93 Washington St., Pearl St. is steps to the left. Visible above the door is the new street number reflecting the 1894 update of Washington St. addresses. Extending up Pearl St. behind this visible building are additional attached structures.

Standing in the doorway is Benjamin Franklin Baker (1820-1898). He began work at the paint shop of Silas Snow in 1841 and, circa 1856, became the owner of the property and the business. After Baker’s death, a former employee, Daniel Hunt, took over the business.

There remained only two painters listed at B. F. Baker in the 1895 town directory - Matthew Doyle and John Joudry - with Nicholas Watson, foreman. This is down considerably from the eight employees listed in 1891.

[Courtesy of the Digital Commonwealth (CC BY-NC-ND). From the Brookline Photograph Collection published by the Public Library of Brookline]