The Architecture of Atlantic Avenue

1899 photograph, "Looking northerly on Atlantic Avenue from number 426"
Boston Elevated Railway Company. "Looking northerly on Atlantic Avenue from number 426." Photograph. September 19, 1899 Digital Commonwealth
1899 photograph, "Looking southerly on Atlantic Avenue from number 426"
Boston Elevated Railway Company. "Looking southerly on Atlantic Avenue from number 426." Photograph. September 19, 1899 Digital Commonwealth

Architectural Features

In order to discuss the architecture of 359-439 Atlantic it is first and foremost important to understand the architecture of the era, and the purpose of the buildings being examined. The late nineteenth to early twentieth centuries were a time of rapid progress for the City of Boston. Major throughways, and public transit were becoming integral parts of the city as jobs became more plentiful for those willing to take the leap into city life. The architecture of the time reflected this theme of rapid change, with simplistic facades, and squared off shapes to reflect the need for purpose rather than for aesthetics. At the turn of the twentieth century this area was up and coming but also vital due to the wharves that lined one side of a major road, Atlantic Avenue. To hone in once again on 359-439 Atlantic Avenue, the architecture was simplistic yet efficient. As depicted in the pictures to the left, the buildings range from three stories to six stories, and with the exception of one outlier at 397 Atlantic that happened to be made of wood, every building has a brick exterior. Window designs varied, which is demonstrated by the intricate design of 439 Atlantic (right side of bottom image), and the simplistic design of 405 Atlantic's windows (leftmost building in top image). Some buildings appear to have shingled roofs while others are flat. The differences between buildings reflect the differences in ownership, and in function.

Bibliography

Works Cited


"ATLANTIC AVENUE SITES FOR NEW CUSTOM HOUSE FAVORED: FOSTER'S WHARF AND STATE-ST OFFERINGS OF LAND AFFORD CHANCES FOR CONVENIENT AND MONUMENTAL BUILDING. EXACTLY WHAT GOVERNMENT SEEKS. WOULD BENEFIT CITY AT LARGE SITE CONVENIENT TO IMPORTERS. BUILT NEAR THE WATER." Boston Daily Globe (1872-1922), Jul 04, 1908.https://holycross.idm.oclc.org/login?auth=cas&url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/atlantic-avenue-sites-new-custom-house-favored/docview/501063380/se-2


“Atlascope Boston.” Atlascope Boston · Historic Urban Atlases from the Norman B. Leventhal 

                Map & Education Center, Norman B Leventhal Map & Education Center at the      

            Boston Public Library, 2020, https://atlascope.leventhalmap.org/#view:address-search-bar. 


Boston Elevated Railway Company. "Looking northerly on Atlantic Avenue from number 426." Photograph. September 19, 1899. Digital Commonwealth, https://cityofboston.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/IO_31d91d98-97e2-45fe-aa7f-e76374100f9d/ (accessed November 30, 2022).


Clark, William T. "Atlantic Ave., Boston, Mass., between Oliver St. and Cotton Place." Photograph. 1931. Digital Commonwealth, http://gusn.us/179997 (accessed November 30, 2022).


Seasholes, Nancy S. The Atlas of Boston History, University of Chicago Press, Chicago ; London, 2019, pp. 72,92.