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.

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.

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]

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.

This house, which is still standing, was built as part of the 1843-1844 development of the Linden St. area and was a stop on the Underground Railroad. It was the “cottage” of William Ingersoll and Sarah Bowditch until 1867 when they moved to a larger house at 225 Tappan St.

In June, 1849, the Bowditches held a picnic for a group of black children, most of them associated with the Abiel Smith School on Beacon Hill (the building is in use today as Boston's Museum of African American History). The children were carried to Brookline and then back to Boston on the recently completed Brookline Village line of the railroad. The picnic, as described in the abolitionist newspaper The Liberator, was "an occasion of unalloyed satisfaction… The merry group employed their time to the best advantage, in swinging, dancing, nimbly pursuing each other, singing the songs of freedom, gathering flowers, and especially in disposing of the refreshments which were so bountifully provided for them." Henry "Box" Brown, who had escaped from slavery a few months earlier by having himself mailed in a box, was there and spoke to the children. Other attendees included anti-slavery activists from Brookline and Boston, as well as the ministers of the local Unitarian and Baptist churches.

From the report of the Massachusetts Historical Commission:
“Before the Civil War, he was a firm believer in abolition, becoming active in both Brookline and Boston efforts. He belonged to the Boston Vigilance Committee. Bowditch, along with Edward Atkinson and Edward Philbrick, participated actively in the fight against slavery. Besides trying to sway public opinion through meetings and lectures, Bowditch used his house for sheltering fugitive slaves. In 1849-1850, a South Carolina couple arrived in Boston on their way to freedom. They spoke at the Brookline Town Hall and stayed at #9 Toxteth. From there they went to other residences in town. At another time, Bowditch drove a slave from the brig Cameo from Boston to Concord and returned home in time for breakfast. Perhaps the most illustrious guest during this period was John Brown's son. The young man was hidden here after his father's execution for his involvement in the Harper's Ferry raid.“
[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

Looking south on Harvard St. from Webster Place.
[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

13-15 Harvard St, corner, Webster Pl. The Spring Sale sign displays the dates April 20-25 which, because of blue-law-mandated Sunday closings, likely means those dates correspond to Monday-Saturday, which then matches with the year 1914.

13-15 Harvard St, corner, Webster Pl. The Spring Sale sign displays the dates April 20-25 which, because of blue-law-mandated Sunday closings, likely means those dates correspond to Monday-Saturday, which then matches with the year 1914.

Photo shows the western side of Harvard St. immediately north of fork with Washington St. Church is at the corner of Pierce St. St. Mary's Church in the distance on the right.

Western side of Harvard St. just north of fork with Washington St. Church is at the corner of Pierce St. #14 Harvard St. just visible to the left.

#14 Harvard St. is to the left. Pierce St. to the right. In early 1908, the Baptist church moved to a new building at Beacon and Park. The Presbyterian Church then relocated from its Prospect St. location to the old Baptist Church building in early 1910.
[Source: Digital Commonwealth]

Still standing
[Source: Digital Commonwealth]

All still standing
[Source: Digital Commonwealth]

Home of Asa and Lydia Fenn. Operated as a boarding house from the time they arrived circa 1887 until 1899. She continued to run the boarding house after his death in 1891. No longer standing.
[Source: Digital Commonwealth]

Home of Asa and Lydia Fenn. Operated as a boarding house from the time they arrived circa 1887 until 1899. She continued to run the boarding house after his death in 1891. No longer standing.
[Source: Digital Commonwealth]

House of Rufus Candage, no longer standing. To the right is 32 Kent, still standing.
[Source: Digital Commonwealth]

The house was built in 1837 on what is now Kent Street. From the 1860s until its demolition in 1902, it was the home to generations of the Phillips family and the doyenne of the family, Charlotte Foxcroft Phillips. Long time next-door neighbors were the Twichells. George Pierce Twichell boarded at the Phillips house while he was a student circa 1880 and later married Charlotte’s daughter, Charlotte Heywood Phillips. The date of this photo is undetermined and there are no known family configurations that match the people in the photo.
[Source: Digital Commonwealth]

Looking east on lower Kent St. at a shed of the Bay State York Co., a heating and refrigeration company whose main location was across the street at 74 Kent St. Station St. enters at the right.
[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

Looking east at lower Kent St. Station St. connects on the right. These buildings were removed circa 1974 as part of the Marsh Urban Renewal Project. [pg. 2, no. 1]

• On the right is a partial view of a shed of the Bay State York Co., a heating and refrigeration company whose main location was across the street at 74 Kent St.
• On the right side of the brick building at 65 Kent St. is the Hamilton Printing Co.
• On the left side of the brick building at 65 Kent St. is the business of Milton Fenwick Reynolds, Carpenter and Builder. Reynolds moved his business here in early 1899. Remarkably, the company still operates today in Medford Massachusetts

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.

Looking west toward Harvard St. The estate of Harrison Fay is on the left, no longer standing.