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]

Curtis Hall Rebuilt - Problem Solved

Curtis Hall, 2007


Last month, I posted an article from 1901 describing community complaints regarding dances and parties held at Curtis Hall. The auditorium in the building was being rented out at relatively low cost, resulting in almost nightly use by groups as far away as Roxbury and the South end. An assault on a streetcar conductor brought things to a head, and neighbors of the building wrote a letter to the Mayor demanding an end to the practice.

A few years later, a fire broke out above the hall where the dances were held, and the building had to be closed and rebuilt. The new building - surprise - was rebuilt with no hall in it, and the problem was eliminated. Hmmm... is anyone else suspicious? A problem building, no help from the city, and a fire, in that order. I can't help but speculate that maybe someone took things into his own hands. Coincidence is always a possibility, but....

On another topic: in my younger years, I spent many afternoons swimming at the "tank" in Curtis Hall. When I've told friends in recent years that we boys were required to swim in the nude, the reaction has been stunned disbelief. Apparently, times have changed so much that such a thing is now unbelievable.



Boston Daily Globe October 2, 1911


Will Have Modern Municipal Building.

Residents of Jamaica Plain Expect to Occupy Remodelled Structure This Week.


Residents of Jamaica Plain are eagerly looking forward to the opening to the new Municipal Building on South st, near Soldier's Monument, which, according to the Public Buildings Department, is likely to take place late this week. Some minor things remain to be finished inside the structure and the building is yet to be accepted by the city, but these matters are expected to require but a few days more.

The building, which for many years was known as Curtis Hall and which was partly burned about three years ago, has undergone a great transformation in the last year, during which time it has been under reconstruction. The work has been carried on under the direction of architect Lewis H. Bacon of Boston.

A feature which hundreds of man and boys of the district have been eagerly awaiting is the swimming tank in the basement. It was filled with water about a fortnight ago and was found to be all right. The tank is 75 feet long, 24 feet wide and varies in depth from three to seven feet.

The first floor contains general offices on each side of the main entrance and a long gallery overlooking the swimming tank. The second floor provides a gymnasium 128 feet by 72 feet and 30 feet high. An abundance of shower baths and lockers is furnished.

When provision was made for the remodelling of the building there was a strong expression among the citizens for the devotion of a large part of the new structure to athletic purposes and it was decided by the city officials to carry out this idea, which has been done with the $60,000 provided for work on the building.

The exterior presents quite a different and much more modern aspect than the building before the fire of Dec 15, 1908, which damaged the structure about $25,000.

Curtis Hall: Nuisance.

Evidently, the old Curtis Hall was Party Central at the turn of the 20th Century. Just a few years later, the building would burn and be replaced by the current Curtis Hall. Read about the fire here.


Boston Daily Globe May 3, 1901


Protest To The Mayor.

Residents in the Vicinity of Curtis Hall, Jamaica Plain, Object to its Promiscuous Use and the Noise.


A movement has been started in protest against the promiscuous letting by the city of Boston of Curtis hall, South st, Jamaica Plain.

The letting of this hall is now done through the building department. Being situated on the main street on the line of the Jamaica Plain electric cars, it is easy of access to parties from all sections as far north as Roxbury, and about as convenient to parties from the South End.

It is only recently that the use of this hall has become general among organizations outside of West Roxbury. The low rate at which it can be engaged has been one cause of its recent popularity. During the past winter it has been in almost constant nightly use by dancing parties and for other forms of entertainment. Many of these parties have been continued until the morning hours, and the noise and shouting incident upon the breaking up of the dances has been a source of much annoyance to those living in the neighborhood.

The character of these gatherings has not always been of the highest, it is alleged, and the recent holdup of conductor Myers of the Boston elevated railway, when he was brutally assaulted and robbed by a crowd going home from one of the dances, is pointed to in proof of this assertion.

The police of division 13, which has charge of this district, come in for no share of criticism. A patrolman is in attendance at the hall each night a dance is scheduled to take place, but unless something criminal is done he cannot act and has no authority to arest anyone.

Mayor Hart has been written to about the matter, and the claim is made that the residents in the neighborhood of the hall are going to engage counsel to look after their interests, as their property is being depreciated in value because of this nuisance.