(ID) 018
(Slide ID) P-2-14
(Notes) Two pieces; not archived
[Source: William Robert Murphy Collection]

Seen from the rear on Boylston St.

(ID) 059
(Slide ID) P 2-8
[Source: William Robert Murphy Collection]

The station opened on outer Heath St. in 1899 as Combination Wagon No. 2 with five men on site and another three on call. It was soon renamed to “Station F” following the renaming of all the houses to “stations” at the end of the same year. In the 1930s, there was another system-wide renaming from lettered stations to numbered stations. Station F became Station 6.
By 1930, it was evident that the south and west areas of town had seen a large increase in population in recent years with no change to fire coverage. It was even reported that homeowners were being charged higher insurance rates as a result. To rectify this a larger Station D on Boylston was soon built and, in 1939, Station F, now known as Station 6, was closed and the personnel moved to the new Station 6 at Hammond St. and Newton St.

(ID) 045
(Slide ID) P 24-28
[Source: William Robert Murphy Collection]

This is a rare photo of the Harvard Hall building just prior to its replacement after a battle with the town and the invocation of eminent domain. The town needed to widen both Washington St. and Harvard St. and was literally shaving off sections of the building which sat at the apex of the two streets. The grocer, T. H. Dyer, insisted on remaining open and the building owner, in litigation with the town, covered the reduced and now-asymmetrical building with makeshift boarding.

(ID) 140
(Slide ID) P-14-12
[Source: William Robert Murphy Collection]

This photo shows the final stage of the full building at 11-13 Harvard Square. On the left, with its delivery wagons parked out front, is T. H. Dyer, Provisions. On the right, at #13 Harvard Sq., is Frank F. Seamens, Groceries recently renamed to L. N. Danforth. It appears that Lucius N. Danforth, a clerk at the Dyer store for two decades and at the George Joyce store there before that, has recently taken over the Seamens store. But the Danforth store will be short-lived. The town had that side of the building removed to allow for the widening of Harvard St. and a new building would replace it in two years.

(ID) 141
(Slide ID) P-14-8
[Source: William Robert Murphy Collection]

Standing in Harvard Square looking at Kent St. From left to right:

• 11 Harvard Sq., Frank F. Seamens, Groceries. Note dated poster in the window.
• Man and unusual wagon on Kent St.
• #9 Harvard Sq., C. A. Delano, Dry Goods

(ID) 143
(Slide ID) P-7-1
[Source: William Robert Murphy Collection]

Standing on Aspinwall Ave. School St. is on the right with the houses at 16/18 School St. and 2 Prospect St. and the Pierce Grammar School are visible. Harvard Hall at 6 School St. was a large area upstairs used for parties and meetings. The stores, numbered 82-90, are on the west side of Harvard St. The only identifiable one is William Sundell, Painting & Glazing, 84 Harvard St.

(ID) 139
(Slide ID) P-8-8
[Source: William Robert Murphy Collection]

Looking west on Hyslop Rd. Most likely shown are Edward Ruhl and two of his daughters at the corner with Druce St. The houses in the photo are no longer standing.

Looking west on Hyslop Rd. at the corner with Druce St. Most likely shown are Edward Ruhl, one of his daughters, and his son, In the distance on the right is 70 Hyslop Rd. and, in the middle, 125 Holland Rd., both still standing.

Looking east on Hyslop Rd. from the Ruhl house at 37 Hyslop Rd. 29 Hyslop Rd. is under construction. The Ruhls moved to their new house, then oddly addressed as 88 Druce St., in 1905. The three younger daughters of Edward and Mary Ruhl - Elsie, Louise, and Mary - are standing across the street.

Looking down Irving St. toward Walnut St. Upland Rd. is on the right. The longtime home of Dr. George Sabine and later, the Oveson family, it was torn down in the late 1930s.
[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

Upland Rd. is to the right of the house followed by a partial view of 43 Upland Rd., both houses are still standing. None of the houses that were constructed in the rear on Upland Rd. beginning in 1890 are present.
[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

Cypress St. is to the left, building is still standing.

(ID) 091
(Slide ID) P 24-8
[Source: William Robert Murphy Collection]

This substantial brick building was torn down in 1974 as the “Marsh Urban Renewal Project” was entering its core phase. Its removal accommodated the addition of a few additional feet for the covered parking platform straddling the tracks that remains today.

In the distance o the right is 74 Kent St. The large smoke stack of Brannen’s Laundry had been there for 75 years and was even considered to be an historic landmark of sorts when it had to be torn down in 1980.

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 northwest across Netherlands Rd. at the garage and rear of the house at 203 Kent St.

(ID) 120
(Slide ID) P-28-2
[Source: William Robert Murphy Collection]

Looking north on Kent St. from Linden St. The entrance porch to 122 Kent St. on the corner of Brook St. is visible on the left. The bridge on Aspinwall Ave. over the train tracks is faintly visible on the right.

Assigning a date to this interesting photo is challenging. The records of sewer work on Bowker St. and the apparent lack yet of a Welsbach gas lamp at Kent and Bowker point to a date around 1900. More compelling perhaps is the for-sale sign on the far right. The land had been owned by Thomas Howe who lived nearby on Linden St. His daughter, Kate, was married to Charles W. Chamberlin, the agent listed on the sign and a trustee of Howe’s estate. The plot of land was legally approved for sale in June, 1903 and purchased by the Town of Brookline in September.

(ID) 144
(Slide ID) P-9-8
[Source: William Robert Murphy Collection]

This is an exhibition of the Brookline Bird Club and the town forestry department held at the library in April 1914.
[Source: Digital Commonwealth]