It took over forty years, but they finally got rid of the Forest Hills elevated line. There were multiple efforts to take down the elevated structure in the 1940s. In this case, a city councilor tried to use the war effort to justify his attempt. Personally, it never occurred to me during the 1960s that the El would be taken down. I looked at it as an essential service, like a water main. Of course, I didn't live under the damn thing.
The claim that the El ran parallel to the New York New Haven line was disingenuous. Roxbury and the South End have suffered from the Orange Line move west to the railroad bed, and residents have been demanding a replacement ever since. For Jamaica Plain, on the other hand, it was a great deal.
Daily Boston Globe April 14, 1942
Demolition of 'El' From Forest Hills to Broadway is Urged
Demolition of the Elevated structure from Forest Hills to Broadway, thereby making available hundreds of thousands of tons of steel for the national war effort, was recommended by the Boston City Council at yesterday's session.
City Councilor James M. Langan of Jamaica Plain, who introduced the order, pointed out that the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad runs almost parallel to the Boston Elevated structure from Forest Hills to the Back Bay Station and that the "L" could use the abandoned rails of this railroad, inasmuch as they are of the same gauge.
Pres. Thomas E. Linehan appointed a committee comprising Councilor Langan, Councilor Thomas J. Hannon of Dorchester, and Councilor William F. Hurley of Roxbury to confer with Mayor Tobin and officials of the El relative to the advisability of razing the El structure.
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Nice post. thanks for the shared with us. Hot Washed Pet Flakes
ReplyDeleteHmm...the NHRR closed their stations from Roxbury Crossing to Forest Hills in 1940 eliminating Roxbury Crossing, Heath St, Boylston St, Jamaica Plain and Forest Hills Stations. Mr. Langan's recommendation to shut down the el would have left lower Roxbury and Jamaica Plain without any train service. Jim
ReplyDeleteI used to ride the el when I was a kid going from the Green Street to Washington Street, now Downtown Crossing, Scolley Square, Milk Street && another stop, I think it is now Stare Street to get to Revere Beach. I could go on & on with memories of old Boston.
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