Market Congestion
Rush Hour Traffic: Not a Modern Day Problem
This parcel is home to a variety of merchants and market locations. If you need anything from creamer, to oysters, to printing, this was the spot to go to. But what exactly did shopping looking like before the internet and overnight shipping? How did this mercantile destination impact not only the lived experience of residents and visitors, but also the physical environment as well? Keep reading to find out!
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Sharing the Street
The inherent nature of activity from the markets in the parcel leads to inevitable congestion. The presence of Faneuil Hall, Clinton Market, various businesses, and vendors crowding the streets create a dynamic atmosphere. How does one share, or rather compete, in the limited street space? Awnings project out displaying business names and various goods. Trucks wait in line and back up to businesses for unloading processes. Horses carry merchants sitting on filled carts while other merchants engage in a balancing act pushing their own carts. Pedestrians move by as both producers, consumers, and passerbys. It is chaotic, especially during peak hours.
ScavEnger Hunt
Here is a view of Commercial Street facing the Custom House. What can you make out? Do you notice the market congestion on the street? Below are some key elements to find:
Faneuil Hall
A striped window awning
"The Fairmont Creamery Company"
"Canned Goods"
"Oysters"
A horse carriage in the sunlit intersection
A street lamp
How did they market without social media?
The facades of the brick buildings are covered in marketing signs, for this parcel contains a range of businesses. From C.M. Barrows Co. Printers to Fairmont Creamery Co., Commercial Street is at full capacity. However, companies also leaned into printing technology for mass distribution and marketing. This could be through classified newspaper ads or a trading card such as the one (at left) for John Reardon & Sons Leading Soaps.
Political figure advocacy
The mercantile activity is not reserved for only producers and consumers, for political figures were involved as well. Most notably is Hon. Josiah Quincy since he was instrumental in the advocacy of Faneuil Hall which remains a landmark in the city today. Quincy raised an important point concerning the quality of the market space. Sanitation hazards, worker safety, and the building itself are all important components in the making of a successful market. Additionally, he assisted in the legislation and land purchasing logistics. Not only was Quincy involved in the creation of the market, but he also owned property within the parcel. He had property of 61-81 Clinton St. and 39-47 Commercial St. from 1883-1890 according to Bromley maps.
Market Operations Hit a Bump
The markets, however, are not always running smoothly. In 1878, public discourse arose from the merchants against the city on South Market Street and Clinton Street. These businesses were mainly dedicated to the sale of meat, yet they “may be classed the Mercantile Wharf Vegetable Market,” as well. The discourse was centered around demands for more accommodations, but mainly around the leasing logistics of the wharfs. This made headlines in the Daily Boston Globe, a local newspaper, for markets hold an important role in citizens' everyday lives. They provide jobs, help ensure food is on the table, create a visual in the cityscape, and promote economic activity.
WHAT WAS THE STREET VIEW?
This photograph of 68-71 South Market Street depicts one of the building styles and advertising methods in this parcel during 1958. The five-story brick building is advertised as housing the “LAMPERT BEEF CO.”. There appears to be two other beef businesses on either side. Only the one on the right can be deciphered at the “S.F. WOODBRIDGE MEAT CO.”. There is a metal awning over the front doors with a car parked in front. Minor architectural details are given at the top of the building in the dentils. The windows are all composed of four panes giving the top portion of the building regularity and uniformity.
Did only merchants occupy the buildings?
Despite the concentrated mercantile activity, abundance of actual markets themselves, and proximity of the wharfs, the parcel attracted other businesses besides vendors. Two higher education institutes were present in the earlier decades. In 1883, Boston University Trustees occupied 35 Commercial Street and Harvard College occupied 86 South Market Street. Harvard continued to occupy their location on South Market Street from 1883-1938 according to Bromley maps. In addition to higher education, banks began to occupy the parcel as well. Union Savings Bank was on the corner of two streets occupying 19 Commercial Street and what appeared to be 58-64 South Market Street in 1938. New England Trust + Co Trs. occupied 23 Commercial Street from 1928-1938. Banks held a role in the conversation of new infrastructure to improve efficiency that had been slowed from market congestion.
1883
1938
Bibliogrpahy
Abdalian, Leon H. "Commercial St. and Custom House, Boston, Mass." Photograph. July 13, 1920. Digital Commonwealth, https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/fj236n06s
Boston Housing Authority. "69-71 South Market Street." Photograph. 1958. Digital Commonwealth, https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth-oai:h415q3480
Bromley, George Washington. Atlas of the City of Boston. Philadelphia: G.W. Bromley & Co., 1883. Boston Public Library, via Atlascope.
Bromley, George Washington. Atlas of the City of Boston. Philadelphia: G.W. Bromley & Co., 1938. Boston Public Library, via Atlascope.
Brown, Abraham English. “Mayor Josiah Quincys Great Enterprise.” Essay. In Faneuil Hall and Faneuil Hall Market or Peter Faneuil and His Gift, 172-74. Boston: Boston Lee and Shepard, 1900
Jones, Leslie. "Push cart rush on Clinton Street in the Market District, 3PM." Photograph. 1930. Digital Commonwealth, https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/5h73rb88b
"Trade card for John Reardon & Sons' Soaps, 69 South Market Street, Boston, Mass., 1887." Card. 1887. Digital Commonwealth, https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth-oai:bz60f995j