Brookline Historical Society
The Marsh

Brookline Coal Co., 40 Pearl St.
The north side of Pearl St. abuts the railroad tracks, today's "D" line, on the east end of Brookline Village.
[Source: Leo Sullivan]
Pearl St.
Looking east on Pearl St. from 21 Pearl St. Six houses on the left, from #24- #38, were removed circa 1960 and replaced with the parking lot next to the Longwood stop on the “D” line. In the distance is the massive depot building of the Brookline Coal Co. at 42 Pearl St. dwarfing the small building at 40 Pearl St.
[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]
Pearl St. Area, August 1965
Looking northeast from the Brookline Village “T” stop:
  • On the left at 42 pearl St. is the massive former Brookline Coal building. It previously had a separate side track and covered loading area.
  • In a row from the center of the parking lot to the visible light-colored side of the Brookline Coal building were five dwellings (26 – 38 Pearl St.) that were razed in recent years
  • Pearl St. continues past the large tree in the center of the photo. Visible is the distance are dwellings on Emerald St. at Brookline Ave.
  • To the right of the large tree in the center of the photo is a side view of the brick building at 43 Pearl St.


From a notebook of property-appraisal photos taken in 1965 and early 1966 for “The Marsh Urban Renewal Project” run by the Brookline Redevelopment Authority. Only a few scattered peripheral structures remain today.
46 Pearl St., Rear, 1965
Looking south at the rear of 46 Pearl St. from the railroad tracks that are the “D” line of today’s subway. Behind the photographer is the top of Station St. where it meets Kent St. Behind the building across the street in the photo is the Esso station at the northwest corner of Brookline Ave. and Lower Washington St. Brookline Ice and Coal Co. remains in business today two blocks from this site.

From a notebook of property-appraisal photos taken in 1965 and early 1966 for “The Marsh Urban Renewal Project” run by the Brookline Redevelopment Authority. Only a few scattered peripheral structures remain today.
48 Pearl St., 1965
Behind this building are the railroad tracks that are the “D” line of today’s subway. To the left is the side of the massive Brookline Coal Co. building which had a rear loading station on the tracks.

From a notebook of property-appraisal photos taken in 1965 and early 1966 for “The Marsh Urban Renewal Project” run by the Brookline Redevelopment Authority. Only a few scattered peripheral structures remain today.
50 Pearl St., 1965
Behind this building are the railroad tracks that are the “D” line of today’s subway.

From a notebook of property-appraisal photos taken in 1965 and early 1966 for “The Marsh Urban Renewal Project” run by the Brookline Redevelopment Authority. Only a few scattered peripheral structures remain today.
Pearl St.
From left to right: 54/56 Pearl St., 60 Pearl St., Bear’s Service at 65 Pearl St.
[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]
60-64 Pearl St., August 1965
Looking northwest toward Kent St. The smokestack of Brannen’s Laundry at 74 Kent St. is visible in the distance.

The dwellings formerly on these now vacant lots were razed in 1962 in preparation for the erection of an office building amid efforts by private developers to revitalize the area. On the left is a partial view of the relatively new brick office building at 50 Pearl St. These vacant lots became ground zero in a battle between the private Marsh Development Association and the Brookline Redevelopment Authority, with the latter seeking to completely raze the entire area of The Marsh.

From a notebook of property-appraisal photos taken in 1965 and early 1966 for “The Marsh Urban Renewal Project” run by the Brookline Redevelopment Authority. Only a few scattered peripheral structures remain today.
68 Pearl St., August 1965
On the left is a partial view of a newer brick building at 50 Pearl St. In the middle rear is 68 Pearl St. located on the former northern extension of Pearl St. In the middle foreground are vacant lots where several apartment buildings recently stood. This photo was taken prior to the leveling of the entire area then known as “The Marsh”.

From a notebook of property-appraisal photos taken in 1965 and early 1966 for “The Marsh Urban Renewal Project” run by the Brookline Redevelopment Authority. Only a few scattered peripheral structures remain today.
65- 69 Pearl St., Side and Rear, January 1966
Looking north from Emerald St. which was renamed to become an extension of today’s of Pearl St. On the left is the start of the northeast leg of Pearl St. which no longer exists.

From a notebook of property-appraisal photos taken in 1965 and early 1966 for “The Marsh Urban Renewal Project” run by the Brookline Redevelopment Authority. Only a few scattered peripheral structures remain today.
Pearl St.
Looking north on Pearl St. Clockwise:
  • 68 Pearl St.
  • 76 Pearl St. (speculative)
  • 84 Pearl St.
  • 81 Pearl St. on the corner as Pearl St. takes a right turn toward Brookline Ave.
  • 73 Pearl St., garage
  • 65-69 Pearl St., garage

[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]
Longwood MBTA Stop, 1960s
Standing on the Washington St. bridge looking east on the tracks of the “D” line by the Longwood stop. In the distance is the massive depot building of the Brookline Coal Co. at 42 Pearl St.
[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]
68 Pearl St., August 1965


From a notebook of property-appraisal photos taken in 1965 and early 1966 for “The Marsh Urban Renewal Project” run by the Brookline Redevelopment Authority. Only a few scattered peripheral structures remain today.
65 - 77 Pearl St, January 1966
Looking at the northeast leg of Pearl St. which no longer exists. Emerald St., to the right, was renamed to become an extension of today’s of Pearl St. On the left is a partial view of 77/79 Pearl St. In the middle is 73 Pearl St. The large one-story building housing Bear Wheel Alignment spans 69 – 65 Pearl St.

From a notebook of property-appraisal photos taken in 1965 and early 1966 for “The Marsh Urban Renewal Project” run by the Brookline Redevelopment Authority. Only a few scattered peripheral structures remain today.
76 Pearl St., July 1965
Looking northwest toward Kent St. The possessions of the business, Allied Electric Co., were auctioned off on June 30, 1967 and the building razed.

From a notebook of property-appraisal photos taken in 1965 and early 1966 for “The Marsh Urban Renewal Project” run by the Brookline Redevelopment Authority. Only a few scattered peripheral structures remain today.
84 Pearl St., July 1965
Looking northwest toward Kent St. from the former Pearl St. extension. On the immediate left is the Allied Electric Co. at 76 Pearl St. The smokestack in the distance is Brannen’s Laundry at 74 Kent St. at the apex of Kent St. and Station St. To its immediate left is a rear view of the brick building at 65 Kent St., the “D” tracks are right up against it.

From a notebook of property-appraisal photos taken in 1965 and early 1966 for “The Marsh Urban Renewal Project” run by the Brookline Redevelopment Authority. Only a few scattered peripheral structures remain today.
81, 84, 85 Pearl St., January 1966
The northeast extension of Pearl St. is viewed looking west several houses in from Brookline Ave. 85 Pearl St. is on the left followed by 81 Pearl St. On the corner and a building of Brookline Oil Co. across the street at 84 Pearl St. This photo was taken prior to the leveling of the entire area then known as “The Marsh”.

From a notebook of property-appraisal photos taken in 1965 and early 1966 for “The Marsh Urban Renewal Project” run by the Brookline Redevelopment Authority. Only a few scattered peripheral structures remain today.
84 Pearl St., August 1965
Standing on the Pearl St. extension leg that no longer exists, looking northwest toward Kent St. The “D” line tracks are right behind the oil truck.

From a notebook of property-appraisal photos taken in 1965 and early 1966 for “The Marsh Urban Renewal Project” run by the Brookline Redevelopment Authority. Only a few scattered peripheral structures remain today.
84 Pearl St., July 1965
Looking southeast from the “D” line tracks at the former Pearl St. extension. In the distance are 85 and 81 Pearl St.

From a notebook of property-appraisal photos taken in 1965 and early 1966 for “The Marsh Urban Renewal Project” run by the Brookline Redevelopment Authority. Only a few scattered peripheral structures remain today.
Gillis Builidng and Painting Co., 89 Pearl St., January 1966
Looking southwest toward Brookline Ave. On the immediate left, 97 Pearl St. has already been razed. A corner of the gas station at the corner of Brookline Ave. and Pearl St. can be glimpsed.

William Gillis was vice president of the Marsh Development Association which sought to privately redevelop the area of The Marsh as a counterpoint to the intention of the Brookline Redevelopment Authority to completely raze and rebuild the entire area.

From a notebook of property-appraisal photos taken in 1965 and early 1966 for “The Marsh Urban Renewal Project” run by the Brookline Redevelopment Authority. Only a few scattered peripheral structures remain today.
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