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Photos · Historic Jamaica Plain Photos
previous page | next page | displaying pictures 1-100 of 187
  • The Woolsey Block in 1895 was an impressive four-story commercial block with Nelson's Grocery Store, the Jamaica Plain News Depot, and the West Roxbury Co-operative Bank. On the left, a carriage waits outside the Jamaica Plain train station. Photograph courtesy of William Dillon
  • Students in Miss Roeske's music appreciation class at the Perkins Institution for the Blind. Located at the corner of Pekins and Day Streets in Hyde Square, the school was founded in 1887 and served children through age nine. For general instruction, students were segregated by sex. As you can see in the photograph, African-American children were welcomed. The school was an outgrowth of the Perkins Institution for the Blind in South Boston, founded by Samuel Gridley Howe.
  • Looking south on Hyde Park Ave at Forest Hills. The Minton Block is shown on the left and the Morton Block is shown on the right. Thomas F. Minton was a successful contractor and land developer who laid out Skinner Hill in Roslindale, Forest Grove (Peter Parley Road, Park Lane), and the Weld Estate (Tower, Woodlawn, and Weld Hill Streets) in Jamaica Plain. He later developed the Parker Estate and laid out Brookside Avenue, Cable, Marmion, and Minton Streets. Photogaph courtesy of David Rooney.
  • In 1915, a group of boys from a geology class at the Children's Museum get ready for a Saturday morning field trip led by Robert W. Sayles. Photograph courtesy of the West Roxbury Historical Society.
  • Shown here is the Morton Block built in 1881 at the corner of Hyde Park Ave and Washington Street in Forest Hills. A large grocery store occupied the ground floor while apartments were built on the second and third floors. Micahel S. Morton was a sucessful grocer and an active member of the Jamaica Plain Citizens Association. He lived at 75 Morton Street. Photogaph courtesy of the West Roxbury Historical Society.
     
  • Parishioners leave Saint Thomas Aquinas Church after Sunday mass during World War II. The church was built in 1873 at the corner of South and Saint Joseph Streets and was designed by architect Patrick J. Keeley. The sign on the front lawn lists parishioners serving in the armed forces during the war. Photograph from the Jamaica Plain Historical Society archives.
  • Members of the Class of 1892 at the Jamacia Plain High School (formerly West Roxbury High) pose on the front steps of the school. Above the door is inscribed, "Eliot High School" and the dates 1689, the year the school was endowed by John Eliot, and 1867, the year the school was built. Photograph courtesy of the West Roxbury Historical Society.
  • 1893 view of the Lyman House (Moreland Cottage) taken by the Olmsted Brothers. Courtesy of the Frances Loeb Library, Graduate School of Design, Harvard University.
  • One of the Adams Nervine Asylum buildings.
  • Automobiles line the Arborway in front of the Arnold Arboretum. Circa 1939. Courtesty of Boston Public Library, Jamaica Plain branch.
     
  • Workers at the <a href="http://www.arboretum.harvard.edu/">Arnold Arboretum</a> visitor's center at the turn of the century. Photograph courtesy of Boston Public Library.
  • Visitors enjoy a springtime stroll through the Arnold Arboretum. Courtesy of Boston Public Library, Jamaica Plain branch.
  • <p>Blessed Sacrament Rectory. From a photo postcard showing a cancelation date of August 23, 1906. Original postcard is held in the archives of the Jamaica Plain Historical Society. <br /></p><br/>
  • In this view of breweries and factories along the Stony Brook Valley, a portion of Mission Hill can be seen in the background. Courtesty of Boston Public Library, Jamaica Plain branch.
     
  • A city bus operated by the Boston Elevated Railway sits outside the Forest Hills station in 1930. Courtesy Anthony Sammarco
  • 701 and 703 Centre St. at the corner with Burroughs St. At the turn of the century this building housed C.B. Rogers & Company pharmacy and it remained in that use through the mid-1970s. The last proprietor was Jamaica Plain resident John Donovan and the assisting pharmacist was Bill Sullivan of West Roxbury. John would keep the store open late for a customer when an urgent prescription needed filling. Janice O'Hara Murray, who worked at the counter during her high school years, recalls the 1967 Mustang that her brother-in-law Gerry used to make home deliveries. She also recalls the beautiful carved oak Victorian woodwork and tin ceilings with ceiling fans that were eventually sold at auction. In this view, the corner is occupied by Today's Bread, a popular institution in Jamaica Plain for two decades. Teresa Bruce closed Today's Bread in 1998 and Amrik Pabla began operation of Burkhara's, an Indian restaurant, in the space soon thereafter. Today the building is occupied on the lower floors by Burkhara's Indian Bistro and Cobwebs Antiques. The upper floors, once home to Hanlon's shoe store, now house a rare book dealer and other offices. A turn of the century view of this corner can be see here.
  • This 1920s view looks north on Centre St. from Burroughs St. towards Seaverns Ave. The corner building on the left is a hardware store while a sign for a shoe store can be seen on the right. Courtesy of Boston Public Library, Jamaica Plain branch.
  • This 1980s view of Centre St. looks south from Seaverns Ave. towards Burroughs St. Greater Boston Bank and Bank of Boston are seen on the right while a Green Line trolley heads towards downtown Boston on the left. Courtesy of Fran Perkins.
  • A view of Centre St. looking north towards Seaverns Ave. A plumbing and gas fitting service is seen on the right. The streets are surprising empty in this photograh taken in the late afternoon. The date is difficult to determine; it could possibly be in the period 1900-1920. Courtesy of Boston Public Library, Jamaica Plain branch.
     
  • A streetcar travels north on Centre Street in 1912. On the right is the tower of the Burrough's Building. This view is an enlargement of a portion of another photograph appearing here. Note the Mr. Fowler Real Estate sign on the left. Mr. Fowler remains in business but has moved to the other side of the street. A Store 24 currently occupies this Mr. Fowler location at 684 Centre St. Beyond Mr. Fowler is the current location of the Citizen's Bank, Yumont True Value, and CVS Pharmacy. Photograph from the Jamaica Plain Historical Society archives.
  • This image is an enlarged portion of another photograph appearing here. Two men are shown unloading a horse-drawn wagon on Centre St. at the corner with Burroughs St. The store in the foreground is F.A. Keazer Groceries and Provisions, seller of fruits, vegetables, other foods, and supplies. The storefront with the prominent sign next to F.A. Keazer is the C.B. Rogers & Co.<br/><br/>The F. A. Keazer building was demolished and the property remained undeveloped for many years. A new building was built at the location, 697 Centre St., in 1998 and the Wonder Spice Restaurant has occupied it since April 1999. The C.B. Rogers & Company building is currently occupied by Bukhara (an Indian restaurant), a rare book dealer, and other offices. Today's Bread, a cafe, preceeded Bukara from the early 1980s to the late 1990s. Before Today's Bread, the building was home to Hanlon's Shoes. The four-story brick building seen to the far left of the photograph, on the opposite side of the street is the apartment building at 745 Centre St. at the corner with Greenough St.<br/>
  • A streetcar travels north on Centre Street in 1912. On the right is the tower of the Burrough's Building. The two men on the right are walking towards Keazer's Fruit Store. On the left is White's Block. Two other images on this page provide enlargements from this image. Note the Mr. Fowler Real Estate sign on the left. Photograph from the Jamaica Plain Historical Society archives.
  • Oakes Provisions stood at the corner of Thomas and Centre Streets on the current site of the donut shop. Courtesy of Florence Oakes.<br/>
  • Cheerleaders of the Jamaica Plain High School in 1956 were, from left to right: Barbara Spinney, Catherine Gotovitch, Mary Parlon, Claire Boyce, Lorraine Dustin, Ann Kearns, Ann Litch, Beatrice Canny, Betty Ann Fetler, Joyce Mutlow, Gwenneth Edwards, Mary Jo McLaughlin, and Marilyn Guiva (kneeling in the center). Photograph courtesy of the Boston Public Library.
     
  • MacArthur's motorcade in 1951 on Columbus Avenue approaching Whittier Street. Photograph by Edwina Schoen courtesy of Chuck Schoen.
  • The Congregational Church at the corner of Seaverns and Elm.
  • Guests at a "Hoeing Surprise Party" pose at the Curtis Farm on June 4, 1873 before setting out for work in the field. A small brass band can be seen at the right. Photograph courtesy of Martha Tyer Curtis and the late Nelson Curtis Jr.
  • This view is an enlargment from a portion of another photograph shown on this site. Guests at a "Hoeing Surprise Party" pose at the Curtis Farm on June 4, 1873 before setting out for work in the field. Photograph courtesy of Martha Tyer Curtis and the late Nelson Curtis Jr.
  • Jamaica Pond had been used for harvesting ice since the eighteenth century. By the 1850s, icehouses were built along the shoreline to house ice prior to shipment. Men stand with horse-drawn sleds used to move the ice to the icehouses. Photograph courtesy of the Boston Public Library.
     
  • A billboard at Green and Washington Streets. At the center is a campaign poster for Andrew J. Peters for Congress. To the right is an advertisement for Sterling Ale. This photograph is an enlarged view of a portion of another photograph appearing on this site. Photograph courtesy of David Rooney.
  • A 1906 view looking down Green St. towards Amory St. Washington St. crosses in the foreground. Current addresses shown in this view run from 171 to 209 Green St. Businesses currently occupying this block include the Somali Development Centre, Union Green Realty, a laundry, a church, a beauty shop, and apartments. Note the horse-drawn wagon on the right and the early motorcar on the left. Trolley tracks can be seen in the foreground running down Washington St. The Elevated Railway (the old Orange line) was being built over Washington St. at this time.
  • By 1906, the Elevated Railway (the old Orange line) had reached Green and Washington Streets. It was later extended to Forest Hills. The Elevated Railway was demolished in 1987 and replaced by the new Orange line. Two enlargments from this photograph appear on the thumbnails page to the left of the thumbail of this image. Photograph courtesy of David Rooney.
  • <p>The Eliot School is one of the oldest, continuously running, educational institutions in the United States. It is located at 24 Eliot Street in Jamaica Plain. Reverend John Eliot, who came to Boston from England in 1633, made the first contribution to the school’s endowment fund In 1676. In 1701, thirty-eight of the inhabitants of Jamaica or Pond Plain gave various sums from two shillings to a pound, 14 pounds 1s. in all, to be paid annually for twelve years for the support of a school. Payments were made in grain, half Indian (corn) and half English (wheat) at the price of the day. The first school was built on the land given by John Ruggles in 1676 and was located where the Soldiers Monument now stands in the middle of Centre St.</p><br/>
  • Eliot St. looking from Centre St. towards Hagar St. The Footlight Club is shown on the right and the parish hall of the First Church on the left.
     
  • Firemen outside of Engine Company 28 on Centre Street. This building currently houses J.P. Licks. Courtesy of Boston Public Library, Jamaica Plain branch.
  • A ticket for the 100th performance at the Footlight Club on Eliot Street. The Footlight Club is America's oldest community theatre and has performed every year since 1877. Founded by young socialites, the Footlight Club has evolved along with its neighborhood. Once, wealthy aristocrats arrived in coaches to enjoy the society of their own kind in an atmosphere of gentility and wealth. The performances sometimes seemed secondary to the social function. Today the Footlight Club draws its membership from Jamaica Plain, other Boston neighborhoods and surrounding communities. Between 1929 and 1939, the Footlight Club presented 15 Boston theatrical premieres, three of which were American premieres. This 1906 ticket requests that, "Ladies will please remove their bonnets."
  • Morton St. overpass and the old Forest Hills Station. Late 1980s.
  • The overpass and station at Forest Hills.
  • The Forest Hills Orange Line station in 1980s shortly before it was torn down to make way for the new Orange Line.
     
  • An elevated train leaves the newly completed Forest Hills station in 1908.
  • Construction work nears completion on the Forest Hills Orange Line station in 1908. The Boston & Providence Railroad station is seen on the left.
  • This photograph captures early morning activity inside the Forest Hills Orange Line station in 1960. Courtesy of Anthony Sammarco.<br/>
  • Buses unload passengers on the lower level of the Forest Hills Orange Line station in 1960. Courtesy of Anthony Sammarco.
  • The newly opened Forest Hills Orange Line station is shown on the left in this 1987 photograph while the old station, being readied for demolition, is seen on the right.
     
  • Open trolley cars, used exclusively during the summer months, fill a siding along Washington St. at Forest Hills circa 1900.
  • The Forest Hills station of the Boston & Providence Railroad.
  • The Jamaica Plain New Haven Railroad line depot at Green Street, the current site of the Green Street T station, brought commuters to Boston prior to the Civil War. The area around the depot developed due to the proximity of the railroad and the accessability to Boston. Photograph courtesy of the Boston Public Library.
  • Workers at the Haffenreffer brewery pose outside the plant along with some of their children and a pet in this 1891 photograph. Courtesy of the Boston Public Library.
  • This early 1980s photograph shows building "P" at the Haffenreffer brewery complex just before renovations on the building began. Courtesy of the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation
     
  • This early 1980s photograph shows the main building the Haffenreffer brewery complex just before renovations on the building began. Courtesy of the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation
  • Healing Spring, Franklin Park. From Jamaica Plain Historical Society archives.<br/>
  • Prior to the introduction of home refrigerators in 1916, ice was commonly used to keep food fresh. The Jamaica Pond Ice Company delivered ice to residences for use in iceboxes that were wood chests lined with zinc. This photograph shows two delivery men using ice tongs to hold blocks of ice cut to the proper size to fit into iceboxes. Iceboxes didn't disappear from U.S. homes entirely until after World War II when mass production made refrigerators affordable for most families. Photograph courtesy of the Boston Public Library.
  • This is a 1960s view of Jackson Square. The white building at the top left of the photograph is at the corner of Lamartine and Centre Streets. The Bromley-Heath housing complex can be seen on the right. The Boston and Providence railroad bridge was later torn down to make way for the depressed railroad bed that now carries the MBTA Orange line as well as Amtrak and commuter rail trains. Courtesy of the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation<br/>
  • <p>The Jamaica Club built this clubhouse in 1889. Club members were predominantly middle-class and upper middle-class men who gathered on Saturday evenings to dine and enjoy card and other indoor games. The Jamaica Club was located on the northwest corner of Green Street and Rockview Street, where residential units for wheelchair accessible living are now located. It was later purchased by the Knights of Columbus and used by that organization as a meeting hall.<br /> </p><p>In the 1950s and 1960s the Knights of Columbus sponsored a catholic girls social group, the Squirettes, that met in this building as well a group called the Squires for boys. <font size="2" face="Arial">These groups were considered the “Junior Members” of the Knights of Columbus and were run by Mr. Paul F. Barrett, a school teacher.</font> Activities inluded dances, variety shows, an annual retreat,  and trips to West Point and Washington, DC. <font size="2" face="Arial">They also organized a Christmas party over many years at the Franciscan Children’s Home in Fort Hill, Roxbury, as well as other social services.</font><br /><br />While the clubhouse is gone, the retaining wall shown in this photo can still be seen today. The Club is shown here from the Rockview side.</p><br/>
     
  • Visitors to the Arnold Arboretum at the turn of the century pass by a display of mountain laurel.
  • This photograph is an enlarged portion of another photograph appearing on this site. Visitors to the Arnold Arboretum at the turn of the century pass by a display of mountain laurel.
  • The Jamaica Plain High School at 76 Elm Street was built in 1900. The impressive building is designed in Tudor Revival style. An addition was built in 1925. The school was one of the first in the school system equipped with electric clocks manufactured by the Blodgett Clock Company. No longer used as a school, the building has been converted to apartment units. Photograph courtesy of David Rooney.
  • Jamaica Plain High School, 76 Elm St. 1910.
  • Donald McCarrick, Albert Coggins, Frank McFarlan and Robert Krusz pose in this photograph from the Jamaica Plain High School 1951 yearbook.<br/>
     
  • Jamaica Plain High School students pose at the corner of Elm and Greenough Streets in this photograph from the 1952 Jamaica Plain High School yearbook.
  • Once a fixture on Centre St. located near the corner of Seaverns Ave, Kennedy's Butter and Eggs shut its doors at the end of January 2000. Joining Hailer's Drug and a list of other similar establishments, Kennedy's is recalled as a community-spirited place, the kind of store where the proprietor knew your name and even extended credit. The Kennedy's chain once had more than 100 stores across New England.
  • This hook and ladder wagon was photographed in 1885 at the corner of Centre and Burroughs Streets. John Lynch is the driver of Ladder 10. Mark Davis is the call captain standing at the center of the truck. The Seaverns House is visible to the left.
  •  
  • U.S. Postal Service employees pose outside the post office bulding in Woolsey Square near the current location of the Green St. Orange Line station.
  • In this photograph taken at Seaverns and Centre, the Masonic Temple occupies the second floor while a dry goods store does business on the ground level.
  • This view of Monument square about 1905 shows men in bowler hats, a street car, the Loring-Greenough House, a watering trough, and the apartment building at the corner of Greenough Avenue. Note the unpaved streets.
  • As a train travels towards downtown Boston along the Boston Elevated Railway at Forest Hills, a portion of the new Monsignor William J. Casey Overpass (Morton St.) is being constructed above. A commuter train on the former Boston & Providence Railroad route can be seen between the columns at the lower left. Notice the Metropolitan Police traffic booth on the sidewalk to the right. The booth was used by police who directed traffic during the morning and evening rush hours. Courtesy of Anthony Sammarco.
  • This 1885 photograph shows Centre Steet between Thomas and Green Streets. The old firehouse can be seen on the left which houses JP Licks today. Note the hose and bell tower on the firehouse. This tower has been significantly modified in modern history. The building beyond the firehouse bears signs for a hardware store and M.T. Wallace Groceries. The building to the left of the firehouse displays a sign, "Quincy." Note the overhead catenary wires for the approaching electric trolley car. Photograph courtesy of the Boston Public Library.
     
  • This image is an enlarged portion of another photograph appearing here. A horse and buggy is shown at the corner of Centre and Myrtle Streets. The corner building, site of the current day post office building, 655 Centre St., displays signs for a hardware store and M.T. Wallace Groceries. The firehouse, at 659 Centre St., at the far left, looks much like it does today. The firehouse is the current home of J.P. Licks. The Baptist Church on the far side of Myrtle St. is out of view but the house at 629 Centre can be seen beyond it.
  • Our Lady of Lourdes Hall
  • The Parkman School circa 1907.
  • Pinebank I was built in 1802 by China trade merchant James Perkins (1761-1822) as a Federal country house on the banks of Jamaica Pond. Photograph courtesy of Anthony Mitchell Sammarco.
  • Pinebank II was built in 1848 on the site of the original house by Edward Newton Perkins. Photograph courtesy of Anthony Mitchell Sammarco.<br/>
     
  • Pinebank III, built when Pinebank II burned out in 1868. Designed<br/>by Sturgis & Brigham in Gothic style with red brick and imported<br/>English tan terracotta. The driveway entrance was made to<br/>commemorate all the Perkins homes with the dates they were built<br/>worked into the terracotta over the door, while the Pond entrance<br/>retained the prior balcony porch concept. Pinebank III seems not<br/>as elegant as its predecessor, but life there must have been<br/>pleasant. To the east the family had easy access to the Pond via<br/>their cove in the adjacent vale later filled in by the Park<br/>Commissioners. To the west, easy access was<br/>had to the Pond via a set of sandstone steps installed in 1864<br/>and purchased from the auction of the former John Hancock Mansion<br/>on Beacon Hill. Notable also were the giant cottonwood trees on<br/>either side of the house and its ivy, brought from England. <br/><br/>
  • This image, taken from a postcard, shows the boat landing at Jamaica Pond before the construction of the brick boat house.
  • A view along the eastern shore of Jamaica Pond, taken from a postcard published in 1914.
  • Firemen outside of Engine Company 28 on Centre Street, near Myrtle Street in 1904. Photograph courtesy of the Boston Public Library.
  • Two firemen pose with a horse drawn chemical fire engine in this 1880 photograph taken at Centre and Burroughs Streets. These engines used chemicals rather than water to fight fires.
     
  • A view of Centre St. looking north towards Eliot St. in 1965. Courtesy of Frank Norton.
  • This view at Forest Hills looks north on South Street while Morton Street crosses from left to right.
  • A 1965 view of South St. looking south from Centre St. The entrance to Curtis Hall is seen on the left. Courtesy of Frank Norton.
  • <p>St. Peter’s Church, once located on Paul Gore Street. Taken from a photographic postcard in the historical society archive. Photograph taken circa 1908.</p><br/>
  • The Sturtevant manufacturing plant.
     
  • The Sturtevant manufacturing plant on Amory St. between Williams and Green Streets. From the 1919 Aircraft Year Book, Aircraft Manufacturers Association Inc. Courtesy of Vincent Tocco.
  • Workers assemble wooden wings for military aircraft in the Sturtevant manufacturing plant on Amory St. between Williams and Green Streets. From the 1919 Aircraft Year Book, Aircraft Manufacturers Association Inc. Courtesy of Vincent Tocco.
  • <p>Photograph of children feeding the swans at Jamaica Pond taken from a period postcard (circa 1900).  A high resolution version of this photograph can be <a href="/storage/gallery-full-resolution/feeding_swans.tiff">downloaded here</a>.</p><br/>
  • Perkins' Cove was once located on Jamaica Pond below Pinebank. It was filled in before World War I.
  • Car 5195, an Arborway subway car, loads passengers on Centre Street ca. 1912. This Type 4 car had a new design with an enclosed cab and a fare collection station right inside the front door. Before the collection stations were installed in cars, conductors would roam from seat to seat collecting fares. This type car had another new feature; it was designed with the controls and power to pull non-powered cars as a trailer. Previously, all cars were self-contained with their own traction motors and ability to draw power from the overhead catenary. In the background a twelve bench open summer car can be seen.
     
  • Trolley, Centre and South Huntington
  • Looking southwest in 1906 down Washington Street from Green Street. Excavations are under way for the construction of the elevated railway (the old Orange line) that will run down Washington Street. This is an enlargement of a portion of another image that also appears in this collection. The elevated tracks were torn down in 1987 and replaced with the new Orange Line subway. Photograph courtesy of David Rooney.<br/><br/>
  • Looking southwest in 1906 down Washington Street from Green Street. Excavations are under way for the construction of the elevated railway (the old Orange line) that will run down Washington Street. An enlargement from this image also appears on this page. The elevated tracks were torn down in 1987 and replaced with the new Orange Line subway. Photograph courtesy of David Rooney.
  • Boys mastering woodworking skills, 1919. Photograph by Lewis W. Hine. Courtesy of the Library of Congress.
  • <p>The F.W. Woolworth store at the corner of Centre St. and Seaverns Ave.  circa 1950.<br><br/></p><br/>
     
  • Guests help with hoeing on the Curtis farm.
  • Enlargement. Guests help with hoeing on the Curtis farm.
  • Workmen using a pneumatic impact wrench dismantle open air trolley cars at the Forest Hills yard in 1919. Courtesy of Anthony Sammarco.
  • Civil War cadets from Roxbury. Photograph from Jamaica Plain Historical Society archives.
  • This is a 1938 view of Centre St. looking south towards Greenough Ave. Next to the large brick apartment building on the right is a series of small shops including Mullen's Bakery.
     
 
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