North End Investments

Unique to this subjugated parcel of land is the long-term investments made in the area, revealing the value of the properties and their importance to the North End. It's important to ask, why were these streets owned by such established figures of the Boston area. Learning more about the real estate value of this area and observing various photos will provide important context to the ongoing vitality of Hanover Street and the North End.  

Shown below is artist Edward Howard (E.H.) Suydamn's depiction of Hanover St. from 1930. The subtle characteristics of the drawing indicate the vibrance of the street and the variety and stores and businesses that inherit its properties.

Suydam, E. H. (Edward Howard). "Hanover Street." Drawing. 1930. Digital Commonwealth, https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/6h440z043.  
1930 illustration of Hanover Street

Photo credits: Jones, Leslie. "Hanover Street in the North End decorated by Italians for Saints Day." Photograph. 1930. Digital Commonwealth ;  Jones, Leslie. "Market corner at Blackstone & Hanover Streets." Photograph. June 29, 1956. Digital Commonwealth,. : Jones, Leslie. "American House, Hanover Street." Photograph. 1930. Digital Commonwealth.


The images shown on the left depict Hanover St. and its incorporation to the community. The street was used a main road to host festivals, markets and a residence for attractions such as the American House, which operated as a casino, restaurant and hotel. The American House on Hanover St. (the third picture) was owned by Edmund D. Codman, who took control of John Hurd's multiple properties on the corner of North Centre St. and North St. His multiple investments in the area demonstrate a financial commitment to the North End, and the intrinsic value that Hanover St. possessed. Its utility as a gathering place for the inhabitants of the city drew the interests of major investors.  

John C. Hurd's Estate and Edmund D. Codman 

John C. Hurd and his estate had owned the buildings on the corner of North Centre St. and North St. for over 80 years, which had been used for a wide variety of reasons. On North Centre St., most of the owned property were brick horse stables, reflecting the need for a robust area to rest their horses when traveling to the North End. There are few public records regarding the business of John Hurd, aside from his position as a successful banker, but his lasting ownership of the corner properties was eventually purchased by the "Messrs Codman", also recognized the Codman Company (Boston Globe).  The valuation of these properties can be found in the 1896 article from the Boston Globe. 

Edmund D. Codman, a member of the "Messrs Codman", was entitled the newly purchased property and established the North St. Trust in the area. Edmund Codman was an influential member of the North End community, as he was former President of the Fitchburg Railroad and influential in the construction of the North Station. Codman also owned multiple buildings throughout the city, as his work was centered around the infrastructure of the city of Boston and New England. With the United States Trust Company existing up the block, operated by the Ratsheskys, there was an increasing amount of banking opportunities for the citizens of the North End and Boston.

CODMAN, EDMUND D. "HOW NEW ENGLAND RAILROADS CAN BE SAVED.: CHANGE IN CAR HIRE BASIS WOULD DO MUCH FOR BOSTON & MAINE AND NEW YORK, NEW HAVEN & HARTFORD, SAYS EDMUND D. CODMAN, PRESIDENT OF FITCHBURG RAILROAD--ADVOCATES ELIMINATION OF TRUNK LINE CONTROL." Boston Daily Globe (1872-1922), Dec 21, 1913.

"NORTH STATION WILL REST ON 1509 PILES: RESIDENT ENGINEER FOR BUILDERS TESTIFIES COST OF FOUNDATIONS WILL TOTAL $275,000 PLUS, HE SAYS." Daily Boston Globe (1928-1960), Jan 25, 1928.

1938 map detail of subject parcel showing land owners

This 1938 Bromley map reveals how N. Centre St. became occupied by two large trusts on opposite corners. Both owners of the respective properties, the Ratshesky brothers and Edmund Codman, had been financially immersed in the North End for multiple decades. 

Bromley, George Washington. Atlas of the City of Boston. Philadelphia: G.W. Bromley & Co. 1938. Leventhal Map & Education Center at the Boston Public Library, via AtlasScope.

1904 view of North Station

The image above shows North Station, one of the many rail lines that Edmund D. Codman had been involved in constructing. 

Boston (Mass.). "North Station." Photograph. January 20, 1904. Digital Commonwealth, https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth-oai:h415s544n. 

newspaper story recounting sale of Codman properties

Information on the transaction and image of article:  "REAL ESTATE MATTERS.: TWO-FAMILY HOUSES SEEM TO BE MOST SOUGHT FOR. ..." Boston Daily Globe (1872-1922); Nov 29, 1896; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Boston Globe pg. 10

Hotel Transactions

The Hanover St. Hotels experienced more a fluid turnover in terms of ownership, but the various sales of the property help to understand the value of a Hanover Street hotel. 

As shown by the article on the right, William Ceppi had purchased Hotel Venice for a value of $78,500 (Boston Globe, 1907). Whether the incidents that had taken place on the premises, which are discussed on the Hanover Street Hotels page, had affected the property is undetermined. Within a year of purchasing equity of the hotel, Mr. Ceppi had sold his stake in the property to Albert A. Golden for the same price of $78,500 (Boston Globe, 1908). The hectic events centered around Hotel Venice could have disinterested William Ceppi from holding onto the property for much longer.

1908 newspaper excerpt recounting sale of Hotel Venice

"REAL ESTATE.: Apartment Houses at a Good Figure. Transfer of 159 to ..." Boston Daily Globe (1872-1922); Dec 12, 1908; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Boston Globe. pg. 14

newspaper article recounting sale of Hotel Venice

"REAL ESTATE.: DEAL ON WASHINGTON ST UNVOLVES $650,000. HOTEL VENICE .." Boston Daily Globe (1872-1922); Sep 5, 1907; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Boston Globe. pg. 6

With reliable investors and a constant flow of people, Hanover Street remained a busy avenue of commerce and public interaction for the city of Boston. In order for a city, or portion of a city, to thrive it requires financial commitment from wealthy community members. This dependency is a theme that has been noted when studying various other modern cities across the globe and is on display within this parcel and the North End as a whole. 

Bibliography 

  • Jones, Leslie. "Hanover Street in the North End decorated by Italians for Saints Day." Photograph. 1930. Digital Commonwealth. 
  •  Jones, Leslie. "Market corner at Blackstone & Hanover Streets." Photograph. June 29, 1956. Digital Commonwealth
  • Jones, Leslie. "American House, Hanover Street." Photograph. 1930. Digital Commonwealth..
  • "REAL ESTATE MATTERS.: TWO-FAMILY HOUSES SEEM TO BE MOST SOUGHT FOR. ..." Boston Daily Globe (1872-1922); Nov 29, 1896; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Boston Globe pg. 10
  • CODMAN, EDMUND D. "HOW NEW ENGLAND RAILROADS CAN BE SAVED.: CHANGE IN CAR HIRE BASIS WOULD DO MUCH FOR BOSTON & MAINE AND NEW YORK, NEW HAVEN & HARTFORD, SAYS EDMUND D. CODMAN, PRESIDENT OF FITCHBURG RAILROAD--ADVOCATES ELIMINATION OF TRUNK LINE CONTROL." Boston Daily Globe (1872-1922), Dec 21, 1913; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Boston Globe.
  • "NORTH STATION WILL REST ON 1509 PILES: RESIDENT ENGINEER FOR BUILDERS TESTIFIES COST OF FOUNDATIONS WILL TOTAL $275,000 PLUS, HE SAYS." Boston Daily Globe (1928-1960), Jan 25, 1928; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Boston Globe.
  • Bromley, George Washington. Atlas of the City of Boston. Philadelphia: G.W. Bromley & Co. 1938. Leventhal Map & Education Center at the Boston Public Library, via AtlasScope.
  • Boston (Mass.). "North Station." Photograph. January 20, 1904. Digital Commonwealth, https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth-oai:h415s544n.
  • "REAL ESTATE.: DEAL ON WASHINGTON ST UNVOLVES $650,000. HOTEL VENICE .." Boston Daily Globe (1872-1922); Sep 5, 1907; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Boston Globe. pg. 6
  • "REAL ESTATE.: Apartment Houses at a Good Figure. Transfer of 159 to ..." Boston Daily Globe (1872-1922); Dec 12, 1908; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Boston Globe. pg. 14
  • Suydam, E. H. (Edward Howard). "Hanover Street." Drawing. 1930. Digital Commonwealth, https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/6h440z043.