The Wentworth

Arioch Wentworth's Legacy in Boston and Dover

The Wentworth was owned by Arioch Wentworth, a well-known, wealthy, philanthropist in Boston13. The Building was located at 619 Atlantic Avenue: the Corner of Atlantic Ave. & Summer Street. Arioch Wentworth owned this plot from as early as 1888 according to Bromley Maps and leased it to the Wood, Pollard & Co. grocery store starting in 1897 6,9 . Paul B. Watson, a Boston lawyer, was appointed trustee of Wentworth's estate and came into ownership of the building after Arioch's death12. Watson continued to lease the building to Wood, Pollard & Co. (see maps below), and founded the Wentworth Institute with Arioch's estate, per his request. 

Newspaper article with text, "Added $20,000 to Gifts. Hon Arioch Wentworth Thus Provided for Support of Home for the Aged at Dover, N.H."
Boston Globe article from 1912 describing the Wentworth School on the Boston side of Roxbury being at full capacity with hundreds of students.

CommerCe & Estate

Arioch Wentworth also owned the Wentworth Building located on the corner of Atlantic Ave. and Summer St., across from the Hathaway building. Like Augustus Hemenway, he leased the building to businesses for profit; however, the Wentworth Building was in continued occupation by Wood, Pollard and Co. from at least 1897 to 1917. The Wentworth building was assessed to be worth $397,900 in 1903 according to a Boston Daily Globe newspaper article13.

Newspaper article describing a second gift of $5,000 from Hon Arioch Wentworth to the Dover children's home.

Philanthropy & Charity

Wentworth loved to give! Born in NH, but accruing his wealth is Boston made Arioch Wentworth a well known New England philanthropist. He donated hospitals and school buildings as well as monetary gifts to elderly homes and children's homes in both Boston and his hometown, Dover, NH. The surrounding articles depict some of these charitable donations7,10,11,14

Boston Globe article with headline, "Dover's Hospital Nearly Finished. Gift of Arioch Wentworth, and Represents an Outlay of About $60,000."
Wood, Pollard & Co. masthead

The maps below show Wood, Pollard & Co. occupying the Wentworth building on Atlantic Ave. from 1898 to 1917, while the image above shows a billhead for the company from 1901 addressed to the same location2

1898 map of parcel detail

619 Atlantic Avenue, 18983

1902 map of parcel detail

619 Atlantic Avenue, 19024

1917 map of parcel detail

619 Atlantic Avenue, 19175

Literature Cited