John T. Connor, Director of Veteran Services for Brookline, is seen observing this plaque on the front of the third town hall in 1960. This otherwise ordinary scene actually displays the work of an esteemed female Brookline sculptor and the fairly extraordinary story it represents.

In 1917, a fifteen-year-old newsboy and freshman at Brookline High School named Albert E. Scott lied about his age and joined the army to fight in WWI. In June 2018, when his division came upon a German unit outside Paris, Scott, armed with a machine gun, singlehandedly killed thirty German soldiers while defending a vital pass before being felled by a sniper. He was only sixteen at the time, purportedly the youngest soldier in the army.

This bronze plaque, “Newsboys Memorial”, was created by Theo Alice Ruggles Kitson, a renowned sculptor who also grew up in Brookline. It was unveiled in a major ceremony at Town Hall in 1921. In April 1922, a full military funeral and procession were held at St. Aidan’s church.

One of the early trolley cars to run on Beacon St. after an accident. Note the damage to the pillars on its right side. This location is unidentified.

Looking southeast from the northeast corner of Brookline. On the right is 145 Essex St., no longer standing.
[Source: Connecticut Digital Archive]

Looking northwest from the northeast corner of Brookline. Commonwealth Ave. is on the right with stairs going up to Essex St. on the left. Today, the wall on the right has been removed, the Commonwealth Ave. bridge span lengthened, and the Massachusetts Turnpike now runs alongside the railroad tracks.

From the Boston & Albany Railroad Company photographic collection of Historic New England.
[Source: Historic New England]

Looking southwest. The rear of the Driscoll School is partially visible foreground right.

The tall fire fighter on the right is John F. (“Jack”) Norton who joined Station G in 1905 and worked there until 1908 as a ladderman.
[Source: Digital Commonwealth]

[Source: Digital Commonwealth]

This photo may be associated with the Emerald Necklace project managed by the Olmsted design firm circa 1893. Viewed from left to right:

• The distinct chimneys of the Parsons School
• Houses along Pond Ave.
• The round gas holding tank of the Brookline Gas Light Co. at the intersection of Brookline Ave. and Lower Washington St., center photo
• Houses along Heath St., Boston
• House of the Good Shepherd, Boston, far right corner

[Source: Digital Commonwealth]

This is the house known as "Sevenels" - named after the seven members of the Lowell family. It was erected circa 1860 by George Bacon whose family was living on Walnut Street across from the First Parish Church at the time. Bacon purchased the property, tore down the existing house, and erected this large mansion which still stands today. The house was then purchased after the end of the Civil War by Augustus and Elizabeth (Lawrence) Lowell. It was notably the house of poet and Pulitzer Prize winner, Amy Lowell. This photograph was donated by Amy Lowell’s romantic partner, Ada Dwyer Russell, who was the executrix for Lowell’s estate and apparently implemented Lowell’s request that all her materials be burned upon her death.
[Source: Utah Historical Society]

This is the house known as "Sevenels" - named after the seven members of the Lowell family. It was erected circa 1860 by George Bacon whose family was living on Walnut Street across from the First Parish Church at the time. Bacon purchased the property, tore down the existing house, and erected this large mansion which still stands today. The house was then purchased after the end of the Civil War by Augustus and Elizabeth (Lawrence) Lowell. It was notably the house of poet and Pulitzer Prize winner, Amy Lowell. This photograph was donated by Amy Lowell’s romantic partner, Ada Dwyer Russell, who was the executrix for Lowell’s estate and apparently implemented Lowell’s request that all her materials be burned upon her death.
[Source: University of Missouri--Kansas City]

[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

Station G at 665 Washington St. was opened in late 1899 and is still active today as Fire Station No. 7. It housed three companies: Hook and Ladder #1, Combination Company #4, and Steam Engine #2.

The tall fire fighter seated on the right is John F. (“Jack”) Norton who worked as a ladderman at the station between 1905 and 1908.
[Source: Digital Commonwealth]

This car was built in 1888 as a horsecar and converted by Henry Whitney's West End Railway Co. to run as the first electric trolley car in Brookline. The groundbreaking streetcar line started service in 1889 as part of the widening of Beacon Street and ran from Union Square, Allston over Harvard Street, Beacon Street, Massachusetts Avenue, and Boylston Street. The coupling for horses was left in place in case of the need for a tow.
[Source: Historic New England]

This deceptively-flat panoramic photo captures a 180-degree semicircle of the ceremony. The photographer is shooting east from the apex of School and Washington streets. On the left are 101, 89 (still standing) and 87 School St. On the right at the other end of the semicircle are houses on Washington St.: 358/360, 362, the old Brookline Bank at 366, 372, and 376 (the latter three still standing).
[Source: Robert Farrell]

Historic roads and buildings are overlaid on a modern map.
[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

A medical office building since 1978, it actually started in 1915 as a 15-unit residential apartment building.

Looking north from the rotary at the intersection of Williston, Evans, and Downing roads. In the foreground is Penny, unidentified. From left to right:

• 14 Orchard Rd., rear
• 9 Downing Rd.
• Orchard Rd. intersection
• 25 Downing Rd.

From the photo album of Edith Draper Steinmetz, 31 Evans Rd.
[Source: Daniel Coston Collection]

Viewed are Terry, unidentified, and Spencer Steinmetz who lived at 31 Evans Rd. just off screen to the right. Looking from right to left are the rears of 25, 15, and 11 Evans Rd.

From the photo album of Edith Draper Steinmetz, 31 Evans Rd.
[Source: Daniel Coston Collection]

Emma Roland Gilliams Steinmetz holding Pete the dog outside her home at 31 Evans Rd.

From the photo album of Edith Draper Steinmetz, 31 Evans Rd.
[Source: Daniel Coston Collection]