Caryatids

Recently, 116 Huntington Ave updated the sideway. In the process, the plaque about the figurines on the building was removed.

Here's a copy of the plaque that I took back in 2011:

Plaque text, from my 2011 blog post:

The CARYATIDS that support the arch over the large
oculus of this building were designed by Boston Artist,
Syma. The figures reference the original sculpted 
Caryatids who supported the pediment of the Temple of 
Diana in ancient Greece. Diana was the Greek 
Goddess of dance and dreams. Seven stars adorn each 
panel, a reference to the Pleiades, which, according to 
Greek Mythology, were the seven Caryatids or 
Princess of Diana who were places among the stars by
 Zeus. Each of the stars has six points, a 
traditional symbol of harmony and transformation. 
The waves underfoot recall 19th century Back Bay,
once covered with water.

This is what the Caryatids look like on the building:

You can see the Caryatids walking on the Huntington Ave Pedestrian over path. Which is located between the Prudential Mall and the Copley Square Mall.

Permalink

Boylston Street Fishweir

Long before the English had settled in Boston, the Indians were fishing off Boston Commons.

About 3,000 years ago the area known as the Boston Commons was waterfront property.

Boston in the Early Days.

Fishweir

Indians use to fish right around the Boston Commons and much of Back Bay. They would build Fishweirs to trap fish as they swam with the tides.

A fishweir is a dam or "fence" on stakes set in a stream or waterway to trap fish.

First Major Site - Boylston Street station (1913)

Fishweirs were first discovered in 1913 during the construction of the Boylston street subway system. Construction workers didn't know what they encountered and inadvertently destroyed many valuable stakes. Some were saved and were discovered to be about 2,000 years old.

This fishweir location is commonly called the "Boylston Street Fishweir."

Second Major Site - New England Mutual Life Insurance Company (1939)

Fishweirs were also discovered at 500 Boylston Street in August 1939, when setting up the foundation for the New England Mutual Life Insurance Company. Scientists have calculated that they go back to 1700 B.C.

Hand-sharpened stakes, roughly about 5 feet in length and about an inch in diameter were found in the clay. The Robert S. Peabody Foundation discovered 65,000 stakes in the two-acres location.

The Archaeology of Philips Academy in Andover, Mass discovered that there were seventeen different types of wood use. Including Sassafras and Sycamore. Scientists were able to figure out that the wood was cut between the middle of April and the middle of June.

Third Major Site - John Hancock Building (1946)

During construction of the tower, several vertical wood stakes were discovered. Scientists were able to slowly map out a pattern of how the fishweirs might have been used. The weirs were built to trap certain type of spawning fish in shallow water tidal areas.

Some experts say that the Back Bay is loaded with ancient Fishweirs buried deep - many at least 3000 years old. The clay has helped preserve the wood that was used. Scientists have been studying the wood to learn about the fishing habits of Indians.

Every time a new building is constructed, a team of experts checks out the soil for any signs of Fishweir.

17th Century Factoid

While the Indian's were capturing fish, in what would be the future location of the city of Boston, the last Wooly Mammoth we still walking around in Russia.

Arlington Street T Station

There is an artwork panel at the platform level. The diorama panel explains how the ancient Boylston Street Fishweir worked. You can learn a little bit of local history while waiting for the next train.

Location the original Wooden Stakes

According to my research the original wooden stakes found in the 1913, 1939 and 1946 sites are kept in the The Robert S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology. They are kept out of public viewing.

Ancient Fishweir Project

Every spring students at the Boston public school take a field trip to the Boston Commons and spend a day building a replica of the Fishweirs in the Boston Commons.

Students learn about the Fishweirs and some of the cultures from Wampanoag Nation Singers and Dancers. Some Information about the annual event:

The Ancient Fishweir Project combines public art, educational programs, and community events in celebration of the contemporary Native American community.

3,700 to 5,300 years ago, near what is now Boston Common, Fishweirs were built along the tidal flats to catch fish during the spring spawn.

The Fishweir Project's annual building of a Fishweirs on Boston Common brings this ancient activity into the current imagination, expanding the time frame of history told in Boston, and honoring the people who lived in the place we now call Boston.

Learn more about the fishweir at the TEDcBeaconStreet Ted Talk.

Viewing the Fishweirs

The final results of the kid's work are on display at the Charles Street entrance to the Boston Commons. (Near the Baseball Field)

Permalink

Boston's Wang Center

The Wang Center is one of the most popular places in New England to see traveling Broadway Shows. In addition, the theater is a good location for Company gathering and weddings.

In 2016, the theater was rename the Boch Center.

Ten things I learned about the Wang Center / Boch Center

• The Theater has existed since October 16, 1925 as the The Metropolitan Theatre. For years, it was called "The Met."
• Designed by Clarence Blackhall (Also designed the Colonial Theatre and the Winthrop Building - first Boston Skyscraper with a steel frame. )
• Many famous silent film stars were on hand including Harrison Ford, Bessie Love, Lois Wilson attending the opening ceremonies. Fay Lanphier, Miss America 1925, was also there.
• Initial construction cost was $8 million in 1920. ($101,357,098 in 2017)
• In 1962, it became The Music Hall
• In 1979, Ronald Reagan held a fundraiser at Music Hall - Frank Sinatra was the headliner
• In 1983, it became the Wang Center thanks to the donation of the Wang Family. Additionally fundraising was done to help restore
• Designated as a landmark on July 10, 1990. (Approved on the first try)
• Official became the Boch Center on November 1, 2016.
• Maximum Seating capacity is 3,561seats (Can vary based on using the orchestra pit for seating)

Not the Largest Concert Hall in New England

Tanglewoood in Lenox, Massachusetts is the largest concert hall in New England. It holds 5,100 seated inside. It has the ability to handle up to 18,000. ( That's 12,900 people sitting on the lawn outside.

Dress Circle Left and Dress Circle Right

The Dress Circle seats are not available for the general public. They are reserved for Boch Center Members. Generally, these seats are for corporate sponsors of the show or major sponsors of the Wang Center.

Parking around Wang Theater

You can park at the Tuffs Shared Services Parking garage next door.

We like to park at the Motor Mart Garage on Stuart Street. It's very easy to get to off the Massachusetts Turnpike. Simply Take the Prudential Exit. Stay right on the ramp heading towards Copley Square. You'll be on Stuart Street. Simply drive about 5 blocks and the garage will be on your left. You'll see the garage sign by the time you get past Berkeley Street.

Both garages charge $28 a day. (Sunday Rate)

Permalink

Memorial Day Flag Garden

Every Memorial Day weekend there are thousands of American flags that are placed in the grass on the Boston Commons.

These flags are a memorial to each Massachusetts Soldier that died in battle.

Who places the flags?

Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund is responsible for placing and maintaining the flags. In 2016, there was a sign:

The sign reads:

This garden of 37,000 flags was planted in memory of every fallen Massachusetts service member from the Revolutionary War to the present. These flags will be on display throughout Memorial Day weekend for your observance and reflection. Please remember and honor the ultimate sacrifices of our local heroes.

Each flag represents a fallen service member; please respect the display.

Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund are looking for volunteers are needed to help out set up the flag, protecting the flags and taking them down. Download a Volunteer Information sheet for more information. If your able to help out, use their online sign-up form.

Flag Garden Timeline

Here's a timeline that I created of the Flag Garden events. Activities start on Wednesday, May 24th:

Finding the Memorial

You can find the flags between Frog Pond and Charles Street. The best way to see them is from the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. The flags are on display for a very limited time. This year the flags will be removed on Memorial Day - May 29th at 6 pm.

It's quite a sight to see 37,000 flags planted in the ground, and certainly worth seeing!

Permalink

Pi Alley

Between the Old State House and the Irish Famine Memorial is a small alley called "Pi Alley."

When you walk down the alley you can learn some history of the Alley from a sign on the wall:

The Pi Alley Story

As downtown Boston evolved from a residential to commercial area by the end of the 19th century, the name of this alley evolved from the names of local landowners to one more descriptive of the area. Many small restaurants set up shop in the alley to serve the area's workers. A staple in many of these places was meat pies (often ordered by colorful names such as "Cat Pie" earning the alley the name "Pie Alley".

In the days when Washington Street was home to most of the city's newspaper printing plants, many of the printer and typesetters frequented a tavern in the alley called the Bell In Hand. In their haste to get refreshment, the newspapermen would often drop pocket full of mixed up loose type (called "pi" in the printing business) on the ground, leading to the current name "Pi Alley".

Today the alley continues the tradition of small businesses serving the people who work in the area.

It's Pi Alley Not Pie Alley

The sign is a bit misleading, locals have always referred the Alley as Pi Alley. The first printed reference to Pi Alley was in the Boston Globe in the early 1890s.

Pi is a terminology used by printers to describe type matter that has been upset or spilled. If a compositor had the misfortune to pi a line of type, they were expected to fix it at their own expense. Fixing the line of type was too much work. So many compositors just threw out the pi out the window into the alley - that is if no one was looking. It was that custom the alley got its name - Pi Alley.

In 1898, there was a restaurant called Dennett's that was located at 241 Washington Street - which is on the southwest corner of Pi Alley. Joseph Gridley food and hospitality was so good, that he was known as the "King of Pi Alley." His pies were good that people did consider changing the Alley to Pie Alley.

Things I learned about the Alley

• Offical name was Williams Court
• Was once called Savage's Court in the mid 1730s
• Oldest By way in the City of Boston
• Officially was recognized by the Boston Public Improvement Commission as Pi Alley on February 16, 1955
• Locals have been calling it Pi Alley since the 1900s.
• Alley is 100 feet long next to a 600-car garage.
• Alley connects Washington Street and Court Square.
• Pi Garage open for business on December 24, 1969

Newspaper Companies

Every major newspaper company had their offices nearby here, including:

• Boston Globe
• Boston Herald
• Boston Post

Locating Pi Alley

You can find Pi Alley is located at 275 Washington St, Boston, MA 02108. It's located on the Freedom Trail. You can see the entrance to Pi Alley next to the Pi Alley Garage.

Permalink

District Hall

District Hall is Boston???s public innovation center. It has the distinct honor of being the first building completed in seaport square.

What is District Hall?

The answer is in the window as you walk by on Seaport Blvd:

District Hall is a not for profit civic innovation center, public workspace and event venue designed to inspire innovation, build community, and make your ideas happen.

Things I learned about District Hall

• Officially open on October 24, 2013
• Overall 12,000 square-feet
• Cost $7 million to build
• In June 2013, Global Investors financed the project and leased the building to the City of Boston for $1 a year for 5 years.
• City has an option to renew the lease for an additional five years
• Mayor Thomas Menino toured the facility before leaving office.
• Rental space fees will be adjusted according to the groups means. Non-profits would pay less for the same space than a large corporation.

There's three main parts of District Hall

• Lounge WiFi Hang out
• Meeting Space
• Lunch/Dinner (Brew and Gather)

A Whiteboard greets you as you walk in...

Lounge - Free Wifi

If your looking for a nice quiet WiFi spot to get some work done, then District Hall is perfect.

There are plenty of tables and couches with a plug nearby. It does seem to get busy shortly after lunch time. Looks like most people use the Cafe Hangout to talk about projects they are working on.

Check the walls for the current Wiki name and password.

The smell in the Lounge is very nice, you don???t have the strong coffee smell that you find at Starbucks. The WiFi range is powerful enough to reach the outside patio.

Brew Cafe Hangout

Hungry? Thirty? Want to meet-up over coffee? Enjoy the Brew cafe. They brew Starbucks coffee and have a delicious selection of sandwiches. Prices are fairly reasonable. A single size pizza is $3.50.

There's hardly any wait at the cafe. The service is quick and the selection is excellent. Coffee is good.

Checkout the menu.

Gather

If your into some afternoon celebration try Gather. They have a great selection of beer and wine. They also have pizza and lots of other delicious entries.

You can sit outside and have a nice view of a park and the Boston Harbor in the distance. In addition, this summer there will be tall ships that will be dock close to District Hall. This will add a nice touch to the scenery.

Checkout the menu

Meeting Space

District Hall is a great venue to hold a meeting of just about any size. They have several large rooms with removable walls to accommodate big meetings.

As an added bonus, meeting rooms have whiteboard paint on some of the walls. You'll run out of ideas long before you run out of whiteboard space. Tip: If your hosting an event, bring a step stool so you can write high up on the wall.

They offer excellent catering services with a wide selection - including health and Gluten free options.

I attended several meetings in the Assembly Rooms, they were nice and quiet. Room temps were very nice, I attended meetings on a very cold winter day and a nice spring day. You may occasionally hear aircraft taking off from Logan airport. (They usually don't fly over the District Hall, but weather factors may change their take-off paths.)

Getting to District Hall

District Hall is located 75 Northern Ave, Boston, MA 02210 in Boston???s Seaport district.

It???s about an 8-minute walk from South Station, or you can catch the Silver Line and get off at Court House. It???s the first Silver Line stop after South Station. Once you get upstairs it???s a 1/2 a block walk to the District Hall.

District Hall is open to the public 8 am to 5 pm, Monday thru Friday. They are open other times for private events.

Permalink

William Dawes

William Dawes was one of many critical messengers on April 19, 1775. William Dawes, Paul Revere, and Percy were task by Joseph Warren to warn John Hancock and John Adams that the British were coming to arrest them.

Dr. Joseph Warren was one of the leaders of the revolutionary forces that stayed in Boston as the British started to increase their size.

Many people may know Paul Revere because of Longfellow poem:

Listen, my children, and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-Five:
Hardly a man is now alive
Who remembers that famous day and year.

He said to his friend, "If the British march
By land or sea from the town to-night,
Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry-arch
Of the North-Church-tower, as a signal-light,--
One if by land, and two if by sea;
And I on the opposite shore will be,
Ready to ride and spread the alarm
Through every Middlesex village and farm,
For the country-folk to be up and to arm."

The Poem was written in 1860 by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow that commemorates the actions of American patriot Paul Revere on April 18, 1775, although with significant inaccuracies. It was first published in the January 1861 issue of The Atlantic Monthly. It was later retitled "The Landlord's Tale" in the collection Tales of a Wayside Inn.

Things I Learned about William Dawes

• Born in Boston on April 6, 1745
• Helped move artillery to Concord to be used as part of the Revolutionary War
• Was very anti-British and refused to wear clothes made in Britain.
• Member of the Sons of Liberty
• William Dawes stole some British cannons and military equipment. He got injured at
• Dr. Joseph Warren became aware of William Dawes commitment to the Independent cause when he had to treat William for the injury.
• First person to be dispatched on the night of April 18, 1775.
• One of the last people to leave Boston on foot before the British seized Boston.
• Waited in Cambridge for his cue to warn others.
• When the British were looking for the messengers, he Hid in Daniel Brown's house in Lincoln
• Fought at The Battle of Bunker Hill
• Died in Marlborough on February 25, 1799 (Paul Revere died on May 10, 1818)
• Tablet was placed on the grave on April 20, 1899
• A special Cross was placed on the grave during a small cerimony on April 19, 1929.
• A painting of William Dawes is hanging in the Cary Memorial Library in Lexington.

There's a lot of great information on "William Dawes: The Forgotten Midnight Rider" over on HistoryofMassachusetts.com. It's certainly worth the read.

Still Remembered 200 Years Later

Despite being left out of Longfellow's poem, his name was mentioned at the 200th celebration on April 19. 1975. At a special 200th Anniversary ceremony at the Old North Church, President Ford mention him:

Remarks in Boston at the Old North Church Bicentennial Lantern Service. April 18. 1975

Read the entire speech.

Only Mentioned Once

That was the only mention of William Dawes in a United State's president speech. Paul Revere's name has been mentioned in at least 20 speeches. Various Presidents from Benjamin Harrison in 1892 to Barack Obama in 2016 referenced Paul Revere's ride. Some of the speeches just referenced William Dawes and Samuel Prescott as his companions and not their name.

Mystery of the William Dawes Grave at Kings Chapel

There is a gravestone in King Chapel graveyard with an inscription to William Dawes. However, he is actually believed to be buried in Forrest Hills Cemetery, 25 miles away. You can read up on all the research that one of the Descendants of William Dawes did to find the truth.

It's possible that there's nobody buried at William Dawes grave at the King Chapel graveyard.

The Ride of William Dawes

Over the years several people have written poems about William Davis, here's one that I found written by Mary J. Gladhill

The Ride of William Dawe

Listen, my children, for oft you will hear Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere But now, if you will but pause, You shall here the tale of William Dawes.

When the lights of the Old North Church flashed out Paul Revere was waiting about, But Dawes was already on his way To warn the farmers of the coming fray.

Through the still night down Washington street He rode on his steed, swift and fleet. Through Roxbury and Brighton rode he in huste. Swift as a courier in a chase.

Download the full William Dawes Poem.

Permalink

Quincy, Josiah Statue

At the Old City Hall are two statues, Benjamin Franklin and Josiah Quincy. Two icons that help guide this country to the prosperity that we have today.

This post is all about the Josiah Quincy statue.

Things I learned about the Josiah Quincy III statue

• Bronze Statue on Quincy Granite
• The total height of the statue was to not exceed 18 feet.
• The statue was dedicated on October 11, 1879 (Benjamin Franklin dedication was on October 11, 1856)
• The statue was put up after the George Washington in the Boston Public Gardens. (1869)
• Paid by Jonathan Phillips in his will - $20,000
• Actual cost of the Statue was $14,00 ($379,618.32 in 2016)
• The front tablet cost $125 ($3,389.45 in 20165)
• Statue was made by Thomas Ball
• Jonathan Phillips also funded the Benjamin Franklin staute in front of Faneuil Hall
• Jonathan Phillips was also a Lieutenant-Governor of Massachusetts

Interesting Facts about Josiah Quincy III

• Son of Josiah Quincy II, a distance relative of John Quincy Adams
• Born on February 4, 1772
• Died on July 1, 1864 in Quincy, Massachusetts. (City is not named after him.)
• Founding member of the American Antiquian Society.
• He opposed allowing Louisiana be admitted as a State.
• The second mayor of Boston.
• Quincy Market opened when he was the Mayor of Boston and it's named after him.

Front Tablet Statue

Side Tablet Statue

Note that there are a couple of blank sides which were intentionally left empty.

Finding the Statue

The statue is located on the front right side of the Old City Hall. Old City Hall is located at 45 School St in Boston, MA.

Permalink

Kirstein Business Branch

In 2009, I wrote about how the Kirstein Business Branch was closing and being relocated to the main library.

After a few year of being in limbo, the Kirstein Business branch is in its new permanent home the basement of the Boston Public Library. The library had a grand reopening on July 9, 2016.

Old Kirstein Kirstein Business Branch at 20 City Hall Ave, Boston MA

Remembering the Past

The old library felt like your in a 19th Century reading room. The floors would creak as you walk around the library. The rooms were dark. There wasn't color, white walls with a dark frame.

The library was on multiple floors, so you would have to change seats if you were looking for something on a different floor. It also made it challenging to find someone to help you.

Despite its old look and feel it was nice because it was separated from the regular library. You knew everyone else that was there was business oriented.

Focus on the Future

This week, I decided to check out the Kirstein Business section at the main library.

The area in the basement looks very nice and modern compared to the old branch. You don't feel that your in a basement of an old building.

The whole place is bright, despite having no outside windows. You certainly get a nice warm feeling as you walk around the area.

There are plenty of tables to sit down and read all sorts of books and magazines. Each table has a plug and USB stations so you can charge up your laptop or any electronic device while your doing research.

Why Visit the Kirstein Business Library?

If you have any dream of starting a business, this is the place to go to jump start your vision.

The new location has meeting rooms which the old location lacked. As I recall, when there were meetings they held them on one of the floors.

There are plenty of books separated into eight sections. There are books for Careers, Business Management, legal and so much more.

Opposite of the book shelves is numerous trade magazines and journals. You can read the current issue or lift the shelf cover and pick out an old one.

Great Place to Research Your Business Idea

When you come in, walk over to the information desk and they will help you get started.

Did you know

• KBLIC has 8 workstations with the Adobe Creative Cloud
• We can help you research funding sources for your nonprofit
• KBLIS has resources to find old stock prices
• You can reserve 1 hour blocks on the Bloomberg Workstation

In the Innovation Center

The Macintosh machines in the Innovation Center has much popular application. You are free to use the computers in a two-hour session per day. The following software applications are available on each machine:

• Adobe Creative Suite 6 Master
• Blender: An open source 3D creation suite
• Comic Life 3: Turns your images into a comic
• Balsamiq: Used to easily create interfaces, websites, software and mobile apps using wireframing
• Final Cut Pro: Professional Video editing software
• Office for Mac
• XMind: The Most Popular Mind Mapping Tool on the Planet

3D Printing is Available

The Kirstein Business Center has a 3D Printer for public use! To use it, submit designs in STL format to get printed.

Checkout the website for more information.

Stop by and Say Hello

The next time your in Copley Square stop by the Boston Public Library and check out the Kirstein Business Center.

To access the KBC, enter through the main doors on Boylston Street. Walk straight in and where you see a staircase, go down.

Permalink

Ether Monument

Interesting Facts about the Ether Monument

The Ether Monument, is a statue and fountain near the northwest corner of Boston's Public Garden, near the intersection of Arlington Street and Marlborough Street. It commemorates the first use of Ether in anesthesia in 1846.

Things that I learned about the Ether Monument

• Created by John Quincy Adams Ward, in 1868, its the second sculpture that he worked on.
• The only Statue/Fountain combination in the Public Gardens.
• Monument is also known as the Good Samaritan Monument
• The fountain water is turned on the same time as the Boston Public Garden Lagoon is turned on. The third Sunday of April.
• The Monument is 40 feet (12 m) tall. Which is 2 feet taller than the Washington Equestrian statue. (The Equestrian statue is taller because its on a hill.)
• Its the oldest monument in the public garden, the next monument installed was the Washington Equestrian statue which was put in a year later.
• There is a lion on each side of the monument. The symbol of a lion means strength
• The figures on the top of the monument are looking away from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)
• MGH has the original room (Ether Dome) where the first anesthetic was performed. The Ether Dome is open to the public.
• The distance between the Ether Monument and the Ether Dome is 0.9561 miles.

Monument Text

• Around the monument four sides are the following sayings:
• To commemorate that the inhaling of ether causes insensibility to pain. First proved to the world at the Mass. General Hospital in Boston, October A.D. MDCCCXLVI (1846)
• This also cometh forth from the Lord of Hosts which is wonderful and excellent in working. Isaiah (28:29)
• In gratitude for the relief of human suffering by the inhaling of ether a citizen of Boston has erected this monument A.D. MDCCCLXVII. (1867)
• Neither shall there be any more pain.

Park Benches

• Around the Monument are three park benches. Each of the benches has a remembrance plaque:
• Gift of New England Life
• Dedication in Loving Memory of Karl W. Johnson 1956 - 2008 We treasure the time that we had with you. With love from Ava, Erika and all of your family and friends.
• Nadya and Alan Aisenberg - Lovingly Remembered

Preserving the Monument

At the base of the monument is a plaque on the ground that reads:

Preserved with support from local citizens, Save Outdoor sculpture!, Target Stores and The National Endowment for the Arts, SOS! is a Project of Project of Heritage preservation and Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Locating the Monument

The monument is located in the North-West corner of the Boston Public Gardens. It's located near the intersection of Arlington Street and Marlborough Street. If you're on the Lagoon Bridge, walk towards the Washington Statue and turn right. Follow the path along the lagoon.

Permalink