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We may not have many horse-drawn wagons on our streets anymore, but our hydrants still look the same
By adamg on Wed, 02/08/2023 - 11:12am
The folks at the Boston City Archives wonder if you can place this scene. See it larger.
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Comments
The invention of the hydrant
The invention of the hydrant was unofficially credited to Frederick Graffiti chief engineer of the Philadelphia waterworks in 1801.
Correction (Graffiti) not
Correction (Graffiti) not Graffiti
GRAFF
GRAFF
So, Graffiti
.
no
actually it's "Graffiti"
1609
Tremont St
intersecting
with Washington ST
This one is a hard one
Googling the names of the stores results in 'not much".
If I had to take a stab at this, this is 1609 Washington Street, where Walgreens is now on the corner of Rutland.
Even the fire hydrant is in the same spot. The building down the street on the right hand of the photo is still there, abiet, lower chimneys.
What is confusing to me is that most of these pictures are of buildings being torn down for various projects. The building Walgreens is in currently is a fairly new building (like new as in the past 20 or so years).. so what was there before Walgreens was?
Year? Probably 1899-1902 in terms of range.
I don't think this project tore down those buildings
A lot of the photography we get was before/during construction for big transit projects. In this case, I think this was before construction of the Washington Street El, which would match with your timeline of around 1899 since the El opened in 1901.
I suspect those buildings went away during the long period of decay in the South End -- there were a ton of vacant lots in the South End even through the 1990s. So if I had to guess, the building with the Walgreens replaced a vacant lot.
Vacant For A Long Time
Where the Walgreen's is was a vacant lot for a very long time. Arson was profitable. There was a guy in South Boston known as Frankie The Flame because he lit places on fire for money.
That building that there is now 20 years old or so.
The Elevated Railway took pics up and down Washington Street pre-elevated being built. This is the corner of Rutland and Washington 1899-1901.
A blowup of the hydrant
Not just because I'm obviously fixated on hydrants, though...
Business Directories ... spoiler
in 1877, the ^homeopathic pharmacy^ business was under other management at this address, 1595 Washington, corner of Rutland.
Dr R W (Robert) Gray listed for this address & business in business directories 1883-1895, quite likely some adjacent years. He resided at #1571 at one point, but may have relocated to fashionable Mass Ave by 1903 (unless that's a different R W Gray).
"DR R W Gray"
That name came up alot.. but not in Boston. I feel like he was known for something.
Maybe the edge of Blackstone Square in the South End?
Shawmut and East Newton?
They may look the same, but
They may look the same, but are made with much, much cheaper inferior materials and cost more.
The Answer
Thanks for playing, folks! This shows Washington at Rutland Street on October 26, 1899. You can see a high res version of the photo here: https://cityofboston.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/IO_902ebe16-9d6...