History of Jamaica Plain (Part III)
The Pond side section of Jamaica Plain became a popular home for Boston politicians. In 1915 when politician James Michael Curley’s house on 350 Jamaica Way was designed with shamrocks carved into the shutters, it was clear that the elite of Jamaica Plain and 
Boston politics would need to make room for the Irish. In the 1950s and 60s, politicians such as John Collins lived in Jamaica Plain, as well as myriad police and city employees. Jamaica Plain was considered the most stable of all of Boston’s neighborhoods. While other neighborhoods rapidly lost their populations between 1950 and 1965, the population of Jamaica Plain was steady at 42,400.
The deterioration of part of Jamaica Plain was driven by the history of the Southwest Corridor, which was slated to become Interstate 95. By the late 1960s, a final design for the highway was well underway. The State had acquired the strip of land — dubbed the southwest corridor — and begun to demolish homes and business to clear the way for the interstate. Between 1960 and 1968, 20% of the housing that remained had moved from sound to the deteriorating or dilapidated categories. In 1968, due in large part to neighborhood resistance, the governor canceled the plans to run I-95 through Jamaica Plain, Roxbury and Roslindale and the cleared land was left alone. The cleared and vacant land along the Southwest Corridor simply languished unused. Sam Bass Warner called the corridor “a wide, unattended scab” through the neighborhoods
During this same period, many of the industries along the Washington Street corridor closed, including the Haffenreffer Brewery in 1965. By 1965, approximately 24% of the 12,600 housing units in Jamaica Plain were unsound. By the 1970s, arson had become a major threat in the neighborhood and the population of Jamaica Plain was declining. Between 1970 and 1980 the total population of the neighborhood declined by 17.7%. It became difficult to sell real estate. A real estate broker with a Jamaica Plain realty firm described the period in this way: “The time from 1973 to ‘77 was a black hole — a void. On some streets you couldn’t give houses away.”
The demand for housing in Jamaica Plain, particularly for affordable housing units, is high. The supply of new housing each year is small in comparison, in part because land for new housing development and new parking is extremely limited. In many cases, residents value small pockets of open space in their community and resist the potential for more congestion and traffic on their streets that they fear new housing development would bring. In other cases, remaining developable land may be located on steep slopes, in awkwardly-sized lots, or near undesirable land uses.
History of Jamaica Plain (part II)
In 1851, West Roxbury, including Roslindale and Jamaica Plain, seceded from the Town of Roxbury. West Roxbury was divided into five precincts: Jamaica Plain, Roslindale, Claredon Hills, West Roxbury Village, and Germantown. The most rural precincts were West Roxbury Village and Germantown (Bacon, Walks and Rides About Boston, 1896). The Town of West Roxbury was at this time developing Forest Hills, a garden cemetery intended for widespread public use. Cemeteries such as these served not only as a place to honor the dead, but also as an arboretum, a place for recreation, an antidote to the environmental ills of the city and a showcase for art. They also paved the way for the establishment of urban parks of the late 19th century.
At this time, the population of Jamaica Plain was growing rapidly and becoming increasingly foreign-born. Between 1865 and 1880, the population grew from 5,450 to 32,750. By 1880, 25% of all households in the area were Irish. Jamaica Plain also became home to a large number of German Americans, Progressive reformers, and mainstream politicians. The remaining upper-middle-class Protestants were the local social elite and included farmers, the wealthy elite, and business commuters. Jamaica Plain finally became annexed to the City of Boston in 1874, after first being part of the Town of Roxbury, and then being a part of the Town of West Roxbury.
Although Jamaica Plain retained some of its identity as a rural retreat, the centrality of industry to the life of the neighborhood increased, and Jamaica Plain became associated with industries such as the Haffenreffer Brewery. Residents of all social levels developed deep attachments to the neighborhood through real estate deals, their proximity to work, and strong local Catholic parishes. Social ties were also fostered through practices such as spigots outside the brewery that allowed workers to fill their containers with free beer.
The Swan Boats at the Boston Public Gardens
The latest O’Keefe family inexpensive outing was (oops, I was about to say my all time favorite, then remembered I already said that about Castle Island !) one of my very favorites–Boston’s own storied Swan Boats. The truth of it is, I truly love many of 
the things you can do in Boston -especially the ones for $$short money. I’ll take you all on many of these excursions throughout the summer. So, please, sit back and enjoy the FREE ride!
This past Friday my entire family (myself, sons: Paul (12) & Sean (10), my mom (Marion Connolly), niece Mairead (4), nephews: Tommy (7), and Patrick (5) went to The Swan Boats in downtown Boston. We packed a lunch and took the ‘T’, which was in itself an adventure since the kids are used to being driven everywhere. We got off the Orange Line at Downtown Crossing, walked across the Boston Common where we bumped into Ben Franklin giving tours of the Freedom Trail, passed by the Frog Pond and into The Public Gardens. We stopped by the famous statues of ‘Make Way for Ducklings’ based on the book by Robert McCloskey. The little ones all took turns sitting on statues finally making their way to the Mother Duck. Before we boarded the boats we had an absolute blast feeding the ducks…but sadly learned it is not allowed…and for good reasons…overpopulation and non-migration, among others.
The Swan Boat ride was extremely enjoyable. It was paddled by nice young man. Ducks followed along our merry water-way. We saw swans nesting and a large turtle sunning itself on a small island. My mom watched from the bridge to take pictures…thanks Mom! I do have to admit though that my 12 year old felt he was a little too mature for this outing…they grow up so fast!
After that we got ice cream and ate them by the little park in front of The Copley Library. I have been to The Swan Boats countless times in my life and the charm is always 
as fresh as it was the first time.
Talk to everyone soon. And here’s a hint about the next outing: Fire, Water, Peace.
History of Jamaica Plain, MA
Note: No one is quite sure how Jamaica Plain acquired its unusual name. Some attribute it to the legend that people here had a fondness for Jamaica rum and asked for it “plain.” Others attribute the name to an Indian chief who lived here more than two centuries ago whose name was Kutchamaiken.
Before 1630, the land around Jamaica Pond was a summer home to the Wampanoags , Native Americans who spent their winters nearby in Mattapan. In 1630, Puritan settlers built the first road in the area — which today is called Perkins Street. In the late 1630s, the settlers constructed a road to Dedham as well as the Dedham Turnpike (now Centre Street and Washington Street). The modern Boston neighborhoods of Jamaica Plain, West Roxbury, and Roslindale were, until 1851, part of the Town of Roxbury. The area that would become Jamaica Plain was settled slowly and was not even mentioned in Roxbury town records until 1683. The rich, fertile land along the Stony Brook Valley was attractive to farmers.
The Jamaica Plain area became a wealthy rural village. One of the next major streets to be laid out was South Street in 1662. In 1689, the local reverend John Eliot donated 75-acres of his land to establish a school for children of all ethnic backgrounds. The school still exists today. The area at the intersection of South Street and Eliot Street was then and continues to be a focus of community life in the Jamaica Plain area.
The first wave of gentrification of Jamaica Plain began in about 1740, when the wealthy elite of Boston built their country summer homes on sprawling rural estates in the Pond side area of Jamaica Plain. One of these was the Loring-Greenough House, which was built in 1740, was later used as a hospital for Washington’s men during the Revolution, and still stands today at the corner of Centre and South Streets.
Public transportation dramatically changed the development pattern of Jamaica Plain. In 1826, Omnibuses (known as “The Hourlies”) ran to Boston each hour for a fee of 25 cents, opening up access to what had been an exclusive rural area. By 1832, the roads in the area had increased dramatically, and included Centre, South, and Walter Streets, the Dedham Turnpike (now Washington Street), and Perkins, Canterbury, Walk Hill, Seaver, Back, Warren, Bourn, Elliot, and Burrough.
In 1834 the Boston and Providence Railroad was completed. The railroad brought settlers to the area in even greater numbers and the first suburban homes were built. With the suburbanization of the neighborhood came industrialization of the Stony Brook corridor. Beginning in the 1840s, and continuing for the next several decades, factories such as textile mills, print shops, foundries, lumber and stone yards, and twelve breweries were built along Stony Brook (roughly parallel to what is now the Southwest Corridor).
NEW BOSTON CHILDREN’S MUSEUM
I would like to follow up on Helen Coen’s recent article about Teachers Appreciation Month and the Children’s Museum. I haven’t been to the Children’s Museum in a while and just last week I visited the new remodeled Museum. A childhood friend of mine, Madeleine, was visiting from Cannes, France with her husband, Roberto, and her 6 year old daughter, Coline. So I got to play the tourist and we tried to find fun things for all of us to do.
The renovations are great and the most striking one to me is the labyrinth/climbing structure.
I remember how scary the earlier version was. I don’t really know then who was more scared: the adult or the child. You couldn’t really see where your child was except when he/she was screaming because of being stuck or lost. I tried one day to go inside and unfortunately I was too big!!
Now, everybody gets comfortable and it is a really nice time for all. There are tables, chairs and bunches outside facing the water and it is lovely to have lunch there.
The all time favorites are still there (the bubbles room and the golf balls room). The supermarket is better. There is rock climbing which is new. I didn’t remember the Japanese house and it is really interesting! Especially when you sell Real Estate as I do !
Coline had a blast! So did her parents who thought the world of this Museum. France has an impressive amount of Museums but not so much directed towards children and that is a shame!
So if you don’t know where to take the kids this summer, head on to the Children’s Museum! Make it a day trip and walk following the water to the Aquarium and you can even end your day by eating in the North End.
Parking was easy at the Museum with couple of parking lots giving you a great discount if you validate your ticket.
The Chicken and Egg of Boston Housing and Education
In in article by Tracey Jan in last Friday’s Boston Globe entitled ”S. Boston developer plans a private school,” a proposal was announced to develop 2,500 housing units within a 23 acre site in Boston’s Seaport District. A proposed site, which today contains nothing but parking lots, would be developed by John B. Hynes III into residential housing, a performing arts center, two (2) health clubs, a public garden and a private school.
The problem facing the Seaport district is not unique. Emerging neighborhoods have faced similar problems and addressed them in different ways. What is lacking in the Seaport District are the basic amenities that exist in most other neighborhoods and suburbs of Boston (e.g. schools, shops, restaurants, people, etc.). The concept of ‘build it and they will come’ has not worked well for the Seaport District. There are convention centers, museums, hotels, etc. but what is lacking are people, because there are little to no housing units in which people can live. The Seaport District will never be a neighborhood until people start living there–and people will not start living there unless there is sufficient quality education for their children. This in a classic example of the proverbial problem of which came first the chicken or the egg.
John B. Hynes III has proposed a simple solution to a complex problem: a school which will serve 1,500 children from kindergarten through high school. He hopes the school will help attract families to his development and to the area. City officials are not embracing his idea and are calling it “hair-brained,” and “catering to the upper end.”
By including a school with the development plans, Hynes is solving the age old question of which came first the chicken or the egg? He is proposing a solution by combining the Chicken and Egg.
Good education attracts families, and families attract everything else. Hynes has the right idea: offer good quality educational options and they will come.
West Roxbury, MA — Corrib Pub 5K Road Race
The Corrib Pub 5K Road Race in West Roxbury was held on Sunday, June 3rd, 2007. The
race is held annually and this was the 14th race. I was delighted when I woke up to a cool breeze in the low 60’s. This may not be a comfortable temperature for anyone planning cookouts or outdoor activities, but for a runner it was perfect. I try to do it each year the last two years my daughters have joined me in the run as well as many friends and neighbors. This year my colleague, Matt White, from C21 Carole White Associates joined me in the run. My husband, Frank, usually volunteers and was on hand with the camera to get a before and after shot of us.
The race is fun for me because it is my regular running route , 3 miles with one steep hill on Corey Street, and yes the rolling hills of Bellevue Hill seem unending when you are finishing your last mile. They have DJ Dave at the beginning who gets you motivated with the singing of the National Anthem, the fire trucks are present at the beginning and the American Flag drapes over us at the starting line. 
I understand this year they had over 1700 runners and lots of cheering on the rout–and water tables to help those of us that need a reason to stop along the way .
Oh, I am feeling my age this year and also a slower pace due to a longer sabbatical over the past year but as always I am determined to finish as friends and neighbors are cheering you on along the way. I speed up a little bit as I see people I know with a smile on my face and waving to everyone I know along the way! My daughter, Brianna who is 12 years old, is about 3/4 of a mile in front of me (oh, the youth of today…my other daughter, Shannon, 11 years old, is a few steps behind me.
There is a lot of support from the community and the Corrib Pub who supports many local charities and local youth organizations. They have raised over $510,000 from this event from which our community and children have benefited. It ’s great to see so many volunteers each year working hard to make it the success it is today. There is a complimentary cook-out afterward in Billings Field, with all the hamburgers and hot dogs you can eat, entertainment and children’s activities, a great day had by all and a few sore muscles afterward. To get more information their website is www.coolrunning.com. Thanks to all the volunteers and family and friends that cheered us on along the way.
See you next year!!!
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