Dorchester Historical Society

Dorchester Illustration of the Day no. 1876

Scan of architectural elevation of the Torrey House published in American Architect and Building News, Apr. 3, 1880. Cabot and Chandler, architects. Corner of Melville Avenue and Washington Street.

From Andrew Saxe on Facebook:

1 Melville, 1879. Torrey House.

Eldbridge Torrey energized development around Codman Square with the construction of this sumptuous Stick-Style mansion by Cabot & Chandler, a leading Boston firm. (Edward Clarke Cabot, 1818-1901 had designed the Boston Atheneum, the Gibson House on 137 Beacon, and 12 Fairfield, among other Back Bay homes).

Demolished 1930s.

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The Dorchester Illustration of the Day (DIOTD) is sent weekdays. If you receive this e-mail by mistake, please reply to be taken off the e-mail list. If you know others who would like to receive the daily e-mail, please encourage them to join the group by going to http://groups.google.com/group/dorchester-historical-society. You may contact Earl Taylor at ERMMWWT@aol.com

If you value receiving the DIOTD, please express your appreciation by making a donation to the Dorchester Historical Society, either by regular mail at 195 Boston Street, Dorchester, MA 02125, or through the website at www.DorchesterHistoricalSociety.org

Dorchester Illustration of the Day no. 1875

Compare photos of 69 Adams Street from the 19th century and from 2004.  This house was called Underhill when the May family lived there in the 1850s.  It was probably designed by Dorchester architect Luther Briggs, Jr.

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The Dorchester Illustration of the Day (DIOTD) is sent weekdays. If you receive this e-mail by mistake, please reply to be taken off the e-mail list. If you know others who would like to receive the daily e-mail, please encourage them to join the group by going to http://groups.google.com/group/dorchester-historical-society. You may contact Earl Taylor at ERMMWWT@aol.com

If you value receiving the DIOTD, please express your appreciation by making a donation to the Dorchester Historical Society, either by regular mail at 195 Boston Street, Dorchester, MA 02125, or through the website at www.DorchesterHistoricalSociety.org

Dorchester Illustration of the Day no. 1874

Photograph of coal ships at Commercial Point with the gasometer behind on the left.  The gasometer held coal gas in a balloon-like structure.

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The Dorchester Illustration of the Day (DIOTD) is sent weekdays. If you receive this e-mail by mistake, please reply to be taken off the e-mail list. If you know others who would like to receive the daily e-mail, please encourage them to join the group by going to http://groups.google.com/group/dorchester-historical-society. You may contact Earl Taylor at ERMMWWT@aol.com

If you value receiving the DIOTD, please express your appreciation by making a donation to the Dorchester Historical Society, either by regular mail at 195 Boston Street, Dorchester, MA 02125, or through the website at www.DorchesterHistoricalSociety.org

Dorchester Illustration of the Day no. 1872

Glass slide showing what may be the earliest known photo of the Dorchester Pottery.  The slide seems to be a vacation picture of a Dorchester potter at work.  This could be the Dorchester Pottery, founded in 1896, or possibly the earlier Trask Pottery on Commercial Point.

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The Dorchester Illustration of the Day (DIOTD) is sent weekdays. If you receive this e-mail by mistake, please reply to be taken off the e-mail list. If you know others who would like to receive the daily e-mail, please encourage them to join the group by going to http://groups.google.com/group/dorchester-historical-society. You may contact Earl Taylor at ERMMWWT@aol.com

If you value receiving the DIOTD, please express your appreciation by making a donation to the Dorchester Historical Society, either by regular mail at 195 Boston Street, Dorchester, MA 02125, or through the website at www.DorchesterHistoricalSociety.org

City Archaeologist Joe Bagley will speak about Dorchester’s underground – 2 pm

Book Launch – Sunday, Oct. 7^th, 2 pm

Jake Hanna: The Rhythm and Wit of a Swinging Jazz Drummer.

By Maria Judge.

 Jake Hanna was a Dorchester boy who made the national scene.

Dorchester Illustration of the Day no. 1870

Card advertising real estate, 159 Walnut Street, on Port Norfolk, with address and photo on front and description on verso.  Apparently foreclosed property for sale at the end of the Depression.  4/42.  Plus photo of the same property from 9/14/2012.

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The Dorchester Illustration of the Day (DIOTD) is sent weekdays. If you receive this e-mail by mistake, please reply to be taken off the e-mail list. If you know others who would like to receive the daily e-mail, please encourage them to join the group by going to http://groups.google.com/group/dorchester-historical-society. You may contact Earl Taylor at ERMMWWT@aol.com

If you value receiving the DIOTD, please express your appreciation by making a donation to the Dorchester Historical Society, either by regular mail at 195 Boston Street, Dorchester, MA 02125, or through the website at www.DorchesterHistoricalSociety.org

Dorchester Illustration of the Day no. 1869

First Parish Church and Lyceum Hall

Postcard. Caption on front: E6400 Dorchester, Mass. First Parish Church and Lyceum Hall, Meeting House Hill. Postally unused.

The building of First Parish, built in 1897, is the sixth church building and still stands.  It was designed by Cabot, Everett and Mead with references to Colonial models and is considered one of the finest examples of the Christopher Wren type in this country.

Lyceum Hall was built in 1839-1840 in the Greek Revival style and lasted until 1955.  It was the scene of many social functions, lectures and dances.

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The Dorchester Illustration of the Day (DIOTD) is sent weekdays. If you receive this e-mail by mistake, please reply to be taken off the e-mail list. If you know others who would like to receive the daily e-mail, please encourage them to join the group by going to http://groups.google.com/group/dorchester-historical-society. You may contact Earl Taylor at ERMMWWT@aol.com

If you value receiving the DIOTD, please express your appreciation by making a donation to the Dorchester Historical Society, either by regular mail at 195 Boston Street, Dorchester, MA 02125, or through the website at www.DorchesterHistoricalSociety.org

Dorchester Illustration of the Day no. 1868

The Ashmont Universalist Church was located at 22 Bushnell Street, corner of Lombard Street behind All Saints Church.  The building is now a private residence.

“This parish [Ashmont Parish] sprung into existence through the earnest efforts of the Rev. Chas. Conklin, State Secretary. The first business meeting was held Mar. 14, 1902, when some forty people met and drew up and signed an agreement of association founding a corporation, the name of which was to be ‘The Ashmont Universalist Parish of Boston.’ The first religious meeting was held in Ashmont Hall, corner of Bushnell and Lombard streets, July 26, 1892. This property was later purchased by the society and here Rev. Chas. Conklin preached and assisted the society until Nov. 7, 1902. At this time [1892?] the Rev. L.O. Williams was called and labored faithfully with this parish nine years, resigning Dec. 7, 1901, going to Stoughton, Mass. From this time the pulpit was filled with supplies until Sept. 1, 1902, when Reverend Merrill C. Ward was called and gave himself devotedly to the work until Sept. 1, 1903, when he was called to Southbridge. At this period of the parish’s history dark clouds of despair hung heavily over the people, but the faithful father of the parish, Rev. Chas. Conklin, rallied the drooping spirits of the people and, inspired with hope and success, the hall was renovated throughout and made into a beautiful chapel with all the necessary appointments needed in any church. In March, 1905, the Rev. Harry Adams Hersey came to us and is giving his earnest efforts to the building up of a strong and united church, and so forgetting the things that are behind we are ‘pressing toward the mark of our high calling in Christ Jesus.’

Leavitt, P.M. Souvenir Portfolio of Universalist Churches of Massachusetts. Boston: The Massasoit Press, 1906.

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The Dorchester Illustration of the Day (DIOTD) is sent weekdays. If you receive this e-mail by mistake, please reply to be taken off the e-mail list. If you know others who would like to receive the daily e-mail, please encourage them to join the group by going to http://groups.google.com/group/dorchester-historical-society. You may contact Earl Taylor at ERMMWWT@aol.com

If you value receiving the DIOTD, please express your appreciation by making a donation to the Dorchester Historical Society, either by regular mail at 195 Boston Street, Dorchester, MA 02125, or through the website at www.DorchesterHistoricalSociety.org