Landowners
Robert Moore was one of the most prominent landowners in my parcel. He owned nearly half of the buildings on Cross Street in 1883. Moore also owned properties on the surrounding North End streets such as, Morton St, Endicott St, and Stillmans St. These properties made him one of the highest taxpayers in all of Boston at this time. Throughout his career he lived in several homes all located the North End, where he could own and operate his properties and businesses at a close proximity.
Robert Moore immigrated to America from Ireland in 1883. After moving to America, Moore had a small sphere of movement from work, to home, to relatives, and eventually to death. He came to America poor, but he soon became affluent. He raised a large ten-person family. He was known to live an honest, humble, and domestic life. Moore was said to take no part in politics.
Buying properties was not Moore's only business venture......
Moore opened a very successful general produce and grocery store at 61 Endicott St. He managed the store for years and was regarded for his energy. A pioneer to bring Vermont butter and produce to the Boston market He then went into the wine and liquor business with a group of men and opened up the Boston Beer Company.
(Other Owners of Boston Beer Company: John Miller, Michael Doherty, James Collins, Lawrence J. Logan, Garett Nagle)
He was distinguished and highly regarded for his charity work. He was an influential member Irish Charitable Society and the old order of the Knights of St. Patrick. He also donated an abundance of money to the Home for Destitute Catholic Children.
He died suddenly at age 75 of heart failure. At the time he lived with his only surviving daughter on Columbus Avenue in Boston. He arose early that morning and began to shovel snow, but when he came back in, he took a seat and died without uttering another word. His daughter called Dr. Houghton, but it was too late. Funeral happened at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, where he regularly attended mass.
Transition of ownership of 16-18 Cross Street and 52-58 Endicott Street....
-This corner block of properties came on 5850 square feet of land. The buildings were made of brick and frame.
Robert Moore owned these properties until 1895. In 1895 Solomon Pinkoffski bought many of Moore's buildings including 16-18 Cross Street and 52-58 Endicott Street. The year that Pinkoffski came into ownership of this building he was accused of having fraudulent registrations of 40 men living in 16 Cross St. After an investigation they found that these men actually all inhabited the unit. The home had a 22 men increase from the year prior when it was owned by Robert Moore. The building had a transition in ownership, but the purpose of the building as a lodging house remained the same.
In 1903 Solomon Pinnoffski sold 16-18 Cross Street and 52-58 Endicott Street to Sarah Aronson taxed for $52,700. Aronson said she was buying the property for investment and improvement.
