Station St., building still in use. Train station is now the Brookline Village MBTA stop. In 1891, the company developed the first successful electric carriage in the U.S.

Looking east toward Washington St. The store front of James Rooney, Boots & Shoes, at #1 Harvard Sq. can be seen. He, and later his son, maintained their store there for four decades.
[Source: Brookline Public Library]

This is the one-story building in the middle of what was known as the “Rooney Block” and still stands today. Henry Collins and Thomas H. Dyer were partners at this location from about 1873 – 1877. Dyer left to work at the provisions store of Hartwell & Skinner in Boston's New Faneuil Hall Market and, by 1883, had returned to Brookline to open his own store in the nearby Panter Building. When Dyer left, this store became Henry Collins & Co., Provisions.

In the window, the reflection of the Seaman’s Co. building, situated directly across Washington St. on the northwest corner with Davis Ave , is clearly visible.
[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

Between Kent St. and Andem Pl. there are three buildings, two visible here, known as the Rooney Block. From left to right:

• Robert Hamilton, Dry and Fancy Goods, at #9 Harvard Sq.
• A. A. Cheney, Watchmaker and Jeweler, at #6 Harvard Sq.
• Collins and Dyer, Provisions, #5 Harvard Sq. Thomas H. Dyer left soon after this photo was taken to work at the provisions store of Hartwell & Skinner in Boston's New Faneuil Hall Market and, by 1883, had opened his own store in the nearby Panter Building. When Dyer left, this store became Henry Collins & Co., Provisions.

[Source: Digital Commonwealth]

The one-story building, still standing in the center of the complex known as the "Rooney Block", houses Henry Collins & Co., Provisions. To the right, the store of Mayo & Paine Stoves became, circa 1883, the Paine Brothers when Mr. Mayo left the business and Henry K. Paine went into business with his brother, Isaac. The store of James Rooney, Boots and Shoes, is on the far right.
[Source: Digital Commonwealth]

The eastern side of Harvard Sq. and Washington St. can be described in three sections defined by the side streets of Kent and Andem Place. All these buildings are still standing. From left to right:

LEFT BLOCK:
The National Bank building on the east side of Harvard St., between Webster Pl. and Kent St., is still standing. It housed the National Bank and the Post Office on the first floor. The horse-watering fountain in the middle of Harvard Sq. is also visible.

CENTER BLOCK:
Between Kent St. and Andem Pl. there are three buildings known as the Rooney Block, they are addressed as Harvard Sq.

• In the first building are C. A. Delano, Dry Goods, at #9 Harvard Sq.; and George M. Harper, Fish, at #6 Harvard Sq. (awning visible).
• In the one-story middle building, #5 Harvard Sq., is Horace E. Smith, Provisions.
• The right-hand building (the upper floors were later rebuilt in brick) houses Paine Brothers (Henry K. and Isaac), Plumbers, at #3 Harvard Sq.; and James Rooney Boots & Shoes at #1 Harvard Sq. In between is the door for #2, a rooming house called Somerset House. In a photo from 1908 there is a sign announcing Board and Room By Day or Week, Single Meals

RIGHT BLOCK:
Between Andem Place and Station St. are three large buildings, known as the Colonnade Buildings, all still standing.
Left Building

• On the corner at #241-243 Washington St. stands the Harvard Sq. Pharmacy, run by David C. Hickey.
• At #239 is the newsstand and stationary store of William Dexter Paine who was a son of Isaac Paine of the previously mentioned plumbing store.
• Nestled between the awnings of #239 and #235 is the door at #237 Washington leading to establishments upstairs. The awning for T. J. Turley & Son, tailors, is visible as is the window sign for Mrs. J. F. Hickey, dressmaker.
• Back on the first floor at #235 the awning of Everett E. Pierce, baker and caterer, is visible. To the right of him is the door for #231 leading to the several businesses upstairs.

Middle Building
The middle building still displays the Colonnade Buildings lettering today.

• The last store on the right, at #219 Washington St., is Frank Russell, real estate

Right Building

• The Edwin F. Crosby plumbing and kitchen goods store is on the left at #213 and #211
• On the right-side corner is Nelson Bros., Grocers, at #205 Washington St.

[Source: Digital Commonwealth]

One of a series of four photos taken from the top of the third Town Hall. In the far distance is Boston's Parker Hill and, at its foot, the long row of brick apartments along Huntington Ave. In the center of the photo is Harvard Sq. with the awning-covered storefronts on the east side of Washington St. visible to the right.

The 1903 improvements to the National Bank building, center left, are not yet in place.
[Source: Digital Commonwealth]

219 Washington St. from approx. 1879 - 1885, His brother, Eugene, was a clerk in the store.
[Source: Digital Commonwealth]

Looking from Harvard Sq. south on Washington St. viewed from the top of the third Town Hall.
[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

This is one of the two earliest known photos of the Harvard Sq. area of Brookline Village. The business life of the Village was still largely centered along Lower Washington St. From left to right:

• Carriage in front of Kenrick Brothers, stoves and furnaces
• Carriage in front of Marshall Russell, Grocer [unconfirmed]
• Large tree in front of the house of Benjamin Davis
• "Panter’s Building" at the apex of Washington and Harvard streets. In 1859, John Panter acquired the former Baptist Church building, moved it forward into the apex of the two main thoroughfares, and created storefronts on the first floor.
• Behind the "Panter’s Building" is the steeple of the newer Baptist Church on Harvard St.
• Coming forward from the church is the "Rooney Building" which was later raised up one story to accommodate stores underneath and is still standing.
• Foreground right is the train station. This was also the location of the telegraph office (sign visible) and the post office (washed out sign above)

This is one of the two earliest known photos of the Harvard Sq. area of Brookline Village. The business life of the Village was still largely centered along Lower Washington St. From left to right:

• Carriage in front of Kenrick Brothers, stoves and furnaces
• Carriage in front of Marshall Russell, Grocer [unconfirmed]
• Large tree in front of the house of Benjamin Davis
• "Panter’s Building" at the apex of Washington and Harvard streets. In 1859, John Panter acquired the former Baptist Church building, moved it forward into the apex of the two main thoroughfares, and created storefronts on the first floor.
• Behind the "Panter’s Building" is the steeple of the newer Baptist Church on Harvard St.
• Coming forward right from the church is the "Rooney Building" which was later raised up one story to accommodate stores underneath and is still standing.
• Foreground right is the train station. This was also the location of the telegraph office (sign visible) and the post office (washed out sign above)

Looking North from Washington St. Panter's Building was a remodeling of the old Baptist church building at that site. It was obtained by John Panter as payment for his work on the replacement church, seen behind it, and converted into a commerical building. He later sold it to George Joyce who moved his grocery store from the Colonnade Building circa 1874.
[Source: Brookline Public Library]

Washington St. continuing to the left, Harvard St. to the right. Note horse drinking water in front of the store. From left to right:

• The roof of town hall is visible
• Unidentified white house
• The store with the sign for A. B. Tyrrell, Upholstery. No longer listed in 1883
• The one-story building of Thompson Upholstery
• The new store of Thomas H. Dyer, grocer. Dyer, a Brookline resident, had previously co-owned a store across the street, Collins and Dyer, until 1877/78 when it became the store of Henry Collins & Co., Provisions. He then worked at the provisions store of Hartwell & Skinner in Boston's New Faneuil Hall Market. He is first listed here in the 1883 directory and would occupy the left side of the Panter’s building until 1904, when the building was replaced.
• The Joyce grocery store, which had originally occupied both sides of the Panter’s building. By 1883, Joyce had downsized to the right side only, seen here, and he was gone entirely by 1885. Frank F. Seamens, Groceries, would replace Joyce circa 1885 and also remain until 1904 when the building was replaced by the building that stands there today.
• In the far distance is the steeple of St. Mary of the Assumption Church on Harvard St.

Washington St. continuing to the left, Harvard St. to the right. The Panter's Building has been sold and renamed to the Harvard Hall building. From left to right:

• Post Office
• 279 Washington St., the store of Nelson C. Thompson who took over the furniture and upholstery business from his father.
• The stores of Thomas H. Dyer, grocer, and Frank F. Seamens, Groceries. Both would remain until 1904 when the building was being prepped for replacement with the building that stands today. Dyer would hang on into 1905 in the building’s reduced and dilapidated state, as litigation was resolved.
• The E. S. Morse making deliveries of what is likely coal. The horses are drinking at the fountain.
• National Bank building at 1-5 Harvard St., still standing.

Special Notes:

• There were three major snowstorms around this time that can be considered in dating this photo: February 13, 1899; November 27, 1898; and January 28, 1897
• There is a large unexplained group of men massed outside the front door of the T. H. Dyer store.

From left to right in the group of buildings in the center of the photo:

• 287-289 Washington St. The sign is not legible
• 285 Washington St., the post office. By 1902, it had moved over to the National Bank Building, a few doors to the right and across Harvard St.
• 279 Washington St.. The store of Nelson C. Thompson who took over the furniture and upholstery business from his father.
• 13 Harvard Sq., the grocery store of T. H. Dyer. li>
• 11 Harvard Sq., Frank F. Seamens, Groceries
• 4 Harvard St. (on the right side of the Harvard Hall building), entrances to upstairs businesses: Brookline Co-op Bank; Riverdale Press; Brookline Chronicle, Charles A.W. Spencer, proprietor.
• 8 Harvard St. (on the right side of the Harvard Hall building), the sign for Charlie Sing, Laundry is visible.
• Also visible in the right foreground corner of the photo is the partially obscured “Catering” sign for the store of Everett E. Pierce, baker and caterer.

[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

Special Notes:

• There were three major snowstorms around this time that can be considered in dating this photo: February 13, 1899; November 27, 1898; and January 28, 1897
• There is a large unexplained group of men massed outside the front door of the T. H. Dyer store.

From left to right in the group of buildings in the center of the photo:

• 287-289 Washington St. The sign is not legible
• 285 Washington St., the post office. By 1902, it had moved over to the National Bank Building, a few doors to the right and across Harvard St.
• 279 Washington St.. The store of Nelson C. Thompson who took over the furniture and upholstery business from his father.
• 13 Harvard Sq., the grocery store of T. H. Dyer. li>
• 11 Harvard Sq., Frank F. Seamens, Groceries
• 4 Harvard St. (on the right side of the Harvard Hall building), entrances to upstairs businesses: Brookline Co-op Bank; Riverdale Press; Brookline Chronicle, Charles A.W. Spencer, proprietor.
• 8 Harvard St. (on the right side of the Harvard Hall building), the sign for Charlie Sing, Laundry is visible.
• Also visible in the right foreground corner of the photo is the partially obscured “Catering” sign for the store of Everett E. Pierce, baker and caterer.

[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

Visible on the left:

• 214 Washington St., Kenrick Bros., Plumbers
• 222 Washington St., “Law Office” sign in the upstairs window probably for the office of Foster and Nash, lawyers
• 222 Washington St., the upstairs office of John F. Fleming, gasfitter and electrician
• 224 Washington St., Young & Brown, pharmacy

In the center:

• 287-289 Washington St. The sign is not legible
• 285 Washington St., the post office. By 1902, it had moved over to the National Bank Building, a few doors to the right and across Harvard St.
• 279 Washington St., the store of Nelson C. Thompson, furniture and upholstery.
• 13 Harvard Sq., the grocery store of T. H. Dyer in the Harvard Hall building.
• 11 Harvard Sq., Frank F. Seamens, Groceries, in the Harvard Hall building

On the right foreground:

• 205 Washington St. on the corner with Station St., Nelson Bros., Grocers

[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

Visible from left to right:

• 239-241 Washington St., William H. Butler, Apothecary
• 235 Washington St., Everett E. Pierce, baker and caterer, right side of the first Colonnade Building
• 225 Washington St., Brookline News Depot, center of the second Colonnade Building
• 221 Washington St., upstairs sign of the Brookline Storage Warehouse Office in the second Colonnade Building
• 211 Washington St., a partial view on the right of Edwin F. Crosby plumbing and kitchen goods, in the third Colonnade Building

[Source: Digital Commonwealth]

In the darkened building on the left:

• 220 Washington St., a partial view of F. E. Palmer, Florist
• 222 Washington St., sign in the window for the upstairs office of Frank G. Russell, Real Estate and Fire Insurance
• 222 Washington St., the upstairs office of John F. Fleming, gasfitter
• 224 Washington St., Young & Brown, pharmacy

In the center:

• 279 Washington St.. the store of Nelson C. Thompson who took over the furniture and upholstery business from his father.
• 13 Harvard Sq., the grocery store of T. H. Dyer.
• 11 Harvard Sq., Frank F. Seamens, Groceries
• 4 Harvard St. (on the right side of the Harvard Hall building), entrances to upstairs businesses: Brookline Co-op Bank; Riverdale Press; Brookline Chronicle, Charles A.W. Spencer, proprietor.
• 8 Harvard St. (on the right side of the Harvard Hall building), the sign for Charlie Sing, Laundry is visible.

On the right:

• 239-241 Washington St., William H. Butler, Apothecary
• 235 Washington St., Everett E. Pierce, baker and caterer, right side of the first Colonnade Building
• 227 Washington St., upstairs sign for Charles A. Lunney, Plumber is visible, above the wagon, in the second Colonnade Building

[Source: Digital Commonwealth]

This photo most likely shows the final stage of the 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. 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 taken over the store. But the Danforth store will be short-lived: the building that exists today is about to be constructed there with Rhodes Bros. taking over occupancy.
[Source: Digital Commonwealth]