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Before subways lined the streets of Boston, a railroad that rose above Boston's roads carried passengers around the city. Beginning in January of 1899, the railway took two years to fully construct. Commonly referred to as the 'EL', the Boston Elevated Railway was far from perfect. It was notoriously loud, and often required maintenance, but it was heavily utilized by the people of Boston during the first half of the twentieth century. The Atlantic Avenue EL was among the busiest lines, especially during the warmer months when there was increased traffic as a result of the local carnival on Atlantic Avenue. Rowe's Wharf station was among the busiest stops on the line, located between India Wharf, Broad Street, and High Street. On Atlantic Ave. the El was raised to be even with the second story of the adjoining buildings, giving the streets below an enclosed feeling.
Boston Elevated Railway Company. "Looking southerly on Atlantic Avenue from the roof of number 426." Photograph. September 19, 1899.
Boston Elevated Railway Company. "Looking northerly on Atlantic Avenue from number 426." Photograph. September 19, 1899.
To say that Atlantic Ave was busy during the time of the Elevated Railway's construction would be an understatement. These images show what the southern portion of 359-439 Atlantic looked like during the railroad's conception in 1899. The structure had not yet gone vertical at this point as the project had only begun less than a year prior in January 1899. In the image looking north, a bicycle shop, and a barber can be seen amongst other businesses occupying the facade of the block. A wide street, and narrow sidewalks highlight what is almost a claustrophobic experience on Atlantic Avenue. Trolley cars and horse-drawn carriages carried people through the streets as they awaited the arrival of the EL in less than two years' time. This snapshot, taken by the Boston Elevated Railroad Company, provides an invaluable glimpse into what 359-439 Atlantic looked like before the EL rose above it. It is unknown whether or not local businesses supported the building of such a massive structure that blocked their signs and banners from public view. While the railroad brought more traffic to these businesses, the obstructed views caused by the EL, and the pollution that came along with it, undoubtedly had impacted the area as well.
Boston Elevated Railway Company. "Boston Elevated Railway, structure on Atlantic Avenue." Photograph. December 22, 1898.
On Atlantic Ave. the EL was not the only form of public transit. Stretching from sidewalk to sidewalk, trolley cars traveled below the elevated railway, giving people another option when it came to travel on Atlantic Avenue. It was commonplace for someone to take the elevated rail to the stop of their choice, and reach their final destination via trolley car. Though the presence of these cars meant public transportation was more readily available than ever before, it caused a great deal of both noise pollution, and air pollution.
Boston Elevated Railway. “1926 rapid transit map of the Boston Elevated Railway.” Photograph. Massachusetts Historical Society, 1926.
READY IN ABOUT 10 DAYS.: ATLANTIC AV LOOP OFTHE L ROAD IS RAPIDLY NEARING COMPLETION." Boston Daily Globe (1872-1922), Aug 06, 1901.
The speed at which the Boston Elevated Railway Company managed to complete such a massive project is impressive even by modern day standards. Construction began on January 20th, 1899, and ended on June 10th, 1901. Over the span of two years "the company built seven miles of elevated structure with ten stations above the busy streets of Boston, constructed two large multilevel terminals, built a huge generating station, set up two car repair shops, altered six subway stations for use by the elevated trains, and designed and acquired 150 elevated cars of the most advanced type—all within budget.” (Cheney and Sammarco 14) a truly impressive feat considering the construction equipment they had at their disposal. In addition, several tunnels were dug under the downtown area of Boston due to street widths not supporting an elevated rail system. Boston in 1901 was a significantly more connected city in 1901 than it was in 1899 thanks to the EL.
Bibiliography
Works Cited
“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.”[Atlantic Avenue]”. Photograph. August 31, 1927. Digital Commonwealth.https://cityofboston.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/IO_2347361d-a919-4d97-a58e-fafa0c88666d/(Accessed December 6, 2022)
Boston Elevated Railway Company. "Atlantic Avenue looking south from near Oliver Street" Photograph. February 20, 1901. Digital Commonwealth, https://cityofboston.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/IO_fee1d596-670c-41e9-958c-0a02822612eb/ (accessed November 30, 2022).
Boston Elevated Railway Company. "Boston Elevated Railway, structure on Atlantic Avenue." Photograph. December 22, 1898. Digital Commonwealth, https://cityofboston.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/IO_994e229c-2a3c-4dc5-8930-7d4851170b7a/ (accessed November 30, 2022).
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).
Boston Elevated Railway Company. "Looking southerly on Atlantic Avenue from the roof of number 426." Photograph. September 19, 1899. Digital Commonwealth, https://cityofboston.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/IO_3af6e4a3-833b-4668-a2cb-777313bd84f2/ (accessed November 30, 2022).
Boston Elevated Railway. “1926 rapid transit map of the Boston Elevated Railway.” Photograph. Massachusetts Historical Society, 1926. https://www.masshist.org/beehiveblog/2014/07/use-the-elevated-the-boston-elevated-railway-promotes-its-services-in-1926/(Acessed December 6, 2022)
"CHANGES IN CAR ROUTES.: MADE NECESSARY BY WORK AT SUMMER ST AND ATLANTIC AV." Boston Daily Globe (1872-1922), Oct 23, 1898. https://holycross.idm.oclc.org/login?auth=cas&url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/changes-car-routes/docview/498961962/se-2.
Cheney, Frank, and Anthony Mitchell Sammarco. When Boston Rode the El. Arcadia, 2000.
"FROM SUMMER ST TO BROAD.: ATLANTIC AV SECTION OF THE BOSTON ELEVATED RAILROAD SO FAR COMPLETED." Boston Daily Globe (1872-1922), Dec 27, 1900. https://holycross.idm.oclc.org/login?auth=cas&url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/summer-st-broad/docview/499414960/se-2.
"IN SOUTH BOSTON TONIGHT.: MASS MEETING CONCERNING THE WIDTH OF ATLANTIC AV." Boston Daily Globe (1872-1922), May 15, 1899. https://holycross.idm.oclc.org/login?auth=cas&url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/south-boston-tonight/docview/499095355/se-2.
"READY IN ABOUT 10 DAYS.: ATLANTIC AV LOOP OFTHE L ROAD IS RAPIDLY NEARING COMPLETION." Boston Daily Globe (1872-1922), Aug 06, 1901. https://holycross.idm.oclc.org/login?auth=cas&url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/ready-about-10-days/docview/499511105/se-2.
Seasholes, Nancy S. The Atlas of Boston History, University of Chicago Press, Chicago ; London, 2019, pp. 72,92.
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