[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

Beacon St. looking west is on the far right. In the middle are the house and outbuildings of Charles Stearns. In the far-left corner of the photo, the steeple of the Harvard Congregational Church on Harvard St. can be glimpsed. The house blocking the view of the church may be that of J. G. Stearns on Longwood Ave. The fencing behind it is probably tracing Sewall Ave.

This is one of two unusual early photos taken in this area, it is probably date before 1880.

From the 1887 photo series taken just before the widening of Beacon St., most likely by Augustine H. Folsom, a Boston photographer.
[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

Looking east on Beacon St. toward St. Paul St. Car is turning from Charles St. on the right.
[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

South side of Beacon St. viewed from left to right:

• #1223, Hampton Court (partial)
• St. Paul St.
• #1243, house no longer standing
• #1247-1249
• #1253 (partial)

On the north side of Beacon, the Coolidge & Brother store is barely visible in the center, behind trees.
Next is the James Whitney house on the corner of Pleasant Street, then the John G. Stearns house at 24 Pleasant Street, and finally the complex of the James Stearns house at 31 Pleasant Street, seen from the rear with conservatory and carriage house (left to right, respectively).
Left, on the south side of Beacon Street, you may see a horse & carriage approaching the C. H. Stearns house.

From the 1887 photo series taken just before the widening of Beacon St., most likely by Augustine H. Folsom, a Boston photographer.
[Source: Digital Commonwealth]

Sears family home, looking north. Left, rear: Buildings on Pleasant St. on property owned by James Stearns.
[Source: Smithsonian]

Sears family home. Beacon St. to the left. Only structure in photo that is still standing.
[Source: Smithsonian]

This photo was taken shortly before the widening of Beacon St. The house of Charles H. Stearns is on the left. Its apparent standing as a typical house on Beacon St. is misleading and requires explanation:

• The house was built in 1767 before Beacon St. existed (1851). It fronted on Pleasant St. and was positioned at a right angle to the street. It is seen at an angle here because Pleasant St. ran diagonally across Beacon St. approximately where the carriage is seen.
• The driveway (viewed in the Pleasant St. photos) is on the left side of the house in this photo, as is the front of the house.
• Charles Stearns would soon be compelled to move his house 400 feet to the southwest to Harvard St. to accommodate the 1888 widening of Beacon St., a requirement he actively opposed.

With the death of Charles H. Stearns in October 1935, the house, the last holdout in a prime commercial location, was demolished. This photo also has an excellent view of how the planks were slightly raised on the wooden sidewalks
[Source: Digital Commonwealth]

Looking east on Beacon toward St. Paul St. Corner of building from the Stearns property visible on the right

Pleasant St. coming in at the left. On the right are the Thomas Sears house at 2 Charles St. (still standing) and 1265 Beacon St. is partially visible behind it. At the bottom of the first decline St. Paul St. is visible.
[Source: Digital Commonwealth]

From left to right:

• 2 Charles St., still standing
• 3 Charles St., rear, no longer standing
• Second Unitarian Society Parish House, 11 Charles St., rear. Built 1916, still standing and currently home to Temple Sinai
• Rear, 50 Sewall Ave., behind the Parish House. The brick building there today has a similar footprint but any connection is unknown.

[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

Looking northeast from Beacon, just south of Coolidge Corner

Viewed from Beacon St.

From the 1887 photo series taken just before the widening of Beacon St., most likely by Augustine H. Folsom, a Boston photographer.
[Source: Digital Commonwealth]

Beacon St. is running along the left border of the photo, the turn onto Pleasant is just visible in the foreground. On the left, in the distance, is the Coolidge & Brother store.

From the 1887 photo series taken just before the widening of Beacon St., most likely by Augustine H. Folsom, a Boston photographer.
[Source: Digital Commonwealth]

Looking east on Beacon. James S. Whitney house on the northwest corner of Pleasant & Beacon. Stearns house is visible through the trees on the right.

Beacon St. looking east on the left, The old extension, since removed, of Pleasant St. to the right.

From the 1887 photo series taken just before the widening of Beacon St., most likely by Augustine H. Folsom, a Boston photographer.
[Source: Digital Commonwealth]

Looking west on Beacon St. at the rear of the house which sits at a right angle to its entrance around the corner on Pleasant St. The house would soon be moved 400 feet to the southwest for the widening of Beacon St.

From the 1887 photo series taken just before the widening of Beacon St., most likely by Augustine H. Folsom, a Boston photographer.
[Source: Digital Commonwealth]

The back of the house is viewed on Beacon St. This image is flipped horizontally.
[Source: Digital Commonwealth]

Looking west from the Thomas Sears house on Charles St. Foreground right: Charles Stearns house. Foreground left: out-housing of Charles Stearns. Far distance: Aspinwall Hill. The large mansion at the top of the hill with the tall spire was built by Clarence Esty, part of a group of Esty houses that have since been replaced by Schick Park. The spire was an observation tower equipped with a high-powered telescope that enabled detailed viewing of distant scenes. Harvard St., south of Beacon St., runs roughly left to right in the middle of the picture.
[Source: Smithsonian]

Near left is the side of the old school house that was torn down for the widening. In the far distance is the watering station in fron of the Coolidge & Brother store.

From the 1887 photo series taken just before the widening of Beacon St., most likely by Augustine H. Folsom, a Boston photographer.
[Source: Digital Commonwealth]