Embedded Files
Widening Cross and North Streets
Boston's Mayor Curley visited Chicago and decided to replicate the traffic patterns that he saw there. This included the widening of Cross st. to provide better access to the Sumner Tunnel. The idea was to improve traffic in Boston, especially with the increasing use of private cars over public transportation.
In a 1931 Boston Globe article, Mayor Curley said "I am more convinced than ever that Boston's only hope to relieve downtown congestion is by a system of through streets and highway extension of arterial highways. Our salvation would be to widen Cross st. through Haymarket Sq. through State st, thereby opening up a new thoroughfare to Atlantic av, and to gradually inaugurate a system of through streets as they have here".
This article also says that the widening had been planned by the Boston City planning board since 1899. It didn't pass in legislature in 1930, so they will have to try again in 1932. Mayor Curley said he felt that it would definitely pass in 1932. And it did pass, leading to buildings in the way being torn down starting in 1933.
The Boston Globe "Cross-St Widening Urged By Curley: Mayor's Comment After Chicago" Special Dispatch to the Globe Daily Boston Globe (Apr 20, 1931). pg. 18. ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Boston Globe.
The Boston Globe "WIDENING OF NORTH AND CROSS STS FOR APPROACH TO EAST BOSTON TRAFFIC TUNNEL BEGINS THIS WEEK" Daily Boston Globe (Mar 19, 1933).pg. A25. ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Boston Globe.
PLANS FOR STREET WIDENING
This picture is from a 1933 Boston Globe article about the plan to demolish buildings on North and Cross st. It shows the entrance for the new Sumner Tunnel on Cross st. The maps below, show the before and after of these streets. (Both maps show the exact same location).
1928
G.W. Bromley & Co., Atlas of the city of Boston : city proper (1928). Leventhal Map & Education Center at the Boston Public Library.
1938
G.W. Bromley & Co., Atlas of the city of Boston : city proper (1938). Leventhal Map & Education Center at the Boston Public Library.
Boston (Mass.). "94 Cross Street and 96 - 100 Cross Street." Photograph. May 22, 1930. Digital Commonwealth, https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth-oai:h415s548r G.W. Bromley & Co., Atlas of the city of Boston : city proper (1938). Leventhal Map & Education Center at the Boston Public Library.
94-96 CROSS ST. IN 1930
This picture is from before the buildings were taken down. The Police Patrol Station 1 pictured here, was then moved next to the Sumner Tunnel entrance (Bromley Map, 1938). It was described as being one of the oldest buildings to be taken down.
Boston (Mass.). "Cross Street widening from North Street to Commercial Street." Photograph. November 30, 1933. Digital Commonwealth, https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth-oai:h415s426h (accessed May 05, 2021).
1933 CROSS ST.
This 1933 picture shows the work of demolishing buildings along North St.
Both Cross and North streets were expanded from about 20 to 100 feet wide.
A "To Let" sign can be seen on a building on the right indicating a changing area.
Sumner Tunnel (Boston), Construction Photographs, 1929-1933 https://openarchives.umb.edu/digital/collection/p15774coll13The Boston Globe "WIDENING OF NORTH AND CROSS STS FOR APPROACH TO EAST BOSTON TRAFFIC TUNNEL BEGINS THIS WEEK" Daily Boston Globe (Mar 19, 1933).pg. A25. ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Boston Globe.
BUILDING SUMNER TUNNEL
After all of the buildings had been removed, construction could begin on the tunnel. Construction was a difficult process involving carefully clearing away earth and laying granite blocks and supports. The tunnel goes under Boston Harbor and connects East Boston to the North End. It was officially opened in 1934 (Boston Globe, 1933).
After the 1933 Street Widening
These are views of Cross and Hanover Streets after the street widening and tunnel construction. Compared to the older pictures on the previous pages, these streets are almost unrecognizable. And the amount traffic has clearly increased in these areas. The tunnel acted as an important central traffic system from the North End to East Boston.
1948
View of Hanover St. from Cross St.
Boston (Mass.). Traffic & Parking Department. "Hanover Street looking north from Cross Street." Photograph. November 13, 1948. Digital Commonwealth, https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth-oai:h415sb709
1949
At the corner of Hanover and Cross St.
City of Boston Archives – Neighborhood Photographs "Cross street, corner of Hanover street" January 7, 1949. Boston (Mass.). Traffic & Parking Department. https://cityofboston.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/IO_82bc9714-8a49-4fd4-b27a-2daa39773762/
1934 Sumner Tunnel Completion
1935
Traffic entering Sumner Tunnel
Griffin, Arthur. "Crowds ent. Sumner Tunnel." Photograph. 1935. Digital Commonwealth, https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/k930d848d.
1935
Entrance to Sumner Tunnnel
Griffin, Arthur. "Sumner Tunnel." Photograph. 1935. Digital Commonwealth, https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/k930f802z.
Report abuse