 involved either boating accidents or children breaking through thin ice. In this case, a rolling baby carriage set off a chain of events that led to an unnecessary tragedy.

The article also tells us a little about the people of Jamaica Plain. Women working as domestics, and men working for the Elevated company. And of course the families who hired the women. They all lived in the same community, as in the same geographic district, but the division was clear: "the haves" and "the don't have much's".


Boston Daily Globe August 30, 1910


Two Sink As Baby Rolls Into Water.

Mrs Hogarty Runs After Carriage,

Man Tries to Save Her.

Both Drown in Jamaica Pond, Another Woman Rescues Little One.


While endeavoring to rescue her child, Marie, two years and eight months old, from drowning in Jamaica Pond yesterday afternoon, Mrs Catherine M. Hogarty of 16 Hall st, Jamaica Plain, lost her life by drowning, and an unknown man, about 60 years old, who attempted to rescue Mrs Hogarty and her baby, was also drowned.

The baby, Marie Hogarty, was rescued by the heroic act of Miss Martha Daley, 28 years old, a nursery maid employed by Dr Mark W. Richardson of 116 Moss Hill road, Jamaica Plain, who, on seeing the frantic efforts of the unknown man in his attempt to aid Mrs Hogarty and the child, ran into the water and brought the baby safely to shore.

Mrs Hogarty, with her children, Marie and Annie, 10 months old, went to the pond, as has been their custom this summer, to spend the afternoon under the trees near the shore.

Baby Marie was sitting in the four-wheeled carriage, with leather hood, while Annie was sitting in the grass beside her mother under a tree nearly opposite the end of Eliot st. There the ground at the shore of the pond rises in a slight knoll that is quite irregular and precipitous.

From some cause unexplained the carriage with Marie in it started down the embankment toward the water. The mother screamed, got to her feet as quickly as possible and ran after the carriage, hoping to stop it before it should reach the water.

But the carriage with Marie sitting in it rolled quickly down the hill and into deep water.

The shore at this point, near where the old boathouse stood, dips quickly and the water is a number of feed deed a short distance from land.

When the carriage struck the water the baby was thrown out.

Mrs Hogarty thought nothing of her danger, but madly sprang into the water to save Marie.

In her excitement she screamed and floundered about and attracted the attention of an aged man.

He ran up the path and boldly jumped into the water to rescue mother and child.

He is said to have reached Mrs Hogarty, who was fast losing her strength, and took hold of her. The baby had floated away a little distance from Mrs Hogarty, and she frantically endeavored to reach her child. As a result there was a struggle with the unknown man and both sank.

Miss Daley was sitting on the grass not far from the scene of the accident with little Martha Richardson. Seeing the danger of the baby Hogarty drowning, she ran into the water up to her waist and rescued the baby. When Miss Daley had reached the shore with the child, she turned to see how the man was getting along in his effort to rescue Mrs Hogarty, and to her amazement and grief both man and woman had disappeared from view.

Weeds Balk Efforts of Rescuers.

Martin Nee of 14 Humbolt pl, South Boston, was driving past the place and, hearing the screams of people, left his wagon and, on learning what had happened, he walked into the water up to the waist in an effort to recover the man and woman. A plant growth in the pond prevented him from seeing either.

Sergt Charles Gilman of police division 13, who was a short distance away, also heard the screams, and, snatching a life preserver from a post on the shore, ran to the spot. When he arrived both Mrs Hogarty and her would-be rescuer had disappeared. Other men who were attracted to the spot tried in every way to aid in the quick recovery of the bodies.

Simon Fraser and George Erickson, employed at the boathouse at Jamaica pond, manned two boats and hurried to the spot where it was said the two persons had sunk, and they were ready to make the attempt at recovery of the bodies by diving. But they did not know where to dive.

Sergt Gillman went to a police signal box and notified Capt Harriman at division 13, and the patrol wagon with grappling irons were hurried to the pond, with Sergt Frank Arnold and patrolmen Herthol, Egan, Claflin and Howes.

A large crowd collected to watch the work of the police. The officers worked as fast as possible, as they believed that there was a good chance to revive the victims.

The first body recovered was that of the unknown man, about 20 minutes after the drowning. Mrs Hogarty's body was brought to the surface about an hour later.

Vain Attempt to Revive Victims.

When the body of the man was brought ashore Dr T.J. O'Brien of 1470 Tremont st, Dr Arthur N. Broughton of 10 Roanoke av, Jamaica Plain, and Dr George C. Smith of 99 Commonwealth av, who had been driving in their automobiles about the pond, were attracted to the scene. The three physicians worked to revive him, laying his body face down over the edge of the banking and moving his arms in the effort to produce artificial respiration. Their efforts were without success, and it was apparent the man had been dead about 20 minutes.

When the body of Mrs Hogarty was recovered the physicians did what was possible to revive her, but without avail. The bodies were given in charge of undertaker Waldo J. Stokes of Roslindale, and were removed to the City hospital morgue and the medical examiner was notified.

Baby Marie Cared For by Police.

Dr O'Brien ran down to the pond just as Miss Daily brought the baby to the shore.

The baby had not been in the water long but was soaked through and was blue with cold. He removed its clothing and wrapped it up in dry coats which were offered by Mrs Guy E. Tripp of Hingham and Mrs Arthur H.Nickerson of Brookline, who with her daughters had been riding past in an automobile and had stopped on hearing of the accident.

Mrs Tripp then took the baby in her car to police station 13, where the police gave the child stimulants and made her warm and comfortable. Miss Daley had also gone in the car and Mrs Tripp then took her back to Dr Richardson's.

Dr O'Brien, after attending to the older child, was called to the younger, who had been splashed with water and who was crying for her mother. There was, however, nothing for him to do for her, and with the others he waited for the result of the grappling.

Many Tried to Help in Rescue.

Every effort was made by people near at the time to save the drowning ones, and among the number were Miss Margaret Leving of 27 Keyes st, Jamaica Plain, and Mrs Bruill of 271 Lamartine st.

Mrs George H. Sauer of 39 Starr lane, Jamaica Plain, was one of the first on the scene. With her little girl Ruth she was sitting near the boathouse and heard the cries of Mrs Hogarty.

With three other women she hurried along the bank, but was too late to be of assistance. As she came up Miss Daley was bringing the baby from the pond and Mrs Hogarty and the man had already sunk beneath the surface.

Mrs Sauer said last evening that one of her companions had told her that the unknown man, whose efforts to rescue Mrs Hogarty resulting in his own death, was a frequent visitor to the pond and had come there repeatedly on afternoons to sit under the trees by the water. No one, she added, knew his name or who or what he was.

Every effort was made by the police last night to learn the man's identity, but up to a late hour every effort had failed.

Unknown Hero Had $60 in Pocket.

He is described as about 60 years old, 5 feet 9 inches in height and weighing about 160 pounds. He was smooth shaven and had gray hair and gray eyes he wore a gray coat, dark striped trousers, checked shirt, black shoes, no underclothing, no stockings and a light straw hat. His shoes had been recently tapped and it is thought it was the work of one unaccustomed to such work.

In his clothing was found a wallet containing $60 and a gold watch, that had stopped at 3:15. He had a handkerchief and a memorandum book.

The book contained the names of F.R. Whit, 47 Regent st, Roxbury, and Paul, 187 Lexington av, East Boston, and the following addresses; 33 Dover st, 8 Cumberland st, Paul Gore st and 101 Moreland st.

Last evening policemen were sent to all the above addresses in order to ascertain the man's identity. None of the occupants of the houses recognized him from the description, but it is expected a large number of people will view the body at the City hospital morgue today, and the man's identity may then be established.

From the address "Paul Gore st," written in the book it was believed that he might possibly live on that street, since that was the only address in Jamaica Plain. Inquiries made last evening, however, at every house on the street failed to reveal any man answering to his description, nor was there anyone reported missing at any house upon the street. It was general opinion that the address written in the book must have been that of someone on whom he intended to call.

Husband Collapses at Tragedy.

Mrs Hogarty had been married about four years. Her maiden name was Catherine Manning. She was born in Ireland and after coming to this country was employed for a number of years in the family of Prof Frank Vogel of Jamaica Plain. Her husband is employed as a fireman at the West Roxbury high school, Jamaica Plain.

When Mr Hogarty learned of the death of his wife he collapsed and would not be comforted. Relatives of the family went to the stricken home and cared for the two young children. A brother of to Mrs Hogarty, Patrick Manning, who is employed as a conductor of the elevated road and lived with the Hogartys, knew nothing of the death of his sister until he reached his home, about 8 o'clock. He was told of the accident by a neighbor just before he entered the house and collapsed in the street. He was revived by friends.

Miss Daley Sought to Save Them.

Miss Martha Daley, who brought the baby out of the water, was so affected by the sight of the drowning that she was unable to tell her story herself last evening, and it was made public by Dr Broughton, a friend of Dr Richardson, who was in medical attendance on Miss Daley.

He said she was walking along the shore of the pond with little Martha Richardson, when she saw the baby carriage roll down into the water and a woman and man run after it.

She is a competent swimmer and without hesitation she ran down and caught up the baby, who had fallen out of the carriage and was sunk in a few feet of water. To recover her she needed to into the water only up to her waist, but just beyond that point the bottom of the pond goes down sharply, and it was here that Mrs Hogarty and her would-be rescuer were struggling.

After Miss Daley had brought the baby from the water and turned her over to a doctor's charge she turned to go back to the others, but they had sunk beneath the surface and no sign offered to show where they were. She then sat down on the bank and it was not for some time that anyone knew that it was she who had rescued the child.


*************************************************************************************



The man who drowned at Jamaica pond was William Barton. When no one came to claim the body, Dr McCollom of Boston City hospital, Dr John Dixwell and Thomas A. Forsythe of the hotel Lenox arranged the funeral. Services were held at the City hospital chapel, and Mr Barton was buried at Mt Hope cemetery.


Source: Boston Globe, September 24, 1910

Back When A Parish Was A Parish

Boston Daily Globe September 17, 1916


Field Day Draws Crowd Of 5000

St Thomas' Church Parishioners Out In Full Force at Jamaica Plain Gathering


Nearly 5000 persons attended the fourth annual field day of St Thomas' Church at the Carolina-av Playgrounds, Jamaica Plain, yesterday. Ex-Gov David I. Walsh was among those present.

The girls' nine, the Maplewoods, beat the boys' White Sox, 8-4.

After the junior races the Forest Hills Red Sox beat the Jamaica Lincolns, 11 to 10.

The big feature of the afternoon, however, was the game between the local doctors and lawyers. Excitement reached a climax in the third, when Rev J.P.. Sherry knocked a home run for the doctors with the bases loaded. The teams comprised W.W. O'Brien, F.P. Broderick, Rev J.P. Sherry, J.F. Keliher, B.J. Glennon, J.C. Porcella, S. Moran, J. McClellan and E. MacKey, doctors; and J.Kenny, J.J. Norton, J.J. Leonard, William F. McMorran, F.J. Horgan, Jack Leonard, F.Leveroni, H. J. Lawler and J.E. Kelly, lawyers. The game went six innings and was won by the doctors, 12 to 3.

Ex-Gov Walsh, Mayor Curley and Dist Atty Pelletier were speakers. After Mr Walsh's speech the A.O.H. and the M.C.O.F. teams engaged in a tug-of-war. The first heat went to the Hibernians by half an inch. The second to the Foresters by the same margin. The final pull went to the M.C.O.F. team.

Tables were in charge of Eleanor F. Donaghue, Alice McMurrough, Katherine McMurrough, Mrs M.M. Dolan, Alice Donaghue, Mrs Ruth Lannigan, Theresa Leonard, Mary Havllin, Mrs Catherine W. Sheehan, Mrs Elizabeth C. McGinty, Dorothy Berthaus, Mary E. Mulligan, Mrs H. Fitzgerald, Mrs Frank Dyers, Miss Elizabeth Shanney, Mrs Thomas H. Duffey, Mrs Emmen Kaymes, Miss Mary McArdle, Mrs M. O'Connell, Mrs Annie Keefe, Miss Julia Morris, Mrs Mary McDougal, Mrs Mary E. Donavan, Mrs L. Duffey, Miss Helen Duffey, Miss E. Rooney, Mrs T. Mulvey, Miss F. McMorrow, Miss Rose Travers, Mrs W. Merrill, Mrs E. Farley, Mrs Anna Corr, Mrs E. Corr, Miss M. Conway, Miss A. Fraer and Miss J. Hurley.

Rt Rev E.J. Moriarty, James P. Sherry, Rev L.F. Kelliher, Thomas F. Lally, Dr Hugh C. McGuire, John M. Leonard, Thomas Condry, John F. McDonald, Hon F.J. Horgan, W.J. Laughlin and Rev F.J. Donovan were in general charge.

Buff & Buff

Buff & Buff Transit



Buff & Buff Wye level





The story of the Buff & Buff Manufacturing Company is told on this page. As a young child I lived nearby, and never heard of the factory's existance. Just last year, with my interest in Jamaica Plain history peaked, I was talking to my Mother about the neighborhood, and she mentioned that she could see a factory out the back window of our Marlou Terrace apartment. Being puzzled by the idea of a factory in this residential district, I took a ride to the area, and poked around. Sure enough, in behind some trees on Lamartine street, I could see a brick building that I had never noticed in 40+ years. In that little building, with little local fanfare, world-class surveying equipment was made for much of the 20th Century.

I happened to find some Buff & Buff advertisements online, so I thought I'd make them available here. They come out of industry magazines that have been scanned.

3/5/2008 - I just found a new picture online - someone was selling the theodolite poster. Apparently there's a market for antique engineering equipment porn.

4/12/2008 - The two top pictures come from the Smithsonian Institution web site.

Dr Elizabeth C. Keller

The following is an excerpt from the book Biography of Ephraim McDowell, M.D., by Mrs. M.T. Valentine, his granddaughter. The book includes biographical sketches of doctors of the time, including Elizabeth C. Keller, whose career has been discussed within an article on the Bowditch school at the Jamaica Plain Historical Society web site. I've bypassed similar information in the quoted sketch, and jumped directly to the Jamaica Plain-related information.

The 1885 Boston Directory places Dr Keller at Rockview and Green sts. In 1905, she is listed practicing at 46 St John st, with a home address of 235 Forest Hills st. If the tone of the quoted sketch borders on hagiography, I'd count it up to the times - the people of the late 19th Century were not shy about piling it on. No doubt Dr. Keller was an admirable physician and citizen.


Addendum: The Rockview and Green address made me think of the Jamaica Club house at the same corner. I little poking around verifies that the Jamaica Club did, in fact, buy the house from Dr Keller. An 1884 fire insurance map shows the property in her posession, and a Boston Globe article dated Feb. 7, 1890 tells of a Jamaica Club vote to buy the house. An article from July 7 tells us that the club had paid $20,000 for the property in April. Since the house - and Rockview street - don't show up on the 1874 map, I suspect that Dr Keller had it built between 1875, when she was appointed to her position at the New England Hospital for Women, and 1884. The house can be seen in a post card view at the JP Historical Society site here.






"But it is in the department of surgery where Dr Keller has exhibited qualities which justly place her in the front rank, not only among women, but among surgeons. During the twenty years in which she has held the position of Senior Operating Surgeon at the New England Hospital her terms of service have been full of thorough, ingenious, and progressive work, including not only minor surgery, but the reduction of fractures, amputations,, and abdominal surgery. A true optimist, Dr Keller carries the inherent principles of success into the operating-room, where her quiet, cheerful mien marks her as one in full command of the situation. As an operator she is cool and deliberate, yet prompt and decided; cautious, but ready; deft-handed and fertile in resource. From the first incision each movement tells, and, with no appearance of hurry, work moves rapidly on. To her corps of internes she is an inspiration; each step in the work is made an object lesson. Knowing the vital importance of correct emergency treatment, she instructs them in improvising apparatus from material at hand, and many an appliance, made up from the wood-house and attic, has, by its ready utility, enforced essential principles in surgery never to be forgotten.

Great as she is in her profession, Dr. Keller has that genius of character that would give her prominence in whatever position she might fill. She has a commanding presence, a fine physique, and manners that are affable and magnetic. Thus she wins her way without effort. She is ready and forceful speaker upon various effort. She is a ready and forceful speaker upon various subjects, and her interest is vivid whether the occasion be the dedication of a new school-house, the presentation of graduate diplomas, the rehearsal of the last interesting case, or the discussion of some vital topics of the day.

All questions pertaining to the advancement of the world, particularly of women, lie very close to her heart. Broad and catholic in spirit, generous and forgiving toward human frailty, she can yet be rightously indignant in the face of wrong and fearless in its denunciation.

That she can carry so much responsibility in her profession and do so much earnest work in other directions, is a source of wonder to her friends. Since 1890 Dr. Keller has been a member of the Boston School Board, holding the position with distinguished honor and credit. She has done the most effective work as a member of the Committees on Text Books, Hygiene, and Examinations. She is at the present time Chairman of a division which includes seven large grammar schools, with all the colonies and primaries, of which she is expected to know the condition and the needs; to nominate for them suitable teachers and to decide vexed questions of discipline - in a word, to keep these schools up to the recognized standard; and she has gained the confidence and respect of all who have come in contact with her in this special department.

With all this varied work she is not unmindful of the sweet amenities of life. Her home in Jamaica Plain, Mass., is made attractive with music, pictures, and books, and a most hospitable welcome awaits her friends, while plenty and good cheer crown the board.

Within the past few years she has planned and superintended the building of seven houses.

During the summer months Dr Keller repairs to her beautiful mountain retreat in Jaffery, N.H., where she tosses care to the breezes and invites a well-earned rest, and almost any day one may see her driving her fine span of horses over those mountain roads. Dr. Keller has not lived unto herself alone. She has provided home and education for three orphan nieces, one of whom, Dr. Ida F. Curry, a girl of rare promise, died in the second year of her practice; her daughter, Helen, is prepared to enter Smith College this year, and an interesting grandchild, the daughter of her only son, completes the happy picture of young life in the household."

Jamaica Plain Builds Planes

The full story of the Sturtevant Aeroplane Company can be seen at the Sturtevant web site here.
It is interesting that the company history makes no reference to potential service in Mexico. The Aeroplane company was headquartered in Jamaica Plain, but some of the work was done in Readville. The linked story above tells us that the order for the four planes described below was cancelled at a later date. Not before I could get an entry about it.


Boston Daily Globe March 31, 1916


Battleplanes For U.S. Army In Mexico

Jamaica Plain Concern Is Building Four.

Machines of Special Design for Use Under Difficult Conditions.


The Sturtevant Aeroplane Company of Jamaica Plain has just received from the United States Army Signal Corps an order for four Sturtevant steel battleplanes for use in Mexico. Work on the machines has begun.

The planes will be equipped with (?)-horse power motors and are of a special design for use under the difficult conditions which the Army aviators have met with in Mexico.

Last winter Lieut B.Q. Jones experimented with the Sturtevant planes at Readville, and the concern was subsequently awarded a medal of merit by the Aero Club of America.

Agassiz School Postcard

Agassiz School circa 1901-07


This picture is very similar to one that can be found online, but these is a subtle difference in the location of the camera. In the lower left, it says "No. 3 Pub. by the E.W. Clark Co." A Web search gives up no reference to a Clark post card company, but there may be another explanation. There was an E.W. Clark dry goods store in the White Block on Centre street, just around the corner from the school. I suspect that Mr Clark may have had a series of post cards featuring local scenes printed up to sell at his store. The Library of Congress web site tells us that a post card of this design would have been produced during the years 1901-1907. The school was built in 1902, so that cuts one year off the range.

correction: the school was built in 1892, not 1902.

Jamaica Plain Men Build Boston's First Subway

Boston Daily Globe March 27, 1895


Looking Over Ground.

Transit Commission on the Subway's Route.

Jones & Meehan Not Likely to Begin Work for a Few Days.

Sketches of the Two Contractors for the First Section.


The members of the Boston transit commission, Mr Davis, one of its engineers, Jones and Meehan, who will build the first section of the subway, and Superintendent Doogue of the public grounds went carefully over the ground on the Tremont and Boylston st malls of the common and public garden yesterday, noting the position of the trees.

The ground will not be opened for a few days, as Jones & Meehan are not quite ready to begin work. No public ceremony will mark the event. Sightseers will be kept at a distance by a fence, and, in the words of Sec Beal, "the whole matter will be conducted with republican simplicity." The men who are building the subway are interesting local characters. They are residents of the West Robury district, Michael Meehan and J. Edwin Jones, the former a practical mechanic, the latter an accomplished engineer. Mr Jones was superintendent of streets under Mayor Hart and Mr Meehan was his deptuy. If one were to believe the politicians the order was reversed, but that is political talk, not transit.

Mr Meehan was born in Ireland, June 20, 1840, and came to this country when 15 years old. The same ship that brought him landed his brother, Patrick, who today is one of the strongest financial men in Boston, and one of the richest in Jamaica Plain. Patrick takes a brotherly interest in Michael and is always ready to help him in business enterprises.

Michael Meehan served before the mast in the union navy in the war. After the war he became a contractor. He was an active young democrat, and was secretary of the democratic state committee in 78 and 79. In 84 and 85 he was elected superintendent of streets, but was removed for political and personal differences by Mayor O'Brien. Since then Mr Meehan has acted with the republicans.

J. Edwin Jones was once a civil engineer and surveyor. Early in his life he took a course in the engineering school of Harvard university, and then entered the office of the civil engineer at the U.S. navy yard, Portsmouth, N.H. At the end of two years he became assistant engineer to what was then the European & North American railway, having charge of the line between Bangor and Oldtown in the state of Maine. After a service of two years, he, in 1868, accepted the position of assistant engineer in the bureau of sewers, Croton aqueduct department, city of New York, where he acquired valuable knowledge in the theory and practice of the construction of sewers.

In 1870 Mr Jones came to the city of Boston as assistant to the then city surveyor, Thomas W. Davis, and made a survey of the city of Roxbury, and in 1874 he took charge of the suryey of the West Roxbury district, which had then but recently been annexed to the city.

On the completion of the survey of the West Roxbury district, in 1879, he opened an office in Jamaica Plain, and in connection therewith made surveys of the Muddy river improvement and the Arnold Arboretum, and a topographical survey of Franklin park for the late city engineer, Henry M. Wightman. Mr Jones has been interested with R.S. Barrows, editor and publisher of the West Roxbury News. He is also engaged in the general practice of a civil engineer and surveyor at the same place, and has a large business. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, being connected with Eliot lodge of Jamaica Plain, F. and A.M., and also of the ancient order of United Workmen, and Knights of Honor. In politics Mr Jones is a republican.

Tuberculosis Comes To Town

Jamaica Plain was having enough cases of TB in 1908 that a series of lectures for the public was given at Curtis Hall. The article cites a Jamaica Plain dispensary - apparently a free or low cost facility. I've seen references to it, but I have yet to find any definitive information. Perhaps it was in Curtis Hall itself.


Boston Daily Globe October 4, 1908


Tuberculosis Lectures.

Series to be Given in Curtis Hall, Jamaica Plain, Beginning Next Wednesday.


Under the auspices of the Norfolk district medical society and the Jamaica Plain dispensary a series of free tuberculosis exhibits and lectures will be given at Curtis hall, Jamaica Plain, beginning next Wednesday. The exhibit and lectures are designed for well people to show them how they can avoid consumption.

The program follows,

Wednesday, 8 P.M.

Chairman, Dr Arthur P. Perry, president of the Norfolk district medical society; Dr Thomas F. Harrington, director of hygiene in the public schools of Boston, "Some False Ideas Concerning Tuberculosis"; Walter E. Kreusl, secretary of the Boston association for the releif and control of tuberculosis, "The Line of Progress."

Thursday, 8 P.M.

Chairman, Hon Samuel B. Capen; Dr J. Stephen Scott, member Massachusetts dental association. "Hygiene of the mouth as a protection Against Disease"; Henry Abrahams, secretary cigarmakers' international union, "What the Labor Unions Can Do to Stamp Out Tuberculosis.

Friday, 8 P.M.

Chairman, Hon Michael J. Murray; Dr Bradford Kent, examining physician Massachusetts sanatorium at Rutland, "How the State Has Responded to the Cry of the consumptive."

Saturday, 3:30 P.M.

Chairman, Dr B.N. Bridgeman; Dr H.F.R. Watts, physician to the Free Home for Consumptives, "Consumption the Unnecessary Evil."

Saturday, 8 P.M.

Chairman, Rev Charles F. Dole; Dr E.O. Otis, president of the Boston Association for the Relief and Control of Tuberculosis. Subject, "What Can the Layman Do in the Prevention of Tuberculosis?"

Sunday, 3:30 P.M.

Chairman, Rev Chauncey J. Hawkins; Miss M.A. Gallagher, visiting nurse to the Association for the Relief and Control of Tuberculosis, Subject, "What Our Association Does for Tuberculosis Patients."

Sunday, 8 P.M.

Chairman, Dr E. Peabody Gerry; Dr David Townsend, physician to the Boston Consumptives hospital. Subject, "What the City is Doing for the Consumptive." The lecture will be illustrated with the stereopticon.

A History Of The First Congregational Society

Here's another online book that is far easier to link to than copy out and post here. It's a nice source of historical nuggets from the first church to be established in Jamaica Plain, now the Unitarian Universalist church at the Monument on Centre street. Said nuggets include: the pew of Benjamin Bussey had a canopy over it; when the new church was built in 1853, a box of papers was put in the cornerstone - a picture of the old meeting house, deeds, registers, newspapers, and coins of the day. What ever happened to the box, I wonder... And not but not least, the silver tankards, flagons and cups that had been given by church members over the years were melted down, to be remade in modern patterns some time around the 1850s. Nice!

Link

The Gangs Of Jamaica Plain

I've tried to balance entries describing church meetings and honored veterans with articles featuring crime and poverty. At the same time that Catholic church parishes could host thousands for annual celebrations, those same neighborhoods could also produce young men ready to kick a policeman in the head. If we want to remember the good old days in J.P., we need to keep in mind the less savory element of the community. Life in turn of the century Jamaica Plain was not all Footlight Club plays and Tuesday Club teas. In an earlier entry, a newspaper article refers to residents Jamaica Plain during these same years hiring watchmen to protect their property from break-ins.

I try to copy the newspaper articles as accurately as possible, so if the spelling of a name changes, I'm following what I find. Sometimes, deciphering the type is difficult, so I have to guess at the words and spelling. Did you get the cinematic referece in the title above?


Boston Daily Globe April 21, 1907


Gang Took His Club And Gun

Patrolman McKinnon Badly Used Up.

Unknown Man Had Been Robbed in Jamaica Plain.

Officer Then Came on scene -- Two Arrests.


Patrolman McKinnon of division 13 was assaulted by a crowd of men on Keyes st, Jamaica Plain, last night, and John J. Dolan, 20 years old, of 53 Call st and Edward J. Dolan, 23, of 40 Orchard st, were arrested shortly afterward, charged with the assault.

An unknown man was held up by a gang of young men about 12:30, near the corner of Washington and Keyes sts, and was beaten and robbed. McKinnon came upon the scene and the gang fled. The officer overhauled them on Keyes st, near the railroad bridge where they turned upon him.

There were six in the crowd and they speedily overpowered the officer. He was thrown to the ground and his assailantw took his club and revolver from him and used the club on him.

In the meantime somebody had telephoned police station 13 of the troubles, and a number of officers were sent to the place.

The gang ran away with McKinnon, who was bleeding from a gash on the head, in persuit. The beating he had received had weakened him, however, and he fell in the street where he lay until the other patrolmen came to his aid. He was sent to the station house, where his wounds, a number of cuts on the head, were dressed by Dr Woodruff.

From the description they obtained the officers arrested the two Dolans on the charge of assault and battery. They will be arraigned in court tomorrow where they will probably answer to a more serious charge.



January 22, 1908


Thugs Strike From Behind

Patrolman Attacked in Jamaica Plain.

Hayes Was Walking on Centre St in Plain Clothes.

Question Whether Robbery or Revenge Was Motive.


Patrolman Jeremiah Hayes of division 13, Jamaica Plain, was murderously attacked about 8:30 last night by two young men, who stole up behind him as he was walking along Centre st on his way to the station house on Seaverns av. One of the pair struck him on the back of the head with a blunt weapon and felled him to the ground.

The officer was in citizen's clothes and it is an open question whether his assailants, not knowing he was a patrolman, attacked him with intent to rob him or whether they were taking revenge because of police activity in that section of late.

Patrolman Hayes noticed two young fellows behind him when he was near Lakeville pl, but they did not arouse his suspicions. After the assault they ran down Centre sts and disappeared through Lockstead av. in the direction of Jamaica pond.

Though dazed by the blow, patrolman Hayes recovered sufficiently to get a glimpse of one of the fellows, who is about 5 feet 5 inches in height, stout built, and wore a light-colored overcoat, dark-colored trousers and a golf cap.

With head and face covered with the blood from his wounds on the head and face, caused by the violence of his fall to the ground, Hayes managed to make his way to the station house a considerable distance away, and reported to Lieut Bodenschatz. Dr Arthur N.Broughton dressed his wounds and found he had sustained a severe scalp wound on the back of his head, about two inches long, and abrasions on his face, right hand, knees and shins.

Patrolman Hayes could not explain the assault on him. It occurred in an aristocratic section of Jamaica Plain, and so far as Hayes knows, he has not an enemy in the district, where he has been a patrolman since 1894.

Recently, however, the police of division 13 have been active in the arrest of local characters, some of them for assault on patrolman McKinnon of division 13 about a year ago, who was beaten so terribly that he has not been able to perform police duty since. Three of the defendants in the case were sent away for a time and have recently been released. Others have been arrested for alleged attempt to break and enter a store.

Patrolman Hayes was born in Ireland, Jan 3, 1850. He was appointed a patrolman Oct 31, 1881, and was assigned to division 4; he was transferred to division 13 Aug 29, 1894, and has remained on duty at that station since that time.



January 23, 1908


Youths Arrested.

Charged With Assault on Patrolman Hayes.

Officer Positively Identifies Lad of 14 as One Assailant.


Two Roxbury youths, Richard J. Connolly, aged 16, of 963 Parker st, and Henry W. Hildreth, 14, of 4 Highland pl, are under arrest charged with breaking and entering the grocery store of M.S. Morton at Hyde Park last Tuesday morning and also with assaulting patrolman Jeremiah Hayes of division 13 with a blackjack Tuesday night in Jamaica Plain.

Neither of the youths has enjoyed an enviable reputation with the police for some time, and Hildreth is said to have been arrested for larceny before. The pair were arrested yesterday morning, at Boylston and Amory sts, by patrolmen Eagan and Morse of division 13 after quite a struggle, in which the young fellows are said to have tried to use blackjacks on the patrolmen.

At noon patrolman Hayes, who is laid up at his home with the injuries due to the assault on Tuesday, was brought to the station house, where he identified Hildreth positively and Connolly partially, as his assailants.




April 7, 1908


Scuffle Has Fatal Sequel.

Patrolman Fitzgerald Dies at His Home -- Paralysis Follows His Fight With a Prisoner.


Patrolman John J. Fitzgerald of division 13, who was injured in a scuffle with three young men whom he attempted to arrest Friday afternoon, died at his home, 11 North av, Roxbury, at 10:10 last night, from paralysis of the right side, caused by the bursting of a blood vessel in his head.

Friday afternoon patrolman Fitzgerald, who was in charge of the substation in Franklin park, was called by patrolman McAdams to assist in the arrest of three men who were charged with the larceny of brass pipe valued at $5. David A. Shugrue, who is alleded to have been one of them, is said to have fought Patrolman Fitzgerald off and to have escaped. The other men, Louis Selby and Stephen Shugrue, a brother of David, were arrested.

Patrolman Fitzgerald remained on duty at the station Friday night until 10 o'clock, when he was taken home and two physicians were called to attend him. He had become uncouscious, and the doctors said that his condition was serious.

David A. Shugrue, 26 years old, of 3409 Washington st, was arrested by patrolman O'Neil of division 13 Saturday night, charged with drunkenness, but when he appeared in the dock in the Jamaica Plain court yesterday morning patrolman McAdams said he recognized him as the man who had struggled with patrolman Fitzgerald, and McAdams brought two complaints against him. Shugrue is charged with assault on patrolman Fitzgerald and assault of Louis Selby, one of the men arrested Friday afternoon. He was held in bail aggregating $1200 on the assault cases and the charge of drunkenness for a hearing next Tuesday.

Patrolman John J. Fitzgerald was born in Boston Dec 25, 1858, and was educated in the public schools. He was appointed a patrolman Oct 11, 1881, and assigned to division 15. May 2, 1882, he was transferred to division 2, and afterward shifted to division 13, Jamaica Plain, where he had command of the substation. He was a member of the Police relief association.




June 24, 1910


Policeman Is Beaten by Gang

Katon's Face Cut and Body Bruised at Jamaica Plain.

Draws Revolver and John J. Dolan Is Shot in Struggle.


In a fight with a gang of seven or eight men who attempted to rescue a prisoner from him on Washington and Williams sts, Jamaica Plain, last evening, patrolman Owen A. Katon of division 13 was severely pounded on the head with his short club and kicked in the face and body. During the fight Katon fired one shot from his revolver, the bullet entering the right side of John J. Dolan, alias Trapper Dolan, penetrating the right lung and making its exit at the right side of Dolan's back.

Dolan was hurried to the City hospital in the police ambulance and his name is on the dangerous list. Patrolman Katon was taken to the station house on Seaverns av, Jamaica Plain, where his wounds were dressed by Dr Arthur A. Perry. It took seven stitches to close the wound over Katon's right eye and his body is covered with bruises.

The affair took place in the locality not far from the place where about four years ago the so-called "Keyes-st gang" clubbed patrolman Edward McKinnon of division so severely that he was never able to do a day's police duty since. Dolan, the man shot last night by patrolman Katon, was one of the six men found guilty in the McKinnon case, and was sentenced to six months in the house of correction. He has a long police record.

Patrolman Katon left the station at 5:45 last evening to patrol his route in the vicinity of Washington and Williams sts. He had just reached that point when he made the arrest of an unknown man for drunkenness.

While taking his prisoner to the box, he was set upon by Dolan, 22, who lives at 58 Call st, Jamaica Plain, nad several of Dolan's friends.

Kanton held his prisoner and fought the crowd to the signal box. He got out his short club to use if necessary. When Dolan and his gang saw the club, they pounced on Katon and wrestled it from him, and while Dolan, it is said, fought desperately with the police officer, some one of the number struck Katon over the right eye with the club, opening a wound that bled freely. Katon lost his prisoner, but tackled Dolan, and the two men fought in the mud. While struggling with Dolan on the ground, the gang kicked Katon in the head, face and body. The policeman got his revolver from his pocket. Dolan wrested the revolver from the officer. It fell in the street and was quickly picked up by a boy who managed to give it to Katon. Then the struggle was on again between Katon and Dolan. The revolver was discharged, the bullet penetrating the right side of Dolan's body.

At the sound of the shot the crowd scattered. Patrolman Katon, his face covered with blood and suffering severely from the clubbing and kicking he had received, managed to reach the police signal box and telephone Lieut Bodenschatz, in charge at the station. The ambulance and patrol wagon were hurried to the scene. Dolan lay on the sidewalk until the arrival of the ambulance, when he was hurried to the City hospital. There it was found the 38 calibre bullet had passed through the right side of his body and had penetrated the right lung.

Patrolman Katon was hurried to the station. Dr Arthur Perry took seven stitches to close the wound over Katon's right eye. He was put to bed in the station house.

Sergt Fettredge with patrolman Lordan, Enlis, McLaughlin, Snow, Holleran and O'Neil, went to work immediately to round up the gang concerned in the assault. Before 10 six suspects had been brought into the station house and booked on suspicion and two suspects were picked up by patrolman of division 2.

It is the worst affair of its kind in Jamaica Plain since the assault on patrolman Edward McKinnon in April four years ago, and is similar to the assaults on patrolman Cleveland with a bottle and the slugging of patrolman Hayes with a blackjack two years ago.

Lieut Bodenschatz detailed reserve officer Chaflin to watch Dolan at the Cit hospital, and an officer will be stationed at his bedside until he recovers sufficiently to be brought into a court.

Patrolman Katon is a Roxbury boy. He is 28 years old and resides with his mother and sisters at 16 Warren pl, Roxbury. His mother is ill and Katon requested that she be kept in ignorance of his condition until today. He was appointed to the police force Nov 16, 1900, as a reserve officer and was made a regular April 21, this year. He is athletic and the pitcher of the baseball team of division 13.


July 1, 1910


Was Beaten By A Crowd

Is the Testimony of Patrolman Katen.

Fell Senseless After He Had Shot John J. Dolan.

Men Accused of Assaulting Officer in Court.


The four defendants charged with assault and battery on patrolman Owen A. Katen of division 13, Jamaica Plain, Thursday evening, June 23, at Washington and Williams sts, when Katen was beaten and kicked and John J Dolan was shot in the right lung, appeared in the West Roxbury municipal court this morning.

The defendants are John H. Crowley, 28 years old, of 21 Plainville st, Edward Moore, 22 years old, of 25 Boynton st, James F. Galvin, 22 years old, of 18 Boynton st, and Andrew McCarron, 28, years old, of 336 Amory st. McCarron, Galvin and Crowley were represented by John F. McDonald. The government's case was prosecuted by patrolman Ralph Inglis, assisted by Capt Harriman and Sergt Fettridge.

Patrolman Katen testified that on June 23, about 6:05, saw a crowd in front of Silver's saloon on the corner of Keyes and Washington sts and ordered the men to move along. They went in different directions. Joseph O. Gorman he arrested for drunkenness and started with him to the police signal box at the corner of Williams and Washington sts.

When at the signal box John J. Dolan approached him and asked if he had placed the man under arrest. Katen said "Yes, and if you don't go along I'll place you under arrest."

He said he placed Dolan under arrest and received a blow in the face from him. At the same time he received blows from behind. He testified that he saw in the crowd Crowley, Moore, Gorman, James F. Galvin, Thomas Dolan and McCarron.

When he received the blow he reached for his short stick, which John J. Dolan got from him and struck him on the head with it, and he fell to the ground. He was kicked about the head and body, and his watch was broken. He managed to get to his feet and felt someboey attempting to get his revolver from his pocket. He received a second blow on the head, causing him to stagger.

John and Thomas Dolan were in front of him. Gorman was on his left side. On receiving the second blow on the head he was dazed and fell to the ground. John L. Dolan was over him with the policeman's short stick, ready to strike him. Dolan said, "Now, you ---, I have got you."

Katen drew his revolver, believing he was in danger of his life, and he pulled the trigger once. The revolver was not discharged on the first pull. The crowd ran in different directions.

"I pulled the trigger a second time," he said, "and the last man to leave me was John J. Dolan. After firing the revolver I became unconscious. Don't remember anything more. When I revived some women were bathing my face. With the assistance of some men I got to the signal box and telephoned the station house to send an ambulance to box 29, and then I fainted.

"I was taken to the station house in the patrol wagon. My head was cut in several places, my eyes were blackened and my body was black and blue from the kicks I had received. Dr Perry dressed my wounds. I was put to bed in the station house.

I did not know the names of the defendants, but had seen then about the streets at night around the locality. I would not say that Crowley asssaulted me, but about the other defendants I am positive."

Alfred Marshall, a conductor for the Boston elevated road living at 3582 Washington st, testified that he saw Katon struck on the head while he, Marshall, was standing on his car. He testified that he left his car, went across the street, near where Katon and the prisoners were, and saw the two Dolan boys strike Katon and also saw Gorman strike Katon on the head with a police billy. McCarron, he testified, had his arms around Katon's neck while the officer was struck.

Recess was taken until 2 o'clock and at that time John J. Dolan was brought from the city hospital in the police auto.



August 11, 1910


Dolan Given Two Years.

Pleads Guilty to Charge of Assault on Policeman Katon in Jamaica plain on June 23.


Charged with assault on policeman Owen Katon of division 13 on June 23, John J. Dolan of Jamaica Plain was sentenced to the house of correction yesterday for two years by Judge Sanderson in the superior criminal court. Dolan, with Andrew McCarron, James F. Galvin and Edward Moore, pleaded guilty. McCarron, Galvin and Moore were placed on probation.

Dolan has recovered from a shot through the lung received at the time of the assault. Early in the evening of June 23 several women told policeman Katon that a man had insulted them. Katon arrested a man named Gorman and as he was taking Gorman to the box at Williams and Washington sts in Jamaica Plain Dolan ordered him to release Gorman. Upon Katon's refusal there was some talk, when the policeman hit Dolan with his club. Dolan then got the club and struck Katon on the head with it.

The policeman said that at the same time someone was trying to get his revolver. He reached first, however, and as Dolan stood before him wiht the club raised and ready to strike he pulled the trigger. The revolver did not go off, but on the second trial he sent a bullet through Dolan's body. Dolan said he was shot as he was running away.




Boston Daily Globe August 8, 1911


Policeman Attacked.

Gang Supposed to Be of the "Forty Thieves" of Jamaica Plain Attempt Rescue of a Prisoner.


Patrolman John W. Shone of Jamaica Plain was attacked and beaten by a gang of boys and young men near the Boylston-st railroad station late last evening while making the arrest of Edward Morgan of 1392 Collumbus av, Roxbury.

Morgan, told to move along, had behaved in a surly manner and the officer started to arrest him. Some of Morgan's frields then attacked Shone. The gang then retreated to the railroad tracks, about 20 feet above the street level, and threw rocks at Shone, who continued to hold his prisoner, protecting himself by placing the prisoner in front of himself as the target for the missles. Morgan was hurt some, but the patrolman escaped injury.

Some one had meanwhile telephoned to Sergt Hennessey at the station. The sergeant sent out a patrol wagon wiht 11 officers to Shone's rescue, and at the sound of the wagon gong the gang scattered. Shone knows the names of several in the gang and will ask for warrants today.

Swans At Jamaica Pond

Swans at Jamaica Pond, circa 1910 (from eBay)


This picture looks towards the Pinebank hill. To the right, a small cove dipped inland a bit, before it was filled in by the city. Here's a suggestion - let's recreate the old cove, and put a little bridge over the mouth. Picturesque, no?

The Japanese Problem

This second sermon article is a good deal more complicated than the previous one. Reverend Wentworth was nationalistic and xenophobic to some degree, but he was also willing to criticize his own country as too materialistic and too prideful as well. He would certainly not be at either extreme of the immigration debate today, unlike the Reverend Hawkins from the previous entry.


Boston Daily Globe May 26, 1913


Defends California.

Rev Stewart L. Wentworth of the Jamaica Plain M.E. Church Discusses the Japanese Problem.


"We have gone too far, I think, in letting Japan think that she is the biggest thing on earth," said Rev Stewart L. Wentworth, pastor of the Jamaica Plain M.E. Church, speaking before a large congregation, including many Civil War veterans, on "The Present Situation in Our National Life" yesterday.

"The situuation on the Pacific Coast," he said, "should have arisen a quarter of a century ago right here in Boston, New York, Philadelphia and other congested centers of population where a foreign element swarms, and should have been settled at that time.

"A good many people are much concerned as to what is likely to happen as a result of this trouble on the Pacific Coast. Some think that the Japanese cold beat us out. There is talk of war in the land. I think that the people of California have some rights. I don't think that the Japanese or any other people have a right to come into this country and tell us what our attitude toward them shall be.

"We do not wish to shut out any people, but if this Nation is to stand for God and justice, there must be some way for us to assimilate the alien peoples who come to our shores, that our principles may not be lowered or our high standards torn down.

"America has gotten to be too proud of herself. I believe the times in which we live are times of overmuch boasting of our greatness, without qualifying ourselves to be worthy of our boast. The peril of our land is not in the multitudes who come here, but the motives from which they come.

"We are largely to blame ourselves for their ideas of exploitation of this land, as we have promoted them in ourselves. We must remember that America is not only another name for oppoutunity, but also another name for responsibility.

"We cannot shut our doors against the world and we do not wish to, but we must be careful to set before the immigrant some other example than that our country is one for spoils and individual aggrandizement. We must inspire in our citizens the principles for which men of past generations fought to offset the sordid considerations of the present day.

"We have provoked our labor problems from top to bottom; both parties are wrong. When a Nation seeks for great corporate wealth, must we not expect that the man at the bottom will try to get a greater proportion of that wealth for himself?

"Unless our National life can be keyed up to higher principles, there is but little hope for democracy. The root of the trouble is the selfishnes at both ends of the line. Unless we can eliminate this tremendous selfish ambition from our people, we shall never be able to solve the great problems of our Nation."

Positively Pernicious

During 1916, District Attorney Pelletier prosecuted a man for advocating birth control and sex education as part of a national movement of the time. Since he considered the subject as discussed to be obscene, he wanted women to be barred from the courtroom to protect their modesty. Here we have Rev Chauncey Hawkins of Central Congregational church speaking his mind on the subject.



Boston Daily Globe December 4, 1916


Birth Control Is Pernicious, He Says

Rev Mr Hawkins Flays "Pink Tea Reformers"

Praises Dist Atty Pelletier For His Action on Propaganda


Declaring that the propaganda for birth control is pernicious and constitutes a blow at morality, Rev Chauncey J. Hawkins of the Central Congregational Church of Jamaica Plain flayed the "pink tea society set of social reformers" at the church last evening.

"Enthusiasm for social betterment is good," he said, "but when it is ignorantly directed it is as destructive to our institutions as though it were premeditated crime or vice, and I for one am with the district attorney of Boston. I believe he was right in trying to stop this hodge podge of nonsense, and in arresting one who tried to scatter it.

"Enough knowledge is circulated without thrusting it into the faces of those who ought not to know it, and to the district attorney I would say, the mass of the community are with you. Stamp out this movement, and we will stand behind you.

"Any man familiar with the facts knows that the birth rate is regulated by economic factors, if it is not artificially stopped. There is no reason for alarm when the United STates stands with France and Sweden as having the lowest birth rate in the world. It would seem that, instead of getting up a movement for the control of or reduction of the birth rate, we should be get up a movement for the increase of births.

"The weakness of the American home is not big families, but the lack of the old-fashioned American moralities, and the lack of religion about the family circles. The useful ones in the world have almost without exception, come up from poverty.

Mary E. Curley - Class of 1963

Somehow, my brother's Curley graduation program was saved all these years. You can click on the pictures to get much larger and readable images.

Obituary #10

Boston Daily Globe February 15, 1914


Dr A.H. Tompkins Dead.

Jamaica Plain Physician Graduated From the Boston University School in 1875.


Dr Albert H. Tompkins, one of the most widely known homeopathic physicians of this city, died at his home, 20 Seaverns av, Jamaica Plain, yesterday morning, following a short illenss, aged 70.

He was born in Little Compton, R.I. He attended a business college in this city and for several years was employed as a bookkeeper.

He graduated from Boston University Medical School in 1875 and took up the practice of medicine in Jamaica Plain, and was in active practice up to the time of his death. Dr Tompkins was a frequent contributor to medical journals and was a member of the homeopathic medical societies of the city, State and Nation.

He leaves his wife, a son, Ernst A. Tompkins, and brother and a sister. The funeral will take place tomorrow at 3 o'clock, at the house.



December 3, 1914




Veteran Patrolman Dead.

William N.H. Knight Had Been Attached to Jamaica Plain Station 20 Years.


William N.H. Knight, for 20 years a patrolman attached to the Jamaica Plain station, who resigned from the police force only a few days ago, died yesterday at his home, 29 Green st, Jamaica Plain, after a two months' illness.

Mr Knight was born in South Boston July 9, 1855, and was educated in the public schools. Nov 4, 1885, he was appointed to the police force, having previously served as a fireman in South Boston, and was assigned to the La grange -st Station.

He went to the Jamaia Plain Station aug 30, 1894, and had been attached to it until Nov 28, when he offered his resignation on grounds of disability. For many year he had driven the station patrol wagon. He was a member of the Police Relief Association.

Mr Knight was unmarried.

Child Killed By Train - And A Memory

Here's a terribly sad story, and one that relates to the previous entry. Wherever there are train tracks, eventually there are train deaths. At the time, there were four tracks to the New York, New Haven and Hartford line - the two express lines in the middle, and the two local lines on the outside. At each station, fences were put up between the local and express linesto prevent riders from crossing the tracks and coming to grief with the passing express trains. Outside of the stations, there was no such fence, and the embankment would have been a magnet for boys.

So it was when I lived on Spalding street. There, on the north side of Forest Hills, was a widening of the embankment, and spur lines forked off to take parked boxcars. I was 5-6 years old when I wandered the embankment, walking the spur rails and climbing the boxcars. The trains would rush by with a roar and a palpable sense of danger, but I don't recall any deaths during my time in Jamaica Plain, but I did have to be rushed to the hospital. One day, while a group of us climbed the ladder on the end of a boxcar, the lovely little girl in front of me looked back down at me and quite deliberately stepped on my hand. Off I went, falling backwards to the ground. Apparently, my head landed inches from a rail. My father heard my bawling across the Hood's milk lot, and came and got me. Being covered in the black coal dust of the embankment, I was put in the bathtub, cleaned up, and then, presentable to the doctors and nurses, brought to the hospital. With a spleen not quite ruptured, and none the worse for wear and tear, I was sent home to deal with the DO NOT PLAY ON THE TRAINS! speech that would finally sink in. In later years, this became a family joke, along the lines of "Always wear clean underwear in case you have to go to the hospital."

Thus do I relate to the boy killed by the speeding train. A parent's warning never sinks in until after the advice is needed.

The connection to the previous entry? The little swimming hole would have been very close to the storm drain inlet shown in the second pair of pictures. No map of the time shows the pond, but neither do they show Bussey brook. Perhaps they filled it in to prevent boys from crossing the railroad tracks to reach it.



Boston Daily Globe July 23, 1910






Express Hurls Boy To Death

Thomas J. Kevill Hit at Forest Hills.

On Way to Swimming Pool He Tried to Cross Tracks.

Third Fatal Accident in Last Two Days.


The third death by accident in the West Roxbury district in the last two days, was that of Thomas John Kevill, the 9-year-old son of Mr and Mrs Patrick J. Kevill of 3512 Washington st, Jamaica Plain, who was killed by a locomotive on the NY, NH & H RR, near the Forest Hills station.

The little fellow, with three companions, Thomas Shea, 9 years old, of 412 Amory st, Andrew Fraser, 11 years old of Lotus pl, and William Bentley of Rosmore road, Jamaica Plain, started yesterday afternoon to go to the meadow land on the west side of the Dedham branch tracks of the railroad, near Forest Hills, known as "Muddy pond," to have a swim.

The four youths were walking on the railroad tracks just south of Forest Hills station, where the Dedham branch tracks form a junction with the main line tracks of the railroad. The New York express was approaching the junction and Kevill's companions ran across the tracks.

One of them shouted to Kevill, "Look out for the train!" He answered: "I'll get across all right." He evidently misjudged the distance and speed of the express train and was struck by the locomotive and thrown 40 feet.

The train was stopped and employes(sic) of the railroad who were near ran to the child to find him dead. His head was terribly crushed.

Mrs Kevill, when seen by a reporter of the Globe, after the accident said that she had cautioned her son not to go to the pond. He was a pupil in the third grade of the Margaret Fuller school on Glen road.

Bussey Brook - Before And After

Bussey brook, Hemlock hill. August, 2007


Bussey brook, February, 2008




Bussey brook storm drain inlet, August, 2007



Storm drain inlet, February, 2008



I've posted several entries on the history of Stony Brook, that mysterious waterway that once ran through the length of Jamaica Plain. When I took pictures of what is left of the brook and its tributaries, it was dry season, and some of those pictures showed dry water beds. Since we had about 2.5 inches of rain yesterday, on top of a light snow cover, I figured that those dry beds should be worth another look today.


Bussey brook passes through the Arnold Arboretum, from Walter street, across the front of Hemlock hill, under South street, where it empties into a wetland in the South street extension of the Arboretum. These before-and-after pictures show the effects of a light snow cover, a day of rain, and temperatures in the low 40s. The brook bed went from dry in August to several inches deep and 4-5 feet across in February.

Where the water finally drains underground, near the West Roxbury/Needham line railroad tracks just south of Forest Hills, the formerly dry drain area was flooded back a few hundred feet, with perhaps a foot of standing water in many places.

This small stream was just one of several contributors to Stony brook as it ran through Jamaica Plain, and should give us some idea of what the people of the past experienced. The watershed was too small to keep a constant flow throughout the year, but would have risen quickly after each heavy rain or thaw. Before the district had been built up, none of this would have mattered, but when buildings and roads went in, the brook would no longer be free to flood its banks, and trouble was inevitable. Unlike the smaller Muddy River, which became protected by a park, Stony brook was too big to ignore, but not large enough to be untouchable. Stony brook was just the right size to suffer the indignity of being buried 30 feet underground and forgotten.

Son Of Mann

Boston Daily Globe May 4, 1896


Horace Mann's Son.

George C. Mann Has for Nearly 20 Years Been a School Principal.


It is fitting that the West Roxbury high school, Jamaica Plain, should especially observe the birthday of Horace Mann.

For nearly 20 years its principal has been Mr George C. Mann, son of him whom all the schools honor today.

Following in the path of his illustrious father, his mind turned to the educational field, and it is but the truth to say that few surpass him as an educator. His extreme modesty alone has kept him from attaining a fame as great as his father's.

The school over which he has presided for so many years is proud, not alone of their principal for the honored name he bears, but for the high worth of the man himself.

To have had the chance to study under him is a privilege which all the graduates of the school are proud to acknowledge.

At present Mr Mann is in Europe, where he had been spending his year's leave of absence. His assistant, Mr Geo. F. Partridge, has had charge of the school this year.

Mr Mann was born in Boston in 1845. His mind leaned toward the practice of law. He graduated from Harvard in the class of 67. After studying law four years he was admitted to the bar in 1871.

Owing to his poor health he was obliged to give up the practice of his profession, and as a relaxation from his work Mr Mann made a voyage to Sicily.

The interest that the father had shown in educational matters began to be manifested in the son, and returning to Cambridge in 1873 he began teaching, which has been his profession ever since.

In 1878 he was appointed principal of the West Roxbury high school, and has remained with the school up to the present time.

He has been an enthusiastic member of the Appalachian mountain club for several years, and was president in 1890. He is also trustee of Milton academy and trustee of public reservations.

In 1891 he edited a new edition of the "Life and Works of Horace Mann," in five volumes.

A brother, Mr B.P. Mann, is in one of the departments in Washington.

A bust of Horace Mann was given to the school by one of the graduating classes a few years ago.

The exercises today will commence about noon. Mrs Julia Ward Howe will make an address and one or two speakers of national fame are expected to speak.

Obituary #9

Boston Daily Globe March 11, 1912

Bailey L. Page Dead. Lifelong Resident of Jamaica Plain and Real Estate Agent Was Friend of Gov Foss.




Bailey L. Page, a lifelong resident of Jamaica Plain, died at his residence, 2 Alveston st, at 1 yesterday morning of a complication of diseases.

Mr Page was born on Green st, Jamaica Plain, in 1850, and received his education in the public schools of this city. For 15 years he was connected with the old hardware firm of Cyrus White. He has conducted a real estate and insurance agency in Woolsey sq. Jamaica Plain, for the past 25 years.

He was a pioneer member of Daniel Hersey Lodge, I.O.O.F., and an organizer of the Central Club of Jamaica Plain. He had been for many years a member of the Jamaica Club, a director of the West Robury Cooperative Bank, and a trustee of the Faulkner Hospital. He was also a member of the Economic Club and the Boston Real Estate Exchange. Mr Page was a near neighbor and a personal friend of Gov Foss.

Mr Bailey never married, but lived with his sister, Miss Mary Page, and a brother, Joseph E. Page, who is connected with the Jamaica Plain branch of the Boston Postoffice, both of whom survive him. He is also survived by two other brothers, Rev Hartland Page of Harkwick, Mass, and John A Page of Evanston, Ill.



April 9, 1912


Fiala Funeral Today. Services for Well-Known Boston Musician to be Held at Forest Hills Cemetery Chapel.




The funeral services of Frank J. Fiala of 84 Paul Gore st, Jamaica Plain, one of the most prominent musicians of Greater Boston, will be held at the Forest Hills Cemetery Chapel this afternoon at 2. Delegates from the Theatrical Mechanics Association, the Bohemian C.S.P.C. Society and the National Slavonic Society will attend and conduct the services. Mr Fiala died Saturday of pneumonia. He was born in Bohemia in 1847. During his entire term of service in the Austrian Army he played in the regimental band. He came to this country 34 years ago. For the past 20 years he had lived in Jamaica Plain.

Mr Fiala had played in almost every theatrical orchestra in the city. He was a member of the Boston Festival Orchestra, the Handel and Hayden Society and other organizations.

Mr Fiala was employed by many of the publishing houses and musical directors as an arranger and copyist of music. He was the official copyist for the Conservatory of Music, and was one of the most competent arranger of music in the country. He is survived by a wife and one daughter, Mrs H.L. Morand.


September 15, 1913

George W. Maloy Dead. Jamaica Plain Resident and Widely Known as an Expert in Shoe Machinery.




George W. Maloy, for more than 20 years a resident of Jamaica Plain, died yesterday morning at his home, 54 Carolina av, Jamaica Plain, after an illness of seven weeks from heart trouble. His early years were spent in East Boston and he was a member of the Catholic Lyceum and the Columbia Rowing Association.

He was a graduate of the English High School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, class of '73. After leaving Tech eh was in the shoe machinery business for many years. At the time of his death he as assistant treasurer and European manager of the Boylston Manufacturing company. Mr Maloy was one of the best informed men in the world on shoe machine matters, and had travelled very extensively in this country and Europe.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs Gertrude B. Maloy, one brother, James D. Maloy, and two sisters, Miss Mary E. Maloy and Mrs A.S. Murphy.

Mr Sweetzer and Mr Bancroft

Sidney & Smith, 1852 (copyright © 2000 by Cartography Associates.)
David Rumsey Collection

[H. Sweetzer appears on the map above in the lower left quadrant, just above the bold letter B. The house seems to have been across from today's Faulker Hospital on Centre street.]


The few times I've found mentions of African-Americans in Jamaica Plain in these pre-1924 newspaper archives, it has generally been when they were accused of a crime. Although I think that it is of historical interest that African-Americans lived in the community during these years, I haven't posted any of the articles because of the obviously unbalanced picture they portray. In this case, I think the date of the event makes the articles worth reproducing. This is the first dated reference I've found to a named African-American in Jamaica Plain that post-dates the presence of slaves in the community. The fact that black people could only make the newspaper when they were accused of crimes says more about the newspapers and their readers than about the people themselves. If John Bancroft had gone about his business and never met Henry Sweetzer, we would never have known his name. As it is, we know that he and his wife lived somewhere in Jamaica Plain, and that he did odd jobs for the local gentry. Maybe someone somewhere knows more about him; where he came from, and how he came to be in rural West Roxbury, when African-Americans in Boston were limited to living in a segregated community on the back side of Beacon Hill.



New York Daily Times September 2, 1856


News from Boston.

Ferocious And Probably Fatal Assault


On Saturday, Mr. Henry Sweetzer, a wealthy gentleman, residing at Jamaica Plain, called at the house of John Bancroft, a colored man, to engage him to do some work, and finding Bancroft intoxicated and abusing his wife, he remonstrated, where upon Bancroft strick him with a piece of iron with so much violence that no hopes are entertained of Mr Sweetzer's recovery. Bancroft fled and has not been arrested.


September 4, 1856


The Murderous Assault At Jamaica Plain.

Mr. Henry Sweetzer, whose skull was fractured by being struck with an iron crane by John Bancroft, a negro, on Saturday afternoon, lingered till this morning, when he expired. Mr. Sweetzer was a gentleman of about 64 years of age, and had held several town offices. He had acquired a fine property by active business in this city, but retired to spend the closing years of his life on his own estate. The negro who committed the assault came home on Sunday evening and delivered himself up to the authorities, by whom he was immediately carried to Dedham Jail. He said that he did not know what he was about at the time he did the deed. He was maddened by liquor and did not even know who the person was whom he struck. However true this statement may be, he is evidently a very dangerous character.-- Boston Traveller, 2d.

No Fire, No Food

Those of us born after the New Deal need to be reminded occasionally how devastating the loss of a breadwinner could be. Turn of the century Jamaica Plain was a place of dances and amateur theatricals, but it was a place of poverty as well.



Boston Daily Globe December 13, 1902

No Fire, No Food. Mother and Family of Seven in Want. Deserving Woman in Jamaica Plain Pleaded for a Hod of Coal. Happiness Brought to a Home Filled With Dispair.


A citizen occupying a responsible postition under the government visited the Globe office yesterday and told a story of destitution and suffering that came under his notice. The relation of the hardships undured, he hoped, might come to the nobice of some one who would be able to render assistance to a deserving family.

About 9 on one of the recent bitterly cold nights, he said, his doorbell rang. The ring was answered by a member of the family, who, after an absence of a couple of minutes returned, and asked him if he could not spare a hod of coal for a family that was without fire. Seeking the reason for such a request from a stranger, he brought the latter into the sitting room.

She was a woman, poorly clad, and shivering with cold. She told her tale, and again begged for a little coal to make a fire for her seven children, and offered to work to pay for it. The story of the condition of the family was more than the listener could stand without being moved, and taking a bag he filled it from his coal bin and shouldered it himself.

The woman, who was Mrs Gately, led him to the rear of 6 School st, Jamaica Plain, where on the second floor she lived with her family. There he found only cold and want. The seven children, four boys - the oldest 14 years, and the youngest 2 years - and three girls, one a baby and the others 5 and 10 years, were waiting for the mother's return. The condition of the house confirmed the mother's story of the family destitution.

There was a stove, but no fire; dishes, but no food to put on them. The fire was soon lighted, and the children crowded around the stove to get warm. The benefactor slipped out, and again returned with food, and there was a new happiness for the little ones, which they did not fail to express loudly. Leaving the family in the midst of their rejoicing, the good samaritan returned to his own cheerful home.

Since then he has interested several persons in the family. Their condition he has learned is not due to any neglect on the part of the mother. Some months ago the father became insane, and was removed to an asylum. The mother has since kept her family together by going out washing, and bringing in home work such as she could secure. The family got along fairly well until the cold came. Then the children whose clothes had been warn since the head of the family had been lost to them, began to suffer from want of the warm garments he had used to provide, but which the mother could not now procure from her small earnings.

Even food became scarse, and the little ones had not even the warmth that a full meal gives. They did not complain, however, until the intense cold drove the mother to ask coal from the house where she had seen a load delivered. To the sympathetic the citizen says that clothing for the children and work for the mother are what is most needed. With work she can provide for her children and keep them together until, as she and they hope, one day the father will return sound in mind to again keep his family beyond the reach of want.

Obituary #8

Boston Daily Globe May 3, 1911


Dies Calling Doctor.

Mrs Grace A. Bradshaw, a Clerk in the Service of the U.S. District Court, Falls at Telephone.


While telephoning for a doctor, Mrs Grace A. Bradshaw, one of the trusted clerks in the service of the U.S. district court, dropped dead yesterday at her home, 17 Seaverns av, Jamaica Plain.

Mrs Bradshaw was born in Nashua, N.H. about 48 years ago. She was the widow of Edward H. Bradshaw. Upon the passage of the bankruptcy act in 1898 she was appointed a clerk in the U.S. district court, where she has since served. She is survived by her father and mother, Mr and Mrs John F. Benson, with whom she made her home.



June 23, 1911


Dr E. Peabody Gerry Dead.

Expires Suddenly at His Farm in Phillipston -- Long Prominent In Civic Affairs.


Dr E. Peabody Gerry of Jamaica Plain, alderman in 1900 and 1901, and republican candidate for the mayoralty nomination in 1903, died suddenly yesterday on his farm in Phillipston, where he had gone a few days ago in excellent health.

He was born in Standish Me, in 1846, son of a Unitarian minister, spent his early boyhood in New York city and his youth and later life in this city. He went to the Eliot and Mayhew schools, won a Franklin medal, went to Boston Latin and graduated at Dartmouth in 1869.

He taught school and was master of the high school at Hudson for a year,then entered Harvard medical school, graduating in 1874. Not long afterward he settled in Jamaica Plain. He was a Mason and for years took an active part in all movements for the civic improvement of the district in which he lived. During Mayor Hibbard's administration Dr Gerry investigated the milk situation.

The funeral will be held Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at the home, 2 Everett st, Jamaica Plain, where the body was brought late yesterday.



July 21, 1911


Funeral Of T.C. McCarthy


Lodge Delegations Attend Services for Jamaica Plain Man in Church of Our Lady of Lourdes.


A large company of friends and relatives from near and far, including representatives of several fraternal organizations, attended the funeral of Timothy c. McCarthy of Jamaica Plain yesterday at the church of Our Lady of Lourdes.


Rev Fr O'Riordan officiated, assisted by Rev frs Golden and Curry. The bearers were Eugene O'Neil, John O'Neil, Cornelius Clifford,and Michael Sullivan. Burial was at St Joseph's cemetery.

Mr McCarthy, who died Tuesday aged 38, was a native of Ireland and had lived in Jamaica Plain about 25 years. He leaves two sisters, three brothers and a mother, who still lives in Ireland. He was a member of the Foresters, aerie 45, Fraternal Order of Eagles, local 77, A.F. of L., and Boston nest of Owls.

Forest Hills Hospital

Taken from a post card, thanks to Ebay.



There are a few topics that I've been holding on to, hoping to develop enough information to write a worthwhile article. One of them has been the Forest Hills Hospital. I've seen the facility on maps, and I've found a few passing mentions online, but it was only recently that I happened upon the article posted below. The location seems like a great place for a hospital, sitting as it does at a transportation hub. The access is certainly better than for the Faulkner hospital, with its one bus line and no on-street parking. I still don't have the story of the hospital, but this post will serve as a start, and maybe someone will leave a comment to fill in the greater story that I still don't know.

This map shows the property in 1874, undeveloped and owned by Jacob Seaver. Look along Morton street, very near to Washington street and the Forest Hills train station.

In 1905, the lot had been divided up, with homes owned by Jacob Seaver, Thomas Minton, and Seaver & Weld Trustees.

By 1914, the hospital shows up, in the former Seaver house.

Finally, in 1924, the hospital has a new brick building on adjacent land, directly behind the new West Roxbury courthouse.

So I don't know when the hospital opened, or when it closed, but I've got some of the middle bits. Better than nothing.


Edit: I've decided to put some new information in this entry, rather than create a new one. I had seen a reference to an Emerson Hospital and suspected that it was the same as the Forest Hills facility. Here is an early reference to the same institution under the Emerson name. Dr Shadman shows up online as a homeopathic doctor. Mass. Memorial Hospital also shows up as a homeopathic facility in its early incarnation, and apparently became part of the Boston University medical school. I can't sort out the relationship yet, so I'll leave the B.U. connection for now.

6/08: I just found the above picture on Ebay.


Boston Daily Globe December 9, 1913


Restrained From Taking New Patients

Emerson Hospital Order Issued by Court.

On Petition of Dr Shadman, Who Has Leased the Property.


Judge Jenney in Superior Court yesterday restrained the Emerson Hospital on Morton st, Forest Hills, from taking any more patients while at its present house, on a bill filed by Dr Alonzo J. Shadman, who had leased the property.

Dr Shadman was a director in the corporation, but sold his interests. He was denied the privilege later of bringing in or treating patients there. He then arranged to least the property, and when he did, he notified the corportation to vacate the premises, but it has continued to stay there. Dr Shadman said he could not evict them because it would be dangerous to the patients. He intends to conduct a hospital on the premises.



The Citizen December 19, 1946


Mass. Memorial Hospitals Buy Forest Hills General


Massachusetts Memorial Hospitals announced this week purchase of the property of the Forest Hills General Hospital for use as a pavilion for private patients.

Staff physicians of Massachusetts Memorial Hospitals, it was explained, have experienced increasing difficulty in finding room for private patients, so purchase of this property was made to meet more immediately the need than would be possible through the prolonged process of erecting a new building.

Comtemplated plans include changes in partitioning and installation of adequate plumbing facilities to provide accommodations for 116 additional private and semi-private patients.

Massachusetts Memorial Hospitals now consist of Talbot Memorial, used as an outpatient department; Robinson Memorial, erected in 1916; Coliamore Memorial, erected in 1936; Evans Memorial, new building erected in 1942, all of which are contiguous and house inpatients. The other division is the Hayes Memorial, contagious disease unit, Brighton, which has (?50) bed capacity.

With the new private pavilion, the patient capacity of the entire institution will number 566 beds, including 45 bassinets.

Obituary #7

Boston Daily Globe


November 2, 1910


Mrs M.E. Gallivan Dead.

Married Less Than a Year Ago She Passes Away of Typhoid Fever at Home in Jamaica Plain.


Mary E. Gallivan, wife of Timothy A. Gallivan, President of Adams, Taylor & Co., 191 State st, died at her home, 290 South st, Jamaica Plain, last evening after a short illness of typhoid fever.

Mrs Gallivan, who was married to Mr Gallivan, brother of Street Commissioner James A. Gallivan, a little less than one year ago, was born in Marlboro, and after attending the public schools of that city removed with her parents, Mr and Mrs David Nugent, to Dorchester, where she became engaged in social and church work. She was a graduate of the Marlboro high schol and the Framingham normal school.

The funeral will be held tomorrow morning with a requium high mass at St Thomas' church, Jamaica Plain, at 9. The burial, which will be in Marlboro, will be private.



January 16, 1911


F.L. Hitchcock Dead.

Letter carrier at Jamaica Plain Post-Office for More That a Score of Years.


Frank L. Hitchcock, for more than a score of years a carrier at the Jamaica Plain postoffice, died this morning at his home, 12 Thomas st. Although Mr Hitchcock had been in poor health for the past two years, the immediate cause of his death was pneumonia. The funeral services will be held Wednesday.

Mr Hancock was born April 19, 1858, in the old Gov Eustis mansion in Robury. He received his education in the public schools, and shortly after his graduation entered a Boston business house. When a young man he went to the Pacific coast, and there was married to Miss Cora Hale of Port Madison, Wash.

A year or two later he returned to Boston and entered the postal service. For a while he was at the central office, and then was shifted to station A. He remained there only a short time, however, being sent to the Jamaica Plain station, where he has been ever since. That was just 21 years ago this month

Mr Hitchcock was a member of Daniel Hersey lodge, I.O.O.F., and was actively connected with the letter carriers' association.

He leaves his wife and seven children, Frederick, William, Susan, Henry, Francis, Wesley and Alice, the latter just 4 years old. He has two sisters, Mrs Carrie Benson of Bernard, Me, and Mrs Susan Benson of West Somerville. His brother is Fred Hitchcock of Newton.


April 16, 1911


John L. McKenzie Dead.

Was Employe(sic) of the Globe for 30 Years and Held Many Positions of Trust.


John Liberty McKenzie, one of the oldest employes of the Globe composing room died at 3:30 yesterday afternoon at his home, 155 Amory st, Jamaica Plain, after an illness of about one year.

Mr McKenzie was born in Chicago 54 years ago, and came to Boston about 1881, going to work for the Globe, where he has remained ever since. He was a skillful and conscientious workman, and not only was he true to every trust that was reposed in him, but his judgement was so superior, and his charity was so genuine and well placed, that his fellow-workmen looked to him for frequent counsel and reposed in him many of the greater responsibilities.

Mr McKenzie was a member of Boston typographical union 18, Franklin typographical society, Boston Globe relief society, Hobab lodge, I.O.O.F., of Dorchester; Mendell brotherhood of Boylston Congregational church of Jamaica Plain, and the Globe savings fund and loan association, of which he was for many years treasurer. He took especial delight in his connection with the Boston singing club and with the church choir.

He leaves a wife and daughter, to both of whom he was greatly devoted. His mother, MRs Marie Soboda, and a younger brother of Cedar Rapids, Ia, also survive him.

Funeral from residence, 155 Amory st, Jamaica Plain, at 2 p.m. Monday. Services at Boylston Congregational church, corner Boylston and Amory sts at 2:30.

Table Gossip

The following are entries taken from the Boston Globe society column over a ten year period. Table Gossip consisted of the comings and goings of the smart set - weddings, trips to coastal vacation homes, ladies' visits, and little advertisements sneaked in. I chose these entries as having some kind of interest, and as somewhat representative. Scanning the weekly articles for occurrences of "Jamaica Plain" was tedious, and no doubt I missed some items of interest.




Table Gossip


July 1, 1883

Mr Horace P. Chandler of Jamaica Plain will sail for the Azores in July.


Mr William H. Goodwin's new cottage at Gerrish island (Kittery Me.) is all ready for occupancy, and his family will remove thither from Jamaica Plain at once.

[The Goodwins lived at the corner of Centre and May streets, opposite today's St Clare's monastery. I assume that it was the same William Goodwin who had previously owned a house on Carolina avenue where the Agassiz school now sits. Previous entries on the Carolina/Murphy playground show the location of the house, which became the Susan Weld House, later the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Association. ]


August 5, 1883


Two woman physicians in Jamaica Plain ride tricycles.

[Some entries are cryptic, no?]


October 21, 1883


Mr and Mrs John W. White were in Philadelphia last week, at the Bingham.

The Eliot Club of Jamaica Plain held a meeting on Monday evening. An essay on the political duties of young men was read by Mr Charles Follen Atkinson and a little supper followed.

The archery prize at the fall meeting of the Hittormiss Club at Jamaica Plain was won by Miss Charlotte Bowditch, with a score of seventy-two at fifty yards. Miss Goodwin, of the same club, recently won the first prize for ladies' singles at a meeting of the famous Staten Island club.


July 27, 1884


Mr Paul F.Folsom of Jamaica Plain has rented Miss Sara Jewett's picturesque cottage at Pigeon Cove, which he will occupy until late autumn. Miss Jewett's professional engagements will keep her on the road during the rest of the season.

Mr Charles F. Farrington of Jamaica Plain went last Saturday to New York to see his friends Mr Arthur and Mr Richard H. Gorham off for Europe. Mr Farrington himself will sail the early part of August.

Mrs Edwin Reed of Lakeville place, Jamaica Plain, is at Lake George.

[A commenter has informed me thatSara Orne Jewett was a popular author of the day.]


July 5, 1885


Dr. E.P. Gerry of Jamaica Plain and Mrs. Gerry have gone to Mount Desert for a couple of weeks.


August 23, 1885


Mrs Ella M. Jones of Jamaica Plain and Miss Marguerita Hones are at Cedar cottage, Bethlehem, N.H.


September 6, 1885


Robert C. Winthrop, Jr., with his family is occupying Dr. George Faulkner's house at Jamaica Plain, where he will remain until Dr. Faulkner returns from his summer home at Falmouth the last of October.

[That is the Dr Faulkner, later memorialized by the hospital.]


October 25, 1885


The wedding of Miss Ada Dickson and Mr. George Edward Brigham will take place at Mrs. Dickson's house, in Warren square, Jamaica Plain, Wednesday night at 8 o'clock. Mr. and Mrs. Brigham will be at home Wednesdays in December at 13 Warren square.

[The Dickson house still stands at Warren square on Green street. Memories of the house are detailed in the reminiscences of Ada's daughter Margherita.]


October 14, 1888


Mr. and Mrs. A. Davis Weld, Jr., and Miss Helen C. Weld of Forest Hills street, Jamaica Plain, sailed from Liverpool for New York yesterday on the Etruria, having been abroad in Europe since May. They are accompanied by Miss Helen Prescott of New Bedford.



October 28, 1888


Miss Gertrude B. Davis of Robeson street, Jamaica Plain, has returned from Brunswick, Me., where she has been visiting Miss Grace Chandler.


July 28, 1889


The family of Dr. Joseph Steadman of Jamaica Plain are at their cottage at Falmouth.

Mr. C. Tennant Lee of Jamaica Plain was at Williamstown, Mass., last week.


October 20, 1889


The renovated Eliot Hall at Jamaica Plain has been purchased by an association of gentlemen and ladies, and is to be managed by Messers. R.M. Morse, Jr., A. David Weld and T.B. Ticknor as trustees. It will be let out for private parties, and the Footlight Club will lease it for their performances.


December 8, 1889


Mr. Francis Parkman and Miss Parkman closed their country home at Jamaica Plain yesterday and are at home at 60 Chestnut street for the winter.


September 28, 1890


Mr. Quincy A. Shaw, Jr., returned last Sunday on the Umbria from his very successful tennis season in England. He is at his father's home on the borders of Jamaica Pond.


Mr. J. Alba Davis and family of Robeson st., Jamaica Plain, have left Nonquit, and are now at Princeton, Mass.


October 19, 1890


A very pretty german was given by Miss Grace Chandler of Jamaica Plain last evening at the handsome home of the family at Brunswick Me. The guests were received by Mrs. Dr. Alfred Mitchell and Mrs. Prof. S.J. Young. One of the prettiest of the german figures has the flower figure, which is greatly indebted to Galvin's Russian violets, carnations, and chrysanthemums for its really charming effect. The german was led by Miss Chandler's brother, with Mrs. James Baxter.


[So what was "a german"? I find similar references to turn of the century social events, but none define the term.]


One of the largest and handsomest receptions of the spring season was that held by Mrs. Horace P. Chandler and her daughter, Miss Grace Chandler, at their new house on Forest Hills st, Jamaica Plain, Friday afternoon, from 4 to 7. The beauty of the day made the drive into the suburbs especially pleasant, and a good proportion of the 800 guests availed themselves of the opportunity thus agreeably offered. The whole house, which has only been occupied since Christmas, was thrown open and each room came in for its share of admiration. It is one of the most artistic, completely appointed and attractive of the suburban residences. Mrs. Chandler, assisted by her daughter, received in the drawing room, while Mr. Chandler stood in the library opposite. Miss Chandler looked very charming in pale blue crepe, embroidered in colors, and held a bunch of forget-me-nots. Miss E.M. Chandler of Beacon st. and Mrs. C.W. Copeland presided at the tea table, the decorations of which were yellow.


[The Chandler home was at the northwest corner of Forest Hills street and Glen road.]


Miss Jennie Brown gave a musicale at her mother's house, on Morton st., Jamaica Plain, Friday afternoon, at which a number of her pupils played, and Mr. Wulf Fries and Master Storer of the church of the Advent choir assisted. Mrs. Bowditch, Miss Gould, Miss Davis, Miss Barker and Miss Carrie Jameson's contributions were most acceptably rendered. A large company of Miss Brown's and her pupil's friends were present.



June 7, 1891


The marriage of Miss Dolly Frothingham of Jamaica Plain and Mr. Arthur Johnson of Commonwealth av., whose engagement was announced last week, will take place early in September, the young couple sailing for Europe immediately after.

Hey... That's Me!

Bromley, 1924 (BPL)

The picture on top was taken around 1959-60. I'm in the middle, and I think one of the Schatz boys - Jacky or Ricky - is on the left. I can't place the boy on the right yet. We are posed between the end of Spalding street and the railroad embankment. You can see the embankment sloping up in the back right, with the top of one of the oil tanks that still sit on Washington street opposite the Arborway MBTA yard just showing itself. I suspect the tree we are standing in front of was a crab apple. They seemed to thrive along the embankment going towards McBride street, and I distinctly remember being unable to resist temptation and eating a few. And becoming sick as a dog, exactly as I had been warned.

To the right and out of view was the Hood Milk distribution plant, where big trucks brought in product from the dairy and smaller trucks departed deliver it.[Note: the map above (added 7/2008) shows the facility much as I remember it, at the end of Anson st. Below the "ST" of "ANSON ST" there's a long wood frame building with an "X" through it that may have been a stable for the horses and wagons]. It's hard - no, impossible - to imagine the truck traffic coming and going on little one-way Anson street today. I've read that the trucks were made by Divco, and were tricky to drive. The delivery trucks were kept in a brick garage that is still there, on South street, directly opposite Anson. This map from 1924 shows that Hood was already at the location at the time, and also shows the empty lot where the picture was taken. That lot, always overgrown with weeds, is where I caught bees and grasshoppers in jars - classic boy stuff. The map also shows a Percy street, which disappeared into a turn-around lot for Hoods. The park that runs through the area is certainly much more attractive than the patchwork asphalt and broken glass that once filled the area, and the railroad embankment was nothing to look at either. Still, I'm sure it was a playground for generations of kids from Anson, Spalding, Rosemary and Hall streets.

Other families on Spalding street? The Schatz kids lived in the same house as us at 17, The Perrin family was next door - probably 15, and the Hoyts lived across from us - I remember Raymond and Elaine Hoyt, and there was a baby as well. My father used to go hunting with Leon Perrin, and one of the older girls was my babysitter. Years later, long after we had moved away. I met Mary Ann Perrin while we were in high school. My mother stayed friendly with the Hoyts, exchanging Christmas cards and occasional visits over the years. The only other family I remember is the Bariskys (spelling?). Bobby was near my age, and I think they were Ukranian. That's my Spalding street brain dump - 47 years is just too much to do any better.

Capt Robert B. Forbes

Robert Forbes began life in Jamaica Plain, but apparently he didn't stay for long. As was common in his day, he entered the working world at an early age, under the auspices of his uncles, the Perkins brothers. After serving in the family company, he went on to an illustrious career in public service, being responsible for setting up coast guard lifeboats along the coast and lakes. His method for rigging sails became standard in the industry, and his role in bringing food to Ireland during the potato famine - see here - was celebrated in his day. The story of the Perkins brother's enterprise deserves its own entry, soon to come.

You can visit the Forbes House in Milton - formerly the China Trade Museum.


New York Times November 24, 1889


Robert B. Forbes Dead.


Capt Robert B. Forbes, who died yesterday at his residence in Milton, Mass., was one of the old merchants of Boston, and was closely identified with the shipping interests of days gone by. He was born at Jamaica Plain in 1804, and began his career on the sea at an early age, making a voyage to Europe in a little topsail schooner when only six years old. The vessel was captured by a British frigate. At the age of thirteen Capt Forbes went to sea before the mast, having been for a time in the store of his uncles, James and Thomas H. Perkins of Foster's Wharf, and he made his first voyage to China.

At the age of twenty he was Captain of one of his Uncle's ships, and the next year, 1825, he went to San Francisco, where not a house could be seen on the beach. During the first ten years of his seagoing life he was not on shore more than six months. His connection with the China trade was a leading feature of his experience, and when about thirty years old he retired from the sea and became a merchant. After retiring from his roving sea life he settled down and married, and for the next four years he lived on Temple-place, Boston, having for his next-door neighbor his uncle, Thomas H. Perkins.

Capt Forbes met with heavy reverses in the crisis of 1837, and to retrieve his fortunes again went to China. He arrived at Hong-Kong when the affairs of foreign merchants were in a serious condition, and shortly after his arrival he and his associates were imprisoned for five weeks. He was finally released, and carried on his business at Canton when the English merchants shut up their factories, exchanging goods for tea. When it was seen that the British Government was likely to blockade Canton and bring the Chinese to terms, Capt. Forbes and his partners in the firm, Russell & Co., of which he was a member, pushed their business and secured handsome profits.

In 1840 Capt. Forbes went back to Boston with a large fortune. The next year he visited Europe, and on returning home again, for the nine years following engaged in commerce at home. In 1849 he went to China again, and on the voyage saved several lives, for which he was presented with a medal by the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society. Lloyd's Shipwreck Society of London, and the Massachusetts Humane Society. One of his conspicuous acts was his aid to the sufferers of the Irish famine of 1846-7, when the United States Government sent him out in command of the frigate Jamestown. In 1858 he went on a Government expedition to the Pacific ocean. In the civil war he organized the coast guard. He was one of the founders of the Sailor's Snub Harbor and was the inventor of the "Forbes Rig." He wrote many articles on sea-faring matters.

Green Street - High Crime Area

For some reason, Green street in the 1850s shows up in the crime department again. The school in question was probably the one that predated the Bowditch at the same location. You can see an 1874 map showing the school here. Look near the upper left.


New York Daily Times October 10, 1856


Highway Robbery -- Assault Of A School Teacher In The Daytime In Jamaica Plain.


Miss Caroline F. Atherton, a teacher in the Primary School on Green-street, Jamaica Plain, while proceeding to her school from her residence, was attacked by four young men and a boy, pushed down and robbed of her gold watch and chain, valued at $100. Miss Atherton cried "Stop thief!" and was heard by Mr Whiting B. Davis, who was at work on the Railroad near the Depot. Mr. Davis immediately pursued two of the young rascals and the boy. The other two escaped with the watch and chain. Miss Atherton was not injured. The boy was detained at the Almshouse, and the two young men locked up. -- Boston Journal.

The Spanish Teacher's (Mis)Adventure

This is a short entry, but hardly without interest. Putting aside the action-movie event itself, we learn that you could learn Spanish in a school of 1852 Jamaica Plain. I think we can assume that it was a private school for the elite of the community, but it shows that the town was not a rural backwater at the time. On the other hand, it certainly is curious that the injured man was taken into Boston. Why couldn't he have a broken leg set in Jamaica Plain? We always seem to have more questions than answers around here.


New York Daily Times August 11, 1852


Serious Accident


On Saturday morning, a gentleman, named S.C. Bello, took passage in the cars of the Providence Depot for Jamaica Plains(sic). On arriving at his place of destination, he jumped off the cars before the train had stopped. He was thrown violently against the platform, and rolled back under the cars. By almost superhuman eforts, he succeeded in pushing himself from the wheels, and rolled upon the other track. This movement only brought him into new danger -- for a train was rapidly approaching in an opposite direction. The bystanders saw his imminent peril, and, at the risk of their lives, jumped upon the track, and succeeded in removing him from his precarious situation. He was immediately conveyed in the return train to Boston, and thence taken to the house of Capt. Pendleton, Fourth-street, South Boston. On examination, it was found that his leg was broken about four inches from the thigh bone. The leg was properly set by Dr. Thaxter. Mr. Bello is a Cuban, and a distinguished teacher of Spanish, and was on his way to instruct a class at Jamaica Plains, when the accident occurred. [Boston Transcript]

Daniel Hagar - Teacher, Principal And Advocate

As noted in the Reminiscences of Jamaica Plain, 1845-1875, By Miss Ellen Morse, Daniel Hagar was a teacher and Principal at the Eliot school during the 1800s. The street named in his honor runs between Thomas and Eliot street, just a short block from the school. I lived nearby for 10 years, and on the empty corner lot at Thomas and Hagar there is still a tree that I spent many hours climbing during the early '60s. The McGraths, Glynns and Hogans all lived on the short stretch, making at least 10 children within about three or four house lots. That's why they call it the Baby Boom.

Returning from the street to the man, Mr Hagar seems to have been an active and noble gentleman, working hard for the education of the poor and working people. It's nice that they named a street after him, but it's a shame that the man was forgotten. He certainly deserves to be remembered as much as any Jamaica Pond estate owner.


New York Daily Times August 24, 1857


American Institute of Instruction

Manchester, N.H., Thursday, Aug. 20

Third Day.


The meeting of the Institute was opened to day with prayer by Rev W.L. Gage, of this city. The first subject presented for discussion was "The relative merits of Public High Schools and Endowed Schools."

D.B. Hagar, Esq., of Jamaica Plains, very ably contended for public high schools. He said the same arguments could be applied in their favor which are applied in favor of free common schools. It is not practicable to establish endowed schools everywhere where schools of a high grade are needed. The poor man has as good a right as the rich man to have his child educated, and it is indispensable for public interest that his right should be regarded. To give these facilities to the poor and to all alike, the schools must be near and distributed properly throughout the land. In some respects endowed schools are an injury, since in one community may be found munificently endowed schools by the benevolence of certain wealthy persons, while in a neighboring community there may be no such wealthy and benevolent individuals, and therefore the people and therefore the people, in view of the difference of their positions, become disheartened, and the interests in education are neglected. He had known such cases. Mr Hagar's remarks showed an intimate acquaintance with the subject, and were received with marked attention and interest.

[excerpt from a larger article]

A Tangled Web - Or Fogg's Folly

Estate of A. G. Bigelow, scene of the crime.



Does the name Amy Fisher ring a bell? How about Buttafucco? Seems like the more things change, the more they stay the same. I would love to know what happened to the unwise Patrolman Fogg.



Boston Daily Globe December 29, 1885


With A Monkey-Wrench.

The Wife of a Police Officer Nearly Murdered by a Woman -- Robbery Evidently the Motive.


A curious case of assault, in which the motive was evidently robbery, took place at Jamaica Plain last evening. Luckiny the victim was not seriously injured, and the plans of the assailant were frustrated.

Mr. Alanson Bigelow, Jr., owns on Pond street, near Myrtle, Jamaica Plain, an elegant mansion. He lives at Magnolia, and during his absence Mr. Charles W. Fogg and his wife have been intrusted with their care and protection. Mr. Fogg is a police officer attached to Division 13.

Between 9 and 9:30 last evening, the door bell rang, and Mrs. Fogg, who was alone in the house at the time, went to the door, where she found a woman whom she describes as about the medium size, dark complexion, dressed in black clothes and hat, and who wore her hair crimped over her forehead. She asked if Mr. Fogg was at home, and upon receiving a negative reply, said that she came to see him in regard to some person whom Mr. Fogg had helped to move, and she wanted to secure his help again. She then asked permission to go to the water closet. By this means she got access to the hallway, and no sooner was she inside the house than she drew from beneath her shawl a large sized monkey-wrench, and struck Mrs. Fogg a terrible blow over the head. A scuffle followed, during which Mrs. Fogg got the wrench away from the woman, who finally got it back again, striking Mrs. Fogg three more blows and inflicting four severe scalp wounds. The woman then made her escape, leaving her shawl and the wrench behind her, both of which are now in the hands of the police.

Neighbors who hears Mrs. Fogg's cries for assistance raised an alarm, and soon Sergeant McBryan and Patrolmen McMorrow and Watts were at the scene, and began an investigation. Dr. Broughton was called to attend the injured lady,and sewed up the wounds in her head. At a late hour she was comfortable, and will undoubtedly speedily recover from the effects of the assault. Robbery is the only motive that the police can suggest.





New York Times January 1, 1886


Pleasant For Patrolman Fogg.


Boston, Mass., Dec. 31. -- Annie H. McGregor, who was arrested last night on suspicion of having committed the murderous assault upon Mrs. Angeline Fogg, wife of Patrolman Fogg, of Jamaica Plain Station, made a full confession this morning. The cause of the attempted murder was jealousy, the McGregor woman station that Fogg had kept company with her for the past two years. Mrs. Fogg was assaulted by the McGregor woman with a monkey-wrench in her house on Monday night last, and the attack was a most vicious one.

Dedication Of The Soldier's Monument

No reason for me to type out this one - you can download or read online the dedication ceremony for the Soldier's Monument at Centre and South streets, held on September 14, 1871.

Henry D. Morse, Diamond Man

The Boston Directory of 1885 tells us that Henry D. Morse lived at the corner of Pond and Myrtle streets in Jamaica Plain, and an 1874 fire insurance map locates the house at number 44 Pond street.

New York Times January 4, 1888


The Pioneer Lapidary.

Death Of H.D. Morse, The Well-Known Dealer In Diamonds.




Boston, Jan. 3. -- Henry D. Morse, the pioneer of the diamond cutting industry in this country, died at his home at Jamaica Plain, Boston, Sunday, at the age of 62. In early life, he learned the engraver's trade, and afterward became a jeweler. He turned his attention to diamond cutting in 1861, shortly after the great yield of the South African diamond fields had been disclosed. Mr B.S. Pray of this city was then engaged in the African trade, and brought some rough stones to this country with the idea of competing with foreign countries. Mr Morse became associated with Mr Pray, and with the former's skill and the latter's money the business of diamond cutting was a reality in America before the year was ended. The undertaking was a bold one, and the importers and dealers in precious stones all over the country looked upon the experimental industry with distrust and alarm. The business was started under the name of the Morse Diamond Cutting Company, Mr Morse superintending all the work. It was necessary to employ dutch experts at first in the work of cutting and polishing and whenever they were secured they maintained the same secrecy respecting their art as in their own country, and the same dictatorial spirit toward their employers and the world in general. Mr Morse learned the secrets of the art and taught it to American boys surreptitiously in an adjoining suburb, and when the foreigners struck Mr Morse was ready to fill their places with hands who together with himself were enabled to continue the business without any serious interruption.

In the year 1869 Mr Morse established his fame as the great diamond cutter of his time by his skill in the case of a 50-carat stone found in Manchester, nearly opposite Richmond, va. Lapidaries who worked at it in the rough expressed the opinion that it would be almost impossible to obtain a first-water stone of any size whatever from the original gem, but that it would be better to cut it into smaller fragmentary crystals. Mr Morse was interested with the work of cutting it, and by skillful and adroit manipulation and study of the las of light and geometrical relations he produced one of the most brilliant 12-carat diamonds. It was owned by John Morrissey when he died and subsequently it into the posession of the late Alvin Adams of the Adams Express compnay. Mr Morse also invented a cutting and polishing machine, which did away in a great measure with the tediousnes and inaccuracy of the old manual process. The firm of crosby, Morse & Foss, jewelers and diamond cutters, was formed, but in 1875 the firm dissolved, and Mr Morse established himself a dealer in diamonds and gems and diamond cutter. Last year Mr Morse engaged in busines again with his old partner, Mr C.D. Foss, under the firm name of H.D. Morse & C.D. Foss.

Home Invasion - 1853 Style

I found these three articles in the New York Times. The Times published articles taken from Boston newspapers by citation and over the telegraph lines. Colonel Fessenden was a graduate of West Point, first and foremost an engineering school, and a logical place to look for men to plan routes for railroad tracks. I knew I had seen the name before, and I found him mentioned in the Annals and Reminiscences of Jamaica Plain, 1897, by Harriet Manning Whitcomb, which you can read here.

We don't get the end of the story, but we do get the dramatic bits below.




New York Daily Times January 7, 1853


Daring Burglary At Jamaica Plains(sic) - Courageous Attack Upon The Robbers.

At about 2 o'clock on Tuesday morning, the dwelling of Col Fessenden, the well known Railroad Engineer, was the scene of a burglary of a most unexampled character. The house of Mr Fessenden is situated in a secluded lane, Green-st., Jamaica Plains, at a considerable distance from any other house, and in the vicinity of woods. The house was entered by four burglars, through the lower windows. The lower part of the house was thoroughly ransacked, and silver plate and other articles, all to the value of several hundred dollars, were gathered together.

The robbers then proceeded to the chambers, probably with the object of obtaining the money of the sleeping inmates. They first tried the door of the chamber of the eldest son of Mr Fessenden, 17 or 18 years of age. The young man was awakened by the noise made by the robbers in entering, jumped out of bed and cried out for help, but the robbers immediately seized him, and without any unnecessary violence, securely tied him.

The first noise from the son had, however, awakened the father, who came out of his room and confronted and courageously attacked the robbers, although there were four to one, and were also armed with pistols. A melee ensued, in which a pistol was fired, without however, injuring Mr Fessenden, and no trace of a ball could afterwards be found, it is doubtful if the pistol contained anything but powder. Mr Fessenden succeeded in wrenching a pistol from one of the robbers, but was afterwards knocked down, trampled upon and bruised, though not seriously injured.

The wife of Mr Fessenden and his two daughters were standing on the stairs, spectators of this deadly struggle between the husband and father, and his ruffianly opponents, but were not, of course, capable of rendering material assistance. It is stated that the wife raised a window and cried out for help, and was only silenced by a pistol placed at her head by one of the robbers, with a threat to blow out her brains if she did not keep quiet, but our informant, who had the facts from one of the family, does not confirm the statement.

After the robbers had by main force subdued Mr Fessenden, leaving him bruised and bleeding upon the floor, they gathered their plunder an decamped.

The robbers, it is supposed, came from this city. They probably could not be identified, as in the hurry and terror of the movement no thorough sight of them was had by any of the family.

A man servant of Mr Fessenden slept in an adjoining building, detached from the house, and was not aroused in season to assist his master or prevent the flight of the robbers. - Boston Traveller.



January 18, 1853


News By The Mails


The Boston Police have succeeded in arresting three individuals who are believed to be the party who entered the house of Colonel Fessenden, at Jamaica Plains(sic) - the particulars of which we published a few days since. Their names are Wm. McGee, Michael Doyle and Michael Lavery. It appears that the store of Wm. Pope, in Dorchester, was robbed of Saturday night of $500 worth of goods. The goods were found secreted in a hog pen. Officers were stationed to see who would come for the goods, when the three above named individuals came for them. Two of them were arrested: the third, Lavery, escaped. He was arrested, however, the next day in the Court House. Upon one of the party a pistol was found, which Col. Fessenden has no doubt belongs to his son.



May 4, 1853


The trial of Scott, Doyle, Lavery and Magee, for burglary in the house of Col. J.M. Fessenden, at Jamaica Plains, in January last, was commenced before the Court of Common Pleas at Dedham, on Saturday last. Col. Fessenden was the only witness examined, and the defence, so far as Magee is concerned, will be an alibi, by attempting to prove that he was in New York city on the evening next preceding the morning on which the burglary was committed.

Obituary #6

Boston Daily Globe May 5, 1909

His Death Shocks Friends. Thomas Mayo Had Been in the Hardware Business at Jamaica Plain for 52 Years.


The sudden death of Thomas Mayo, Jamaica Plain's oldest business man, who had conducted a hardware business in that section for 52 years, was a great shock to his many business associates and friends. Mr Mayo had been suffering from acute indigestion and died from an attack Monday afternoon.

He was born at Brewster, Feb 19, 1832, the son of Elnathan(?) Mayo, and lived in that town until he as a young man. Coming to South Boston, he learned the tinsmith trade, and in May, 1857, went to Jamaica Plain where he opened business for himself at the corner of Centre st and Seaverns av. Later he became associated with the late Cyrus White, under the firm name of White and Mayo, which concern existed for some years on Centre st.

For a time he was associated with S.D. Balkam, under the firm name of Mayo & Balkam, but for some years he had been alone, being assisted in business by his son, Francis G. Mayo.

Mr Mayo married, May 8, 1854, Miss Emma Houghton, daughter of the late Isaac Houghton of Dorchester. He is survived by a son, Francis G. Mayo, and a nephew, Herbert Mayo.

The funeral will be held at his residence, 7 Everett st, Jamaica Plain, this afternoon at 2:30 o'clock.


February 22, 1910


Patrick Corrigan Dead. Was Engaged in Business in Jamaica Plain for 30 Years.


Patrick Corrigan, an old-time resident of Jamaica Plain, died yesterday at the home of his daughter, Mrs J.J. Hickey, 36 Aldrich st, Roslindale. He was 72 years old. He leaves a son, Frank W.Corrigan, and a daughter, Mrs J.J. Hickey of Roslindale.

Mr Corrigan was born in Ireland March 17, 1837, and came to this country when a youth. He was highly respected in Jamaica Plain, where he had been engaged in the livery stable business for 30 years, retiring about five years ago. Until removing to Roslindale, he had been for many years a communicant at St Thomas' Catholic church, Jamaica Plain.


May 14, 1910


Old Musician Buried. Services for Benjanin Cutter Held at Jamaica Plain.


Rev James de Normandie conducted the funeral services for Benjamin Cutter, for 25 years an instructor at the New England conservatory of music, well-known composer and talented violinist, which were held yesterday afternoon at the family home, 6 Brown pl, Jamaica Plain.

A profusion of floral offerings surrounded the coffin, among them being tributes from musical organizations to which he belonged, the faculty of the New England conservatory of music, fraternal bodies, firms that had publishied his compositions and text books and from relatives and friends. Burial was in the family lot in Rural cemetery, Walpole.



September 9, 1910

Dies at Gerrish Island. Mrs Mary E.W. Goodwin, Aged 83, of Jamaica Plain, Ill a Few Days at Summer Home.


Mrs Mary Evert Wendell Goodwin, aged 83, widow of William H. Goodwin of Jamaica Plain, died suddenly yesterday at her summer home, "Darrington," Gerrish island, Kittery Point, Me. She leaves three daughters, Miss Frances Goodwin, Mrs Arthur Phillips Nazro, wife of Rear Admiral Arthur P. Nazro, USN retired, and Mrs David S. Greenough of Jamaica Plain.

Mrs Goodwin was stricken with pneumonia a few days ago and died suddenly as a result of the disease. She had resided most of her life in Jamaica Plain, the family home being at 925 Centre st.

The body will be brought to Jamaica Plain Saturday morning, and funeral services will be held at the family residence Saturday afternoon at 2:30.

Obituary #5

Boston Daily Globe May 17, 1909


Old Architect Dead.

Harris M. Stephenson of Jamaica Plain Planned Many Buildings and Residences.


Harris Marshall Stephenson, aged 64, a prominent architect of this city and an old resident of Jamaica Plain, died yesterday morning at his home, 236 Chestnut av.

Mr Stephenson was born in this city Jan 18, 1845, the son of Benjamin T. and Nancy K. Stephenson. He attended the public schools and after leaving school spent several years in foreign travel. Returning to Boston, he entered the office of his uncle, a member of the firm of S.C. Bugbee & Son, architects, and took up the study of his profession.

On the removal in 1861 of his uncle's firm to California Mr Stephenson entered the office of Nathaniel J. Bradlee, architects. About 1870 he entered business for himself, associating with the late Daniel Appleton, with offices at 10 Pemberton sq, and remaining there for nearly 20 years.

Mr Stephenson furnished the plans for a number of large buildings, some of the most prominent being St John's Episcopal church of Jamaica Plain, St John's Episcopal church of Keokuk, In, the Murdock hospital, Huntington av, this city, and the Henry Nevins home for incurables at Methuen.

He prepared plans for more than 60 residences in Boston and its suburbs and a large number in other parts of the country, including California, New York, New Jersey, Maine and New Hampshire, as well as seashore hotels and summer residences on cape Cod and elsewhere. Turk's Head inn, cape Ann, being a particular example of his skill.

He is survided by one son, H. Walter Stephenson, by three brothers and one sister. The funeral services will be conducted by Rev Sumner M. Shearman, pastor emeritus of St John's Episcopal church, Jamaica Plain, at 2 Tuesday afternoon at his late home, 236 Chestnut av. The interment will be in the family lot at Forest Hills cemetery.

Obituary #4

Canadian immigrant, war veteran, policeman and tuberculosis victim - there's a lot to think about there. After the Irish and Germans, Canadians were the most next most common immigrants to Jamaica Plain around the turn of the century. Tuberculosis was a disease of the time - we've been able to forget about it since the middle of the 20th Century. I've read that the NO SPITTING signs that used to adorn subway stations were put there to stop the transmission of TB. This shows that even a young man like patrolman Fraser could succumb.



Boston Daily Globe November 4, 1907


Spanish War Veteran.

Patrolman Austin A. Fraser, Popular Jamaica Plain Officer, Dies of Tuberculosis.




Patrolman Austin A. Fraser of division 13, Jamaica Plain, died yesterday morning in his home, 24 Walkhill st, Forest Hills, of tuberculosis. He was 32 years old and leaves a widow and infant son. Funeral services will be held Wednesday morning at 9 in St Thomas church, Jamaica Plain. Burial will be in Mr Benedict cemetery.

Patrolman Fraser was one of the most popular officers at station 13, and the esteem in which he was held has been shown in a substantial manner during his illness of a number of months.

He was born at Antigonish, N.S. Jan 9, 1875, the son of John and Mary Fraser. He was appointed to the police force of this city Oct 5, 1900, and assigned to duty at division 5. Two years later he was made a regular patrolman. He was absent on sick leave from Oct 15, 1902 until May 1, 1903. On June 3, 1903, he was transferred to division 13, Jamaica Plain, where he had remained until incapacitated from duty last May.

He was a veteran of the Spanish war, enlisting in Co L, heavy artillery, MVM, May 2, 1898. He did duty at fort Slocum, N.Y. and later was assistant to the paymaster of the U.S. Army and twice visited Cuba with that official.

On Oct 28, 1906, he was married to Miss Agnes L. Harney of Jamaica Plain.

He was a member of Roger Wolcott camp, Spanish war veterans; Jamaica Plain council, Knights of Columbus, and Clan McNeil of Malden.

Obituary #3

You know that Rev Ellis Mendell was highly respected in the neighborhood of Boylston station - they got the city to name a school after him.


Boston Daily Globe May 23, 1903


He Had Many Friends

Funeral Services for Rev Ellis Mendell at Boylston Station.


The funeral services fo Rev Ellis Mendell, for 15 years pastor of the Boylston Congregational church, corner of Boylston and Amory sts, Boylston Station, were held yesterday afternoon at the church over which he had so long presided. The church was crowded.

The floral tributes covered the platform, and the pulpit was draped with black. The services were conducted by Rev A.H. Plumb, pastor of the Walnut-av congregational church, Roxbury, assisted by Rev Charles L. Morgan, pastor of the Central Congregational church, Jamaica Plain; Rev William B. Campbell, pastor of the Highland church, and Rev Dr Bushnell, a college classmate of Mr Mendell's. Previous to the church service, prayers were conducted at the house, 38 Atherton st, Egleston Square, by Dr Noble of Chicago.

The services were simple. There were Scripture reading, prayer, a short eulogy by Rev Dr Plumb and a musical selection "The Holy City," by Mrs Morrell of the Norwood Congregational church.

The honorary pallbearers were George W. Fowle, Issac Stone, S.R. Crocker and Charles Dellitt and the actual bearers were Messrs W.S. Archibald, W.W. Baker, William Gunn, Charles Shope, William Mock and William Maiers.

The body was taken to New Bedford for burial.

As a mark of respect for Mr Mendel all the stores in the vicinity closed their doors, and no business was done during the funeral services from 2 o'clock until 3:30.

Close Call For The Emerald Necklace

Jamaica Plain Citizen 1946


Project Here Scheduled For Olmstead(sic) Park Site


The Veteran's Administration and the Federal Board of Hospitalization approved plans for the constructio of a 1000-bed veteran's hospital on the Jamaicaway, the office of Senator David I. Walsh reported Thursday in Washington.

The project, which has President Truman's approval, will be built on a 10-acre site in Olmstead park, Jamaica Plain, bordering on the Jamaicaway, and will be carried out by the Veterans' administration at a minimum cost of $10,000,000.

Mayor Curley said the site, on land now owned by the city, would be sold to the federal government for $225,000. The irregular tract is situated at the northwest intersection of Willow Pond road and the Jamaicaway. It has a 375-foot frontage on Willow Pond road and extends 1000 feet on the Jamaicaway.

While no estimate of the actual cost of the medical plant was given out, it is known that construction costs for 1000-bed hospitals range from $10,000,000 to $14,000,000.

The site selected will be taken over immediately by the Veterans' Administration, and construction of the hospital will begin early next year, dispatches from Washington stated.

In choosing Olmsted Park as the site, the Veterans' Administration followed its policy of constructing its hospitals close to other hospitals and medical schools, so that the specialized services of other institutions might be made available. The selected site is also adequately served by public transportation facilities.

The Olmested park project will be on of two 1000-bed veterans' hospitals to be built in the Boston area. Last October 24, plans were announced for the construction of another hospital, the site yet to be selected.

Obituary #2

The 1885 Boston Directory places George Suck at the corner of Lamartine and Oakdale streets. In 1872 and 1875 he was at Old Harbor in Boston. Still earlier, the 1865 book puts him on Tremont street. That puts him in Jamaica Plain fairly late in life, but he had family there as well, so we'll claim his for JP.


Boston Daily Globe October 31, 1897


George F. Suck Dead.

One of the Leading Violinists of Boston in the Sixties.


The death of George Fred Suck occurred at his home on Lamartine pl, Jamaica Plain yesterday. Mr Suck, who was one of the best-known musicians of the city, was born in Bremen, Germany, in 1820. He lived in that country until 1850, when he came to the United States. While here he became famous as a violinist, and was director of the orchestra in the opera house.

Overwork caused him to take a sea voyage to this country. Landing in Boston, he remained long enough to find employment. He found so much to do that he made up his mind to live here. This was the year that Jenny Lind was in Boston. Mr Suck played all the concerts given by her.

He also gave concerts before the Harvard society. In 63 and 64 he was director of the orchestra at the Boston Theater, then under the management of Wyzeman Marshall. When the New England conservatory of music was opened he was one of the first instructors under Eben Tourgee.

He leaves three brothers and three sisters. The funeral will be held at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, at the residence of his brother-in-law, Arthur P. Schmidt, 21 Pond st, Jamaica Plain.

Obituary #1

I have a series of obituaries to post, running from 1894 to the mid-teens. I only used articles with some information of interest to the, so low income people who were simply listed in a long seriew of names won't show up. I've tried to find some measure of interest in each entry, whether profession, place of birth, or some other nugget that tells us a little about the time. Joel Seaverns makes the grade because he was a Civil War veteran and was active in the community. And he also had a street named after his surname. Bonus points for being the street I was born on.

A couple more things. Dr Seaver was a well-known member of Secret Societies. In the antebellum years, Americans were joiners, filling the roles of Masons, Odd Fellows, Redmen, and a multiplicity of other fraternal groups. Not exactly what we think of as secret, but apparently the handshake and rituals filled the bill. The role of fraternal groups in Jamaica Plain history is outside this entry, but I do want to touch on the Royal Arcanum. I had seem the name many times in previous articles, and this one finally got me to look them up. As it turns out, the Royal Arcanum exists to this day. What I guessed, in my ignorance, was something like the Royal Order of Raccoons, was in fact a life insurance fraternal organization for working men (as explained here). Dr Seaverns' role as medical examiner for the group suddenly makes sense.





Boston Daily Globe March 2, 1894


Dr Joel Seaverns Dead.

Was Well Known Roxbury Physician and Medical Examiner in Chief for the Royal Arcanum.


Dr Joel Seaverns, medical examiner in chief of the Royal Arcanum, died at his home, 2 Dudley pl, yesterday morning.

Joel Seaverns was born at Jamaica Plain May 25, 1828. At the age of 18 he graduated from the Roxbury Latin school.

Leaving college in 1850, he spent one year in teaching, when he entered the Harvard medical school, from which he graduated in 1854.

Commencing private practice then at Jamaica Plain, he continued there until May 25, 1862, when he entered the army as acting assistant surgeon, holding this position until Dec 4, 1863, when he was appointed assistant surgeon of the US volunteers and promoted March 30, 1864, to the rank of surgeon.

In 1865 he was made brevet lieutenant colonel for faithful and meritorious service. This first two commissions were signed by Abraham Lincoln and his last by Andrew Johnson.

During his army life he was surgeon in charge of hospital ship the New World and of steamer De Molay. Before and after that time he was post surgeon at Fort Warren in Boston harbor.

Dr Seaverns had been superintendent of the schools of West Roxbury, was a member of the town council of Boston, and for years one of it school committee. He had practiced medicine in Roxbury continuously since 1866.

His acquintance with secret societies had been rather extensive, as he was a past master of Washington lodge Free and Accepted Mason; past high priest of Mt Vernon Royal Arch chapter; thrice illustrious master of Roxbury council, Royal and Select Masters, and sir knight of Joseph Warren commandery, Knights Templar. He was past grand of Quinobequin lodge, I.O.O.F. and a member of Roxbury lodge, 205, Knights of Honor.

Dr Seaverns was appointed by Supreme Regent Swain as Royal Arcanum state medical examiner for Massachusetts. In May, 1880, Supreme Regent Keyes, recognizing his ability and valuable services as a state examiner, appointed him medical examiner-in-chief for the order.

Tobogganing At Franklin Park

Library of Congress


Click on the picture to get a larger version. The listing says it was taken in 1914. There is a mention in a Boston Globe article of a toboggan 'chute', so there may have been some kind of structure built at the top of the hill to add a little speed. It is probably the same place my parents went sledding in the 1930s. Winter sports in Boston just aren't what they used to be.

The Right To Run

The story below seems to be about race in early 20th Century Boston, but it's probably more about Boston politics, and only tangentially connected to life in Jamaica Plain. On the surface, it describes an effort of a black man to run for office as a Republican. His words resonate with our time, but there's a hitch. A recent book* describes Allen as "a machine politician of dubious character," who was elected to office only because his name did not reveal his race. His electoral succes in the Jamaica Plain district cited below may have been for just that reason. It was common practice in Boston politics to run an unknown Italian-American against an Italian-American politician, or a Joseph Murray against a John Murray. Party loyalty may have caused voters to put their mark beside the name Allen without knowing who they were voting for. Of course, we don't know the real character of the man, and he can't have been much worse than those he ran against. I imagine we'll never know what the people of Jamaica Plain thought of Ike Allen after they heard him speak, but he was probably the first African-American to win any election in Jamaica Plain.



Boston Daily Globe November 26, 1903


Right To Run.

That's What "Ike" Allen Claims to Have.

Still He Doesn't Know Whether He'll Stick or Quit.

"Always Ready for Peace in the Party."

Speaks to Members of Jamaica Plain Citizens' Association.

Wants No One to Vote for Him Because He's Negro.


A meeting of the Jamaica Plain citizens' association was held last evening in the hall of the Bowditch school on Green st. It proved to be a very interesting one, as invitations had been extended to the various candidates for public office, and many of them accepted and addressed the members, among them Hon Isaac B. Allen, candidate for street commissioner.

Rev Charles F. Dole, president, occupied the chair, and introduced the speakers, who were George W. Galvin, socialist candidate for mayor; aldermanic candidates R.L. Raymond, Joseph I. Stewart, John Fitzpatrick, socialist, and councilmanic candidates John J. Conway, William H. Jordan, John Grauman, William H. Howers, Howell T. Wood, Paul A. Jepson, Jas. A. Price, Jeremiah J.Hourin.

The first business of the meeting was a discussion of the proposed extension of the elevated structure to Forest Hills sq. It was voted to appoint a committee of three to attend the hearing before the board of aldermen, Dec 2, to oppose the extension.

Each speaker was given five minutes in which to express his views, and none of the candidates was listened to with more interest than was Mr Allen, who in opening said with a smile: "You republicans know that you are confronted with something you have never been confronted with before. Now I don't know if I shall stay in the fight or not. I am always ready for peace in my party, but I believe I have the same right to run as a candidate as any citizen in this city.

"I am 59 years old and I have given the best part of my life to the work of the republican party. I do not believe that the voters of ward 23, who gave me such a splendid majority, did not know who they were voting for. I believe that every voter knew that Isaac B. Allen is a negro. My whole object is to elect a republican man. See to it that you elect George W. Swallow mayor of this city: never mind if I am on the ballot or not."

Speaking of the negro in the south, Mr Allen said that he did not believe the southern negro would change his politics, as he has everything to thank the republican party for.

"I do not want any one to vote for me because I am a negro, but because I am an American citizen," he said, "but whatever you do, vote for the republican ticket from top to bottom."



*Boston Confronts Jim Crow, 1890-1920, Mark Robert Schneider.

Hibernians On Parade

As much as Jamaica Plain is known for its Irish population, there were very few relevant acknowledgements of the fact in the Boston Globe until the turn of the century. This article describes a parade through the streets of the district, from Hyde Square to St Thomas church and back to Curtis hall. As someone who marched in many parades, this wasn't a parade - it was a campaign! They certainly weren't shy about marching on side streets. I never marched on streets like Green and McBride - during the 1960s parades were kept on main streets like Centre and South. McBride and Jamaica streets were the historical heart of Irish Jamaica Plain, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised that they took the route they did.

The speech given at Curtis hall tells us something about the times. There were obviously questions about the loyalty of Irish-Americans being asked, or there would be no reason to speak on the topic.



Boston Daily Globe May 30, 1898


Big Hibernian Turnout.

Jamaica Plain Has a Parade, Concert and Lecture.


There was a monster Hibernian demonstration in Jamaica Plain last evening. It consisted of a parade, a musical program and a lecture by Hon Thomas J. Gargan in Curtis hall.

Divisin 51 of Jamaica Plain had charge of the affair, and at their invitation nearly all the Hibernian divisions of Suffolk county participated in the parade and listened to the program at the hall.

The parade formed at Hyde sq and marched over the following streets: Centre, Green, Call, Keyes(McBride), South, Jamaica, Woodman, St Joseph, South to Curtis hall.

[a parade listing followed]

At the hall an entertainment, consisting fo an overture by the orchestra; soprano solo, Miss Bella Boyle; tenor solo, Richard McMunn; national airs, Bunker Hill cadet band; comic selections, Frank Leslie; recitation, Nicholas Lawless; solo, Miss Mary Donovan; selections by Thomas F. Meagher band of Cambridge; song, John H. Finley, was given.

Rev Fr Charles F. Donahoe then introduced Hon Edward J. Flinn, the presiding officer, who introduced the speaker of the evening, Hon Thomas J. Gargan. Mr Gargan delivered an address on "The Fidelity of Irish Americans to the Rebublic."

The lecture and entertainment was in aid of the school for the blind, now in course of construction in the St Thomas parish.

Runaway Horses - Boy Hero

Boston Daily Globe February 12, 1899


Little Hero Of Jamaica Plain.

Guy Sherlock, Aged 9, Cool in the Midst of Danger, Guides Runaway Horses to a Place of Safety.


Jamaica Plain has a youthful hero, a boy of 9, who performed a feat yesterday that for dare-devil recklessness surpasses anything ever witnessed in that locality on the part of a child of his tender years.

Guy Sherlock, the little hero, lives with his parents at 58 Brookside av, Jamaica Plain.

Yesterday morning, with the true spirit of an American schoolboy, he was on Washington st, catching stray rides here and there on the various pungs and sleighs passing up and down the street.

A large experience in grabbing onto moving objects had made him expert in that line. The little fellow had enjoyed a number of rides, when about 9 o'clock there was a commotion down the street.

Coming suddenly in view was a horse attached to a store sleigh, madly tearing down the street. There was a scattering of vehicles to save quarters. It seemed as though nothing but a miracle would stop the flying animal before somebody was hurt.

All at once, right in the midst of the confusion, a small body was seen to rush into the street. Before any one could stop the child, little Guy Sherlock was hanging onto the side of the sleigh like a monkey. The passers-by witnessing the act were struck dumb with horror, and held their breath, expecting every moment to see the sleigh smash into something and the child killed. While they looked on in wonder, however, Guy crawled into the front of the sleigh and then to the seat.

Grabbing the left rein he gave it a strong pull, turning the frantic animal just in time to avoid a couple of electrics. By this time they had reached the engine house near School st. The horse was turned into the building and stopped. Sherlock was thrown out but was not badly hurt.

A big crowd gathered and many words of praise of the act of bravery were heard.

Concert of War Songs

Here's a story that speaks for itself - I won't pontificate.



Boston Daily Globe December 30, 1897


Concert Of War Songs.

Jamaica Plain Choir Gives a Dramatic Entertainment.


One of the most novel entertainments given in Jamaica Plain for a long time was the dramatic concert of wqr songs with vocal and instrumental arrangements interpreted by the choir of the First Methodist Episcopal church at Curtis hall last evening.

The platform was changed into a stage with scenes of the battlefields of the south. A large and fashionable audience was present.

The program was interesting and covered the entire war from the outbreak to its close. Part one was "Off to the Wars." Mr Bowen sang "The Battle Cry of Freedom," and Miss Kate Belle Walton recited "Apostrophe to the Flag." Several selections were given by quartets.

Side pictures of the war composed the second part. "The Struggle Betwen the North and South, Musically Considered," was very cleverly given by Messers Cowlishaw and Sawyer. Selections were given by Mr Clinch. Several tableaux were produced: "Other Refuge Have I None," by Miss Hattie Shields; "Watching," by Miss Snow; "Columbia, Army and Navy," Miss Wetmore and Messrs Tyler and Chapman. Miss Walton recited "Old Canteen" and "The Old Army Button."

The third part was divided into two sections, the first giving a night in camp and the second a day in camp. A pathetic part was the song "The Dying Soldier," by Mr Clinch, assisted by Messrs Worcester and Chapman. "The raw recruit and his ignominious retreat," by Mr Robbins, was amusing.

The last scene was "Home From the Wars," consisting of the popular war songs. It ended with "Hail Columbia," by the whole company, and a grand tableaux, Justice, Miss Snow; Columbia, Miss Wetmore,; liberty, Miss Shields; army, Mr Tyler; the navy, Mr Chapman; the cause of it all, Mr Dennis.

Members from Co B, Cambridge, assisted in the groupings of the various scenes and tableaux.


[a long listing of names followed]

The Arborway - 1914.

Here's another picture from the Library of Congress collection. The pictures are labeled "Arborway, west from Forest Hills or Centre street," circa 1914. I suspect that the top picture was taken from the railroad bridge, and shows South street crossing the Arborway, and houses on the Arborway between South street and Hampstead road in the background (as shown in this map). It certainly looks much prettier than I remember it, or it is now. The second picture apears to be shot looking towards Moss Hill, with Centre street turning left and going south towards West Robury. This map shows the location, including a triangular island of green that appears in the picture. No need of a rotary back then.

Veterans Against The Reds

The members of the Jamaica Plain American Legion Post of 1919 sound remarkably like their brothers would fifty years later. The resolution speaks for itself - I'm left wondering where Library Hall was.


Boston Daily Globe July 4, 1919


Soldiers Demand "Reds" Be Deported


The following resolution relative to the recent activities of Bolsheviks and Reds was unanimously adopted at a meeting of Michael J. O'Connell Post of the American Legion of Jamaica Plain, held in Library Hall last evening.

"Resolved, That Michael J. O'Connell Post, of the American Legion unalterably opposes all societies, leagues and organizations which have as their object the overturning of Government and of law and order in the United States; unqualifiedly condemns the recent cowardly and murderous activities of so-called 'Reds' in this country; urges all men who have been in the military and naval services aggressively to participate in ferreting out and identifying those individuals adn demands the enactment of legislation by Congress providing for the deportation of all Bolshevists, Reds and other aliens who are enemies of the principles of freedom and democracy for which the soldiers and sailors of this country fought in the World War."

Strike At Sturtevant Blower Works

The Sturtevant Blower Works was the largest employer in Jamaica Plain - I've seen them listed at variously 100 and 500 employees. No doubt employment was fluid as they grew and contracts came and went (you can read about them here). Eugene Foss later became the Governor of Massachusetts, but at this time he was the president of the Sturtevant company. What were the men striking for? A nine hour day. As someone who has worked ten hour shifts in machine shops and foundries - with overtime - I appreciate that those who came before me fought to make the nine, and later eight hour day standard. We can also see that they were threatening to send jobs elsewhere back in the 1800s. Within ten years, Foss did move the jobs out of Jamaica Plain - to Readville.



Boston Daily Globe June 13, 1893


Strike At Jamaica Plain.

Employees of Sturtevant Blower Works Dissatisfied.


Three-fourths of the employees of the Sturtevant blower works, Jamaica Plain, are out on strike and the others are prepared to follow.

Nine hours' work and regular pay is their demand. The strikers left the shops at 8 o'clock yesterday forenoon and in a short time after the remaining employees had petitioned for nine hours' work with full days' pay. If their demands are not granted it is probable that the balance of the employees will come out some time during the day.

Last evening 300 of the men employed in the blower works assembled in the hall of the Bachelors' club on Green st and held a lengthy conference.

All save workmen in the shops were denied admission to the hall. The windows were opened for sanitary motives and at intervals cheers floated out into the damp atmosphere of the night, indicative of the good spirits of the strikers.

A committee was appointed after much talk to confer today with the manager of the company. If their demands are not granted it is probably there will be a long and bitter strike. Only the molders are organized, yet the strikers are confident that their temporary organization formed yesterday will be sufficient to win the day.

E.N. Foss, manager of Sturtevant company, says that the men have struck at a bad time, as their business at present is very dull and the competition in the west, where three-fourths of their business is, is very strong at present and the profit has been cut down to a small figure.

His version of the strike is as follows:

"I have been west on a trip for the firm for several weeks, and on my return three of the job masters who take contracts to do the work and hire their own men came to me and said that their help had petitioned for nine hours' work and 10 hours' pay."

He remarked to the job masters that he did not see how it concerned him, as they got so much for their work, and could make their own terms with the men. The job masters agreed that it did not concern him, and left the office.

Yesterday morning he was surprised to hear that

The Men Had Gone Out.

He went immediately to the shops, but it was too late to effect a compromise. The machinists were the leaders in the strike, and they were joined by all save the moulders and the tinsmiths.

Those who are now working immediately petitioned for shorter hours. The moulders belong to the moulders' union, and will not strike until they have received the sanction of their union, which they have applied for.

In regard to the demands of the employees Mr Foss said, "In the present condition of the trade it will be impossible for us to grant the position of the men. We have always paid good wages for good work, and have a skillful lot of employees. Our business is different from that of the boiler manufacturers and other in apparently the same line of work, for our customers are mostly in the west, fully three-quarters of our goods being sold in that section of the country.

"We have to import the raw material, coal and iron from the west and then have to send it back there. Our shopes should really be located in the west.

"Competition is very keen with the western firms, who have the advantage of lower rates of transportation. Now, the other firms I have mentioned sell their products in this part of the country for the most part, and can afford to give the men better hours.

"Their goods are not sold at listed prices, and the extra cost consequent on the demands of the men can be met by raising the price of the goods sold.

"With us this is impossible, as our goods are listed all over the country. We have to sitck to the advertised rates. In the machine shops, to show the effect of the demand, if we run only nine hours a day we curtail the product of our machines 10 percent. That means we should have to add 10 percent to our machinery, as the machines will only turn out so much work in so many hours.

"In the present state of the market we

Cannot Afford to Do This.

Last week we had to shut down the shop on Saturday or we would have had to discharge some men. We have a good lot of workmen and do not desire to scatter them. Accordingly we shut down.

"This week the holiday would have allowed us this day, and then the week of the Fourth we would have shut down for several days and taken stock. This is the direct result of the close market.

"Business is poor everywhere, especially in the west, and we feel it in lack of orders and some of those we have filled are not (?) and will not be duplicated. Only this morning we received a note from a customer stating he was supposed to be worth $500,000, but that as the money market is so stringent he cold not raise $5000 cash necessary to meet our bill.

"That is only a sample of business at the present time. In answer to the demands of the men we made the statement that we would give them 60 hours' pay for 59 hours' work, and that was the best we could do. If this offer is not accepted by them at present I fear the works

Will Have to be Closed.

"The demand is particularly unfortunate for the men just at this time, as business is so poor that we can afford to shut down. We do dislike to have the men scattered, as we expect to do a much larger business in the fall, and will then have work for all the old hands."

The first meeting of the strikers was held yesterday afternoon and the committee waited on Mr Foss and listened to his proposal of one hours' less work a week for the same pay. The proposition was submitted to the strikers at the evening meeting and they decided not to accept it.

Another committee was appointed to see if the desired nine hours could not be obtained and they will report at a meeting to be held at the same hall this evening. The moulders and the tinsmiths, who did not go out yesterday, will do so as soon as their union grants them the right.

The strikers say that other factories are giving their men the nine-hour day and think they deserve the same treatment. They also argue that the firm is very prosperous and making money, claiming that last year's profits were $250,000 and can well afford to concede to their demands.

The majority of the strikers admit that the firm is a good one to work for, and some few are willing in view of the stringency of the money market to go to work. The great majority rules, however, and all will stay out and try for the nine-hour day.

It is a question how good a fight they will make owing to their unorganized condition, but the 300 who were gathered in the hall last evening were sanguine that victory wold perch on their banners.

A delegation from the moulders has been appointed to wait on the union this forenoon, and they are also confident that they weil be ordered out and then all of the employees will fight shoulder to shoulder for their nine-hour day with present wages.

Bob's Spa

In Jamaica Plain, as in all such urban districts, there were neighborhood variety stores where you could buy a coke, an ice cream, sandwiches, a newspaper, and assorted household odds and ends. There were stores on Green street, Boylston and Lamartine, Centre street near the Monument, and at Hyde and Egleston squares. You could also pick up the news of the day from the locals. One that lasted for much of the 20th Century was Bob's Spa on South street between McBride and Hall streets. It would be filled after each Mass on Sundays, and summers saw a constant stream of children looking for ice cream, tonic and candy. A Bostonian "of a certain age" will know that tonic was the word for soda, like Coke or Pepsi.



Jamaica Plain Citizen March 27, 1952


Bob's Spa To Observe 40th Anniversary


Bob Ristuccia is celebrating forty years in business at the same location, 128-130 South street, Jamaica Plain. In appreciation for the patronage the community has given him for forty years, Bob is giving special values as a saving for his customers.

Bob started in business at the age of seventeen with a cousin. When Bob got married he opened his store, in 1912 selling fruit and vegetables, when Jamaica Plain was just a budding community. As Jamaica Plain grew up, Bob kept catering to the needs of his customers.

During his early days Bob didn't take in one dollar in sales but this did not discourage his faith in Jamaica Plain as he struggled, putting in long hours. In 1927, when business showed signs of success Bob met with a disaster which would have discouraged many a man. On December 24, 1927, Bob's Spa burned to the ground, wiping out all of his worldly possessions. After church services on Christmas day, Bob looked at his charred ruins. With the aid of friendly merchants, he was able to gather some fruit and candy and he started again. Business continued in the temporary quarters until the present site was renovated. During these years, Bob was raising his family of two daughters, Rose and Mary, and two sons, Bob Jr. and Johnny.

As Jamaica Plain progressed, so did Jamaica Plain. Then, the Second World War came. His sons, Bob and John, and daughter, Mary, went into active service. This left another burden on Bob's shoulders. With the manpower shortage and war jobs, help for stores went begging. Mr. and Mrs. Bob Ristuccia spent sixteen hours daily at the store, to serve the public while waiting for their children to return home safely.

When the boys and Mary returned there was rejoicing. They found a tired mother and father, so plans for a well earned vacation for Mr. and Mrs. Bob, their first since his establishement of Bob's Spa, were made immediately. After the war Bob took in as a partner his son-in-law, Mike Caliri who had taken a big load off Bob's shoulders. Today his sons, John and Bob Jr.assist in the management. Mrs. Bob occasionally drops in to meet and talk with old friends.

Mr. Ristuccia has been a member of the Knights of Columbus for thirty years, and is a fourth degree Knight. He is also a member of the Massachusetts Retail Grocers' Association and the Boston Retail Grocers' Association, the oldest Grocers's association in the United States.