1-41 Endicott 

Renata P.

Welcome to 1-41 Endicott St, a parcel located in Boston's North End area. The following sources trace the urban and historical development of the neighborhood by looking at both the physical and social aspects of the parcels. From brothels to black businesses, these parcels enabled the public and private lives of historic minorities from gender to racial identities. 

The Transformation of Endicott Street 

 From the origins of Endicott Street to its displacement from the displacement caused by the John F. Fitzgerlad Expressway. This section looks at the physical changes of the parcel's urban landscape.

1814 map detail including subject parcel

1814

In the 17th century, this area of land used to be known as Boston's Mill Pond. The natural coved was dammed off and filled in later in  the 19th century. Endicott Street was originally named  Pond St and it was created in 1806 to act as a causeway connecting Hanover St (then Middle St) and the Charlestown River. 

1882 detail of Sanborn map showing subject parcel

1882

This 19th century Insurance Maps of Boston, published by Sanborn shows 1-41 Endicott St as a street made up of a series of 3-4 stories brick buildings. There is a big area that separates the two ends of the building which is color coded as a frame building.  

contemporary map showing subject parcel

2021

Today, if we try to locate this parcel, we will notice that this location has been occupied and replaced by the John F. Fitzgerald Expressway. This project was executed in the 1950s as an elevated highway and later was re-adapted in the 1990s/2000s as a part of the Big Dig project.  

The Big Dig 

During The Big Dig excavations, a range of artifacts have been found in the sites of 27-29 Endicott Street. Current research on these objects has served as evidence to contribute to the narrative of the lives of sex workers in the 19th century North End Brothels. Being private businesses operated by women, the objects represent both hygiene tools and homeware goods that were used to welcome and please working-class clients. 

Bone-handled toothbrushes excavated from the privy at 27–29 Endicott Street illustrate the importance of dental hygiene for the women who worked and lived at this brothel.
photo of blue and white teapot with broken/missing handle
photo of bottles
photo of shoes excavated near site
photo of reconstructed bowls excavated near subject parcel

Endicott's Brothels 

map detail showing parcel and owner M.I. Cohen

19 Endicott St

Owned by a Jewish descendent,  M.I. Cohen, 19 Endicott has been considered to partake in the privy activity. In 1894, this address was home to the Golden Star Pleasure Club an organization listed under the Jewish American directory as an organization mainly for pleasure and incidentally charity.  

On another note, a 1885 police note from the Boston Daily globe reported that two young women were being held hostage at the 19 Endicott Street for two weeks. 

1885 newspaper article recounting cruelty to 2 girls
newspaper ad for Golden Star Pleasure Club
1855 almanac page showing subject parcel

27-29 Endicott St 

Recent studies of artifacts have defined 27-29 Endicott St as undercover brothels that were in the hands of various women through out the course of years. One of the most outstanding stories  was Louisa Cowen, who ran the brothel from 1956 and used her social status as respectful widow to cover up any suspicion. 

The People and Properties of Endicott 

This section looks at individuals and their connection to the parcel. Examining how their presence might have shaped/intervene in North End. 

map detail showing property ownership of Mather family
Boston Daily Globe advertisement for Dr. A.H. Mather from 1872

A doctor in the House: 

A Boston Daily Globe advertisement from 1872, promotes the services of Dr.A.H. Matter Mather, whose office was located at 9 Endicott Street. Mathers was a surgeon and physician, in his text description, there is a list of the different treatments he has to offer.  The 1883-1890 Bromley maps shows two buildings listed under the name Mather that went from 9-13 Endicott Streets. The map distinguishes  Mather's own office from the property he owned but had set aside for his heirs.  

The Lives of Black Bostonians 

Insurance map of Boston. Volume 1, 1883
newspaper ad for letting part of a room

33 Endicott St

An advertisement from the Liberator Magazine  published on June 9, 1837 ,shows an announcement about a small house near Old Cambridge. At the end of the house description, there is the contact information that mentions the name of Benjamin P. Basset, whose address happens to be at 33 Endicott St in the basement of the Massachusetts Hotel. In earlier maps, this location was known as the Massachusetts House which could have served as A boarding house in the area. Not much information is found on this establishment but what is interesting is that Benjamin P.  Bassett was a hairdresser listed in the Boston City Directory under People of Color. This makes Endicott St seem like a blooming spot for anyone to earn a living despite their race and gender disadvantages.  

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