January 15th is the anniversary of the Great Molasses Flood of 1919 in Boston’s North End. The United States Industrial Alcohol Company constructed a faulty 50 foot high steel tank in 1918 on Commercial Street near where Langone Park is located today. Twenty one people were killed and another 150 injured when the tank ruptured Read More…
Tag: Historic Photos
Historic Neighborhood Photo: Faneuil Hall Christmas Trees
Now that the New Year is in full swing, the holiday season is coming to an end, but this old photo might keep some of our readers in the festive spirit! Check out this picture from the 1930s when you could pick up a Christmas tree in Faneuil Hall! Who remembers this? Tune in each Read More…
Historic Neighborhood Photo: North Station
Phase I of The Hub on Causeway at North Station is nearing completion, with the new entrance to TD Garden now open! It is safe to say this part of our city is about to look very different from anything we have seen over the years. This week, we thought it would be fun to Read More…
Historic Neighborhood Photo: The Last Tenement
This tenement building, referred to as 42 Lowell, is a fascinating part of Boston’s history. It once stood in a row among 30 other brick walk-ups; now, this building is the lone survivor. As our city continues to change, this building has remained, holding strong to its roots. Read more about the building’s history at Read More…
Historic Neighborhood Photo: Rowes Wharf
Check out this old photo of Rowes Wharf from 1960! The building shown above was torn down by the Boston Redevelopment Authority not long after this photo was taken, and was rebuilt into the iconic Rowes Wharf we know today. See the photo of the remodel in 1988 shown below. The similarities between the two Read More…
Historic Neighborhood Photo: Engine 31 Firehouse
This week’s photo is of the Engine 31 firehouse along Commercial Street, just following 1919 Boston Molasses Disaster, when a holding tank burst and sent gallons of sticky liquid flooding the streets. The scene shown in this photo is significant because the Engine 31 firehouse was the site of one the major rescues during the disaster. Read More…
Historic Neighborhood Photo: Baldwin Place Baptist Church
There once was a time when this was the view from Salem Street looking down Baldwin Place! The church shown at the end of the street was built in 1811 and called the Second Baptist Church. It was commonly referred to as the Baldwin Place Baptist Church. In its later life, the building became the Read More…
Historic Neighborhood Photo: Bartlett Place
You may have stumbled upon this old photo of Bartlett Place off Salem Street recently. That’s because it was the featured image for the presentation by Jerome Krase about America’s Little Italies that was organized by the North End Historical Society and the North End Branch Library back in September. This image is a great example of the change Read More…
Historic Neighborhood Photo: Omni Parker House Hotel
Happy almost Halloween! To get us in the spirit, this week’s photo is of our neighbor, the Omni Parker House Hotel – which is known as the most haunted hotel in Boston. In fact, just as the Shining was inspired by the Stanley hotel in Colorado, another Stephen King novel 1408 was inspired by events Read More…
Historic Neighborhood Photo: North End Union Article
This week we have an article from 1982, submitted and written by Frank Conte, that describes the unique community that surrounded the North End Union in the neighborhood. From activities for children to senior recreation, it seems the Union really had something for everyone. It is described in the article as the “unchanging element in Read More…
Historic Neighborhood Photo: North Bennet Street School
Take a look at this photo of the North Bennet Street School back in 1892! The school was originally known as the North End Industrial Home and first opened as a settlement house for immigrants. Since the schools founding, it has been known for its vocational training for students. Although the type of classes offered at the Read More…
Historic Neighborhood Photo: Gus P. Napoli Square, Sunday Morning by Jules Aarons, Part 4
Wrapping up our Jules Aarons photo series, this week we have an iconic neighborhood photo of a Sunday morning on the corner of Gus P. Napoli Square. This is the corner of Moon Street and North Square, across the street from Sacred Heart Church. Look closely at how Aarons was able to capture the facial expressions Read More…