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.
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.
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.
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.
619 Atlantic Avenue, 18983
619 Atlantic Avenue, 19024
619 Atlantic Avenue, 19175
Literature Cited
"A. Wentworth Building removed to widen Summer Street, 170 Summer Street, corner of Federal and Purchase Streets, Boston, Mass." Photograph. 1897. Digital Commonwealth, https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth-oai:h989ts691 (accessed May 07, 2021).
"Billhead for Wood, Pollard & Co., importers & grocers, corner Summer Street & Atlantic Avenue, opposite Southern Union Station, Boston, Mass., dated July 1, 1909." Ephemera. 1909. Digital Commonwealth, https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth-oai:k643bd12t (accessed May 07, 2021).
Bromley, George Washington. Atlas of the City of Boston, Boston Proper. Philadelphia: G.W. Bromley & Co., 1898. Boston Public Library, via Atlascope.
Bromley, George Washington. Atlas of the City of Boston. Philadelphia: G.W. Bromley & Co., 1902. Boston Public Library, via Atlascope.
Bromley, George Washington. Atlas of the City of Boston. Philadelphia: G.W. Bromley & Co., 1917. Boston Public Library, via Atlascope.
ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Boston Globe. “About this World of Ours.” Daily Boston Globe. December 22, 1898, ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Boston Globe edition.
ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Boston Globe. “Added $20,000 to Gifts: Hon Arioch Wentworth Thus Provided for Support of Home for the Aged at Dover, NH.” Daily Boston Globe. June 27, 1898, ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Boston Globe edition.
ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Boston Globe. “ARIOCH WENTWORTH'S $7,000,000 ESTATE: FAMILY NEARLY CUT OFF.” Daily Boston Globe. October 28, 1897, ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Boston Globe edition.
ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Boston Globe. “BIG LEASE CLOSE: SHREWD REALTY FIRM READ THE FUTURE.” Daily Boston Globe. October 28, 1897, ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Boston Globe edition.
ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Boston Globe. “Dover’s Hospital Nearly Finished: Gift of Arioch Wentworth and Represents an Outlay of About $60,000.” Daily Boston Globe. March 25, 1906, ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Boston Globe edition.
ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Boston Globe. “Gift to Children’s Home: Hon Arioch Wentworth of Boston Gives $5000 to Dover Charity.” Daily Boston Globe. August 19, 1898, ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Boston Globe edition.
ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The New York Times. “PAUL B. WATSON.” The New York Times. March 20, 1948, ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The New York Times edition.
ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Boston Globe. “Rich in Real Estate: How Arioch Wentworth Made Fortune from Small Beginnings.” Daily Boston Globe. March 16, 1903, ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Boston Globe edition.
ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Boston Globe. “Worth of Wentworth School: Hundreds of Students Being Skilled in the Crafts.” Daily Boston Globe. January 28, 1912, ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Boston Globe edition.