At the apex of Harvard and Washington Streets in Brookline Village, looking northwest on Washington St. The building on the right is the post office, at 283 Washington St. Identifiable businesses in the store on the left are the Postal Telegraph & Cable Co. and Frank A. Carnes, Real Estate at 289 Washington St.

This photo has long been misidentified (e.g. page 59 in Brookline, Massachusetts, A Pictorial History by Jean Kramer) as being part of the town’s 1905 bicentennial celebration. The clue to its real identity is the anomaly of the large picture of a man above the store fronts. It is Admiral George Dewey and he is being feted for his victory at the Battle of Manila in the Spanish American War. When Dewey returned from the Philippines to the United States on September 27, 1899, large parades in his honor were held in several major cities, including Boston on October 14, 1899 and it is probable that Brookline was also celebrating his victory in the fall of 1899, captured in this photo.
[Source: Digital Commonwealth]

Looking north on Harvard St. from Kent St. Photo by Henry A. Varney, Brookline town engineer.

• On the left is the smaller tower of the Baptist Church on the southwest corner with Pierce St., no longer standing
• In the far distance is the steeple of St. Mary's Church of the Assumption, still standing
• In the immediate foreground is the First National Bank building, #1-5 Harvard St., still standing
• Following the bank building is the building at #7–15 Harvard St. Seen are the signs for Wallace Ozon, dentist at #7 and Jennie Wilson, milliner, at #9. Still standing.

[Source: Digital Commonwealth]

Washington St. in the heart of the village, looking northwest, at the corner of Washington Place, today's Davis Ave. Benjamin Davis House, built in 1760, demolished around 1867. Large tree and fences can be viewed in other photos from the 1860s.

Washington St. going north to the right; Davis on the left. The second floor was used by dancing and singing schools. Replaced by the brick Seamans building in 1889.

Washington St. going north to the right; Davis just off screen on the left. James M. Seamans moved his grocery store, that had been in the lower Village since 1848, to this location in 1865. The Seaman's second floor was used by dancing and singing schools. In 1889, the store was replaced by the four-story brick building that remains today. Martin Kingman maintained a dry goods store next door from 1865 until 1875 when he sold the business to his assistant, Elizabeth Swift.
[Source: Digital Commonwealth]

This building, still standing at 256 Washington St., was constructed in 1889 by the Seamans as a replacement for their two-story wood-framed store. In 1911-12, William Dexter Paine, stationer, moved his store into the building from the longtime location at 239 Washington St. To the right, at 260 Washington St. is the business of Nelson C. Thompson, upholsterer, previously located directly across the street. Steverman & Gibbons, electricians, are at 264 and H. J. Murray, plumber, is at 266 Washington St. These businesses were collectively present here from 1912 to 1917.
[Source: Digital Commonwealth]

256 Washington St., corner of Davis Ave. In 1889, James Manning Seamans replaced his wooden two-story store with this brick building that still stands. His son, Manning Seamans, took over the business from his father. Upon the latter’s death in 1910, the business was closed and replaced by William Dexter Paine, Stationer.
[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

256 Washington St., corner of Davis Ave. In 1889, James Manning Seamans replaced his wooden two-story store with this brick building that still stands. His son, Manning Seamans, took over the business from his father. Upon the latter’s death in 1910, the business was closed and replaced by William Dexter Paine, Stationer.

One possible speculative configuration for the three men is, from left to right: unknown employee, Manning Seamans, James Manning Seamans.
[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

The focus of this photo is the residence and business of Gertrude F. Wallace, hairdresser, at 285 Washington St. which, with a modified first floor, still stands. But the other structures to the right provide a rare documentation of the demolition of Harvard Hall in preparation for the erection of the building that is there today at the apex of Harvard and Washington streets. There is a workman on the roof of the just-closed furniture and upholstery business of Nelson C. Thompson. To the right of that, somewhat telescoped in size, is the Harvard Hall building housing two grocers and in the distance is the corner of the National Bank building.
[Source: Digital Commonwealth]

From left to right:

• 289 Washington St., Morris Salis, Tailor. In 1888, Salis emigrated from Russia at the age of 15. He opened his tailor shop here in 1903 and remained there for over thirty years then moving to the nearby “Bowker Block” on Harvard St.
• 289 Washington St. To the right of the Salis shop, oddly using the same address, is Charles Lot James, Real Estate whose space also hosts Charles W. Morse, Jeweler. In 1904, both would relocate across the street to 288 Washington St.
• 285 Washington St., the residence and business of Gertrude F. Wallace, hairdresser. The building, with a modified first floor, still stands.

From left to right:

• 289 Washington St., Morris Salis, Tailor. In 1888, Salis emigrated from Russia at the age of 15. He opened his tailor shop here in 1903 and remained there for over thirty years then moving to the nearby “Bowker Block” on Harvard St.
• 289 Washington St. To the right of the Salis shop, oddly using the same address, is Charles Lot James, Real Estate whose space also hosts Charles W. Morse, Jeweler. In 1904, both would relocate across the street to 288 Washington St.
• 285 Washington St., the residence and business of Gertrude F. Wallace, hairdresser. The building, with a modified first floor, still stands.

[Source: Digital Commonwealth]

Washington St. looking north
[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

From left to right:

• 293-297 Washington St. (future). The trees in the vacant lot have been stripped and there are large mounds of dirt. This is likely in preparation for the 1915 construction of the building which still stands there today.
• 289 Washington St., Morris Salis, Tailor. In 1888, Salis emigrated from Russia at the age of 15. He opened his tailor shop here in 1903 and remained there for over thirty years then moving to the nearby “Bowker Block” on Harvard St.
• 289 Washington St. To the right of the Salis shop, oddly using the same address, is Louis Ianneville, shoe repair, which was there between 1909 and 1915.
• 287 Washington St., second floor, Thomas F. Thompson, painter
• 285 Washington St., partial view.

[Source: Historic New England]

Previously the second town hall, this building became police headquarters in 1873 when a new much larger, town hall was opened across the street on the corner with Washington St.

From Photographs of Brookline: taken about 1876 / Richard Hills. Call No.: BROOKLINE/Special (CAGE B.R. 974 H6), Brookline Public Library.
[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

Built 1845. This building became police headquarters in 1873 when a new much larger, town hall was opened across the street on the corner with Washington St.

Note the beautiful front of the old town hall

The third town hall was opened in February 1873. It is reasonably likely that the hall is set up here for the 1874 high school graduation ceremonies. The sign on the rear wall spells out “B. H. S. 1874” and appears to match the newspaper description of the 1877 graduation in town hall with a similar hanging made from flowers.

Stereoview by Thomas Lewis, Cambridgeport

On the left are houses on Prospect St. which were removed by late 1898 for the new police station / court building that opened in the fall of 1900. On the right is the corner of the building housing the Robart brothers’ furniture business at 317 Washington St., still standing.
[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

Opened in February 1873

Opened in February 1873