I've never gone in, and forever just always figured it was another old mans drinkers bar. Had no idea it was so . . ahem . . unique. Now I'm intrigued by the whole situation . .

You didnt know Aga?

By anon on Mon, 03/25/2019 - 5:26pm.

You didnt know Aga?

Hasn't Aga's/ Highland Tap been shut down on and off over the years- recall about 16-17 years ago when I had friends who lived in lofts across the street- they were letting people in through the back/ kitchen when they were supposed to be shuttered for 1 licensing offense or another- seemed to be a fairly regular occurrence

Went into Aga's once

By hydeparkishe on Tue, 03/26/2019 - 6:59am.

A few years ago, on a weeknight around 7pm. They do have bikini dancers if it's still open. However the inside is really outdated and the whole experience was a bit creepy!

Perhaps it has , the area has

By anon on Tue, 03/26/2019 - 8:50am.

Perhaps it has , the area has changed much since Blairs closed and the iron came down . Agamemnon was related to the operator of another peeling emporium .

Last lines of the Yelp review

By Gary C on Tue, 03/26/2019 - 8:35am.

This place is eerie! Perhaps the spirits of those from the cemetery across the street have risen like something out of Thriller and inhabited the bodies of those working there. Wasn't comfortable until I drove home and showered.

Unsanitary Barber Shop

By anon on Mon, 03/25/2019 - 11:24am.

Passes the savings onto you!

Sanitary Barber Shop?

By anon on Mon, 03/25/2019 - 11:25am.

As oppossed to Filty Dirty Barber Shop?

It was once common in business names

By Bob Leponge on Mon, 03/25/2019 - 11:54am.

"Sanitary" and "modern" were once pretty common in business names.

IMAGE(http://www.modernpastry.com/_images//photosign.jpg)

Now you can find Paleo

By anon on Mon, 03/25/2019 - 12:06pm.

Now you can find Paleo bakeries.

Bakeries

By SamWack on Mon, 03/25/2019 - 10:47pm.

where, no doubt, they serve NaPaleons.

mmmmmModernPastrymmmmm...

By MrZip on Mon, 03/25/2019 - 12:25pm.

Thanks Bob, now I suddenly need a Napolean.

So much fun

By Local on Mon, 03/25/2019 - 12:07pm.

This is an easy one; it's the neighborhood I live in. I love these things, but this one in particular is REALLY cool. I now know what it used to look like.

BEER ME!

By Malt Beverage on Mon, 03/25/2019 - 2:42pm.

Dawson's was a brand of beer which paid for the sign pretty likely.
And that bar (whats-its-name) likely served Dawson's.

http://www.whalingcity.net/picture_dawson_brewery.html

Beer EVERYBODY!

By Brewski! on Mon, 03/25/2019 - 2:43pm.

Highland Tap,I suppose.

Dawson's Ale

By Charles Bahne on Mon, 03/25/2019 - 2:49pm.

You would never wander into Dawson's -- you might wander in and drink a Dawson's. It was a popular brand of beer back then, actually Dawson's Ale. Just like bars in more recent times that have signs out front reading Budweiser or Miller, the actual name of the bar is in small print at the bottom or top. The lettering is pretty small here, but it looks like this bar is the Highland Tap. And I think the awning sign reads Pickwick Ale, which was another local brand.

The beer companies would pay for the signs and awnings, which is why the beer name was so big and the bar name so little.

And from the more recent views, it looks like the latest occupant of the building was still a bar, still the Highland Tap, now with a Budweiser sign on it, plus "Established Since 1947" -- although it's not clear if it's still in business.

[Although we used to have a Dawson's in my neighborhood -- it was a mom-and-pop hardware store.]

Sigh, shows what I know

By adamg on Mon, 03/25/2019 - 6:41pm.

Confusing a beer name with the actual name of a place that's been around forever.

Now you know, Dawson had a

By anon on Tue, 03/26/2019 - 9:01am.

Now you know, Dawson had a brewery , maybe the only one , in New Bedford , by the notorious Weld Square. To be sure , here you go, internet confirmation :

http://www.whalingcity.net/picture_dawson_brewery.html

I also grew up going to

By anon on Mon, 03/25/2019 - 7:50pm.

I also grew up going to Dawson's Hardware

They're called "privilege signs"

By uhub-fan on Mon, 03/25/2019 - 10:53pm.

They used to be everywhere, but now they're rapidly disappearing.

Old North End of Burlington, VT

By Will LaTulippe on Tue, 03/26/2019 - 2:39pm.

Had a store with a Like cola sign into at least the early 90s.

The Twitter discussions on these

By eeka on Mon, 03/25/2019 - 2:54pm.

are just amazing. People who don't recognize a single clue in the photo, or only recognize something that narrows it down to a huge area, yet feel the need to comment anyway.

"Well there's an elevated train, so somewhere where the elevated train is."

"I have no idea, but maybe somewhere in Somerville."

There are some sort of

By Dave on Mon, 03/25/2019 - 3:59pm.

There are some sort of strange metal things embedded in the pavement, running parallel to traffic. That should help narrow it down.

Well, it's from the Boston City Archives

By tachometer on Mon, 03/25/2019 - 4:51pm.

So I'm guessing that it's somewhere in Boston.

:-p

Probably somewhere in the Archives section of Boston

By uhub-fan on Mon, 03/25/2019 - 6:00pm.

(n/t)

They are the Yahoo Answers of

By Brent Jeffries on Mon, 03/25/2019 - 7:05pm.

They are the Yahoo Answers of the Boston City Archives challenges.

You did not just diss Yahoo

By Scratchie on Tue, 03/26/2019 - 12:04pm.

You did not just diss Yahoo Answers.

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081101161634AAvM3kB

Hey Scratchie

By Will LaTulippe on Tue, 03/26/2019 - 2:32pm.

I see that, and I raise you https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100221080353AALiFVl

How is babby formed?

By eeka on Tue, 03/26/2019 - 6:41pm.

No Yahoo! Answer will ever hold a candle to HIBF:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ll-lia-FEIY

The Answer

By Boston City Archives on Mon, 03/25/2019 - 4:11pm.

Thanks for playing, folks! Washington at Eustis Street is correct. The date is March 21, 1951. To see a larger version of the image, you can view it here: https://cityofboston.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/digitalFile_ee7...

Put down your Beers

By Don't Panic on Mon, 03/25/2019 - 11:48pm.

The Eliot Burying Ground is what tipped me off. There just aren't that many raised cemeteries in Boston.

Eliot
Address: Eustis and Washington Streets Roxbury

History:
1630- Dating from 1630, Eliot Burying Ground (formerly known as Old Roxbury Burying Ground and Eustis Street Burying Ground) is the oldest burying ground in Roxbury and one of the three oldest of Boston's historic burying grounds with the first interment made in 1633. This burying ground was the site of the Roxbury Neck fortifications. At the time of the siege of Boston, American colonists built a redoubt in 1775 to defend the road to Dorchester and the entrance to the town of Roxbury. It extended from Eustis Street across Washington Street, and was called the Burying Ground Redoubt. Interments ceased here in 1854 except those made in family tombs. In 1857 the town built the external wall and gate and made landscaping improvements, including pathways and trees. Near the Eustis Street entrance is the Dudley family tomb for early Colonial governors. Buried there are Governor Thomas Dudley [1653], Governor Joseph Dudley [1720], Chief Justice Paul Dudley [1752] and Colonel William Dudley [1743]. The Dudley tomb is covered with an oval marble slab which took the place of the original plate of pewter that was cut out by American soldiers of the Roxbury camp during the siege of Boston and made into bullets. The Minister's or Parish Tomb contains the site's namesake, John Eliot, apostle to the Indians [1690], and five later ministers of the First Church of Roxbury. Benjamin Thompson, schoolmaster and physician [1714], is also buried there as well as generations of early Roxbury families.

You get a clean shave and a cigar, then wander into the bar

Comments

Support Universal Hub

In other Boston news