The businesses viewed here, along the south side of Lower Washington St., were simultaneously sited at this location from 1904 - 1906. All the structures in this photo were demolished in 1907-1908 to make way for the new fire station which opened in 1909 and remains in use today. Note the man with his wheeled bucket, center photo, presumably scooping up horse droppings. Viewed from left to right:

• The business with the partial view of an awning is at the corner with Walnut St., the last building in this row. The best estimation is that it is the store of James Heleotis and John Sigalos Co., fruit [1904-1906]. The awning appears to advertise "Ice Cream Sodas" mirroring the sign at the corner entranceway visible in other photos.
• An enigmatic sign over the alleyway that seems to advertise a shooting gallery. This is currently unidentified.
• By the delivery wagon at #126 Washington St. are William Frawley, shoemaker [1889-1907]; and a bootblack, either W. L. Jacklin [1904] or Cromwell Felton [1905-1907].
• C. E. Riley, Cigars at #128 Washington St. [1900-1907]
• The awning at 134 Washington St. George W. Rix, Provisions and Transfer Market [1904-1907]
• Sing Lee, laundry, which was at #136 Washington St. for over 20 years [1883-1907]
• Hose House #1 and Chemical Engine #1 at #140 Washington St.
• P. J. Burns, Horse Shoe Forge at #144 Washington St. [1897-1907]
• Also at 144 Washington St. there remains a sign for R. Woodward who had a horse-shoeing business there from the 1860s until his death in 1892
• J. H. Pineo, carpenter and builder at 4 High St. (visible at corner of Washington St) [1901-1907]

South side of Lower Washington St., #144, corner High St. Hose House 1 is partially visible on the left. Right rear, #4 High St. is partially visible. The fire station is showing banners for the 1905 bicentennial. These buildings were all demolished in 1907-1908 and the current fire station was opened on this site in 1909.
[Source: Digital Commonwealth]

This is a unique early photo of the section of Lower Washington St. that became known as “Russell’s Block”. From left to right:

• [145-147 Washington St.] Brown Brothers, Fruits and Vegetables, Provisions
• To the right of the door for the upstairs rooms is an unattributed sign advertising “Drain Pipe, Nails, Powder, Soft Lead, …. Hardware”
• [137-139 Washington St.] Thomas T. Robinson, Fine Groceries. He had recently taken over the business of Marshall Russell whose sign still remains in the photo.

[Source: Brookline Public Library]

Looking east at Lower Washington St. from Boylston St. This photo contains a rare view of the north side of Lower Washington St.

On the far left is the wooden structure known as the "Russell Block". From left to right it houses:

• [153 Washington St.] The kitchenware and variety store of Albert Levien. Levien was a Russian immigrant who arrived in the United States in 1882, at the age of nineteen. He first had a store just over the Boston border on Tremont St. but soon moved to this location in 1888. He lived upstairs for the first sixteen years and maintained the store for over thirty years.
• [145-147 Washington St.] The store with the three awnings is the provisions store of Thomas S. Brown
• [137-139 Washington St.] J. V. Pyne & Co., dry goods

The large brick building to the right of the Russell Block, 127-131 Washington St., houses Jacob Morlock's "Bakery, Restaurant, Provisions" with the Morlock Hotel on the upper floors.

On the right side of the photo, from right to left, the identifiable structures are Hose House #1/Ladder #2 followed by Sing Lee’s Laundry. Hook and Ladder Co. #2 was only briefly located here, between late 1897 to mid-1899, before moving to the fire station at 342 Washington St.
[Source: Digital Commonwealth]

Looking east at Lower Washington St. from the beginning of Boylston St. At the immediate left, at #1 Boylston St., is the workshop of the Johnson Bros., Masons. The photograph is dated November 9, 1899 by the Town Engineer who was taking elevations for an encroachment case, note the measuring pole held by the man. The latter appears to be the same man holding a pole in this photo.
[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

The Stephen F. Rutledge V.F.W Post #864. P. H. Tonra, Commander. Lower Washington St., Brookline Village. Stores are no longer standing. Current fire house visible, right rear. Edward Moloney is standing under the "JT Driscoll Plumbing" sign, he is the one in a hat instead of a helmet.

Standing on the corner of Walnut St. and High St. looking northeast towards Lower Washington St. Left, on High St., is the rear of Henry J. Pineo, Carpenter and Builder. On the corner, with Walnut St. going to the right, are several outbuildings of Michael W. Quinlan, Carriages and Harnesses, whose main business is off screen to the left, on the corner of Boylston St. and High St.
[Source: Digital Commonwealth]

This is the last remaining horsecar in Brookline. Service began in 1859 and will soon switch to electric. On the right is the corner of the car house at #2 Walnut St. The entrance to Morss Ave. is just to the left of that. #97 Washington St. is viewed left in the rear.

Brookline House, 108 Washington St., an eating establishment and boarding house started by Aaron Whitney circa 1865 and closed circa 1874. Comstock, Gove & Co. is making a delivery. A Boston firm, they bottled soda water and eventually expanded to making liquor.

Looking east with Walnut St. coming in from the right. Partial view of the Brookline House, 108 Washington St., an eating establishment and boarding house started by Aaron Whitney circa 1865 and closed circa 1874.

Photo from the Brookline Chronicle, July 8, 1943

Looking west. Foreground left: W.P. Whittemore Co., Hay and Grain, 92 Washington St.; Roeder's Lunch Dairy, in the corner building, 104 Washington St.
[Source: Olmsted]

The two films on the marquee played at the New Brookline Theater from September 8-10. In the distance, a bus prepares to turn right from Brookline Ave. onto Lower Washington St. In an effort to reduce the heavy traffic congestion in the Village, it had recently been decided to substitute busses for the trolleys on the Allston-Dudley route. The trolley transfer stations are being removed. None of the buildings in the photo still stand.
[Source: Digital Commonwealth]

Looking at the north side of Lower Washington St. prior to the start of the urban renewal project for the area known as “The Marsh”. In the center is the building at 127-131 Washington St. housing Sagamore Liquors on the left and The Village restaurant on the right. The large open space on the left had been the site of a wooden building from the 1800s known as “Russell Block”. In August 1962 the town ordered that it be demolished due to its dilapidated condition and no attempt was made to replace it with the urban renewal project pending. On the right is the building built in 1937 housing the entrance to the movie theater.
[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

Start of Boylston St. to the right going west; lower Washington St. toward Boston to the left. This brick building, constructed at significant cost, was completed in January 1872 and headed the town’s progression to a well-organized fire-fighting system after years of more haphazard efforts. It housed a hose carriage for the Good Intent Hose Company No. 1. and the Thomas Parsons Steam Fire Engine.

From stereoscope. "Engine and Hose House, Brookline. E.R. Hills, Photographer, Brookline Mass.” Gift of Natick Historical Society.

Looking at the south side of Lower Washington St. High St. is just to the right. From left to right:

• Stores in the “White Block”
• Good Intent Hose Company No. 1. This brick building, constructed at significant cost, was completed in January 1872 and headed the town’s progression to a well-organized fire-fighting system after years of more haphazard efforts. It housed a hose carriage and a steam fire engine.
• Thomas Parsons Steam Fire Engine (pictured in front)
• Royal Woodward, Blacksmith

[Source: Brookline Public Library]

Decorated, in a deliberately macabre fashion, for the annual Horribles Parade, 7/4/1891, for which it won the best-decorated building town prize.

Background buildings, left to right: Carl Astrom, photographer, #129; upper window of George Rozantes, fruit stand, #121; #115; Lyceum Hall Pharmacy, #113; Mack's Café, #107; David Lynch residence, small brick building, #105; Arthur Caulfield, insurance and real estate, #103.
[Source: Olmsted]

Washington St. in foreground coming from Huntington Ave. Boston, looking west to Boylston St. Hose House #1 and adjacent buildings torn down. New station completed in 1908 and is still in use today.

Trolley station not yet evident.

From postcard mailed October 8, 1909 by Katie, 150 Cypress St. Brookline