2-38 Cove Street and
267-195 Federal Street

Samuel A. Way: 

Samuel A. Way was born in New Hampshire around 1816 and  became known as one of the most prominent and experienced businessmen in Boston of the time. In fact, at the early age of eleven, Samuel A. Way gained ownership of a small farm. This business sustained him for most of his youth and into his early adulthood until he purchased a wholesale shop on Kilby Street in 1831 and a store for fine goods including high-end watches in 1835 on Court Street. Then, from 1837-1850, Way branched out into the grocery, liquor, and banking businesses. He was a forerunner in the creation of a free banking system known as the Bank of the Metropolis (which was unsuccessful). However, despite this failure, Samuel A. Way was referred to as one of the largest property owners in Boston by an editorial article published in the Boston Daily Globe in 1870 (“Samuel A. Way” 1872). Seemingly, Way attempted to use such property for private as well as public gain. Related to residential properties, he made a public statement where he addressed “the needle women of Boston” and more generally “the industrious women of Boston” in an attempt to offer comfortable and safe housing (“Mr. Way’s Public Bequest” 1872). More specific information on this offer is sparse, and it remains unclear if such dwellings were complementary from Way, or if rent was paid, and he was simply the landlord. On a personal note, Samuel A. Way resided with his family including his wife, Sarah Ann Way, and his son, Charles G. Way, in Boston in 1871(“Samuel A. Way in the MA, U.S., Wills and Probate Records” 1635-1991). 

Daniel Simpson:  

Daniel Simpson was born in Winslow, Massachusetts to a family of Scotch-Irish descent (“Daniel Simpson, Some Reminiscences of His Life and Recollections of Boston” 1882) . Simpson is best known today for his service as a drummer for the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company and for being the only drummer present at the Broad Street Riots, a significant social conflict that targeted Irish immigrants in South Boston. Simpson moved to Boston in 1810 and started working for the famous East India Company. Once in Boston, Daniel Simpson decided to open a storefront stocked with goods from the East India Company on Federal Street, previously known as Wheeler’s Pt (“Drummer Simpson Dead” 1886). Simpson’s business ventures expanded to other locations and industries too. For example, he was the landlord of the Green Dragon Tavern on Union Street, a place where the Sons of Liberty secretly met. Legend has it that Paul Revere and Robert Newman made up the “one if by land and two if by sea” signal in Simpson’s tavern. The Boston Tea Party was thought to have been planned there (“Memoirs of an Old Man” 1885). Newspaper coverage of Simpson’s 95th birthday exists. This celebration was held at Simpson’s South Boston home (not on Federal Street). Interestingly, Charles G. Way, Samuel A. Way’s son was in attendance at this party (“Veteran Daniel Simpson: His Ninety-Fifth Birthday Celebrated in South Boston” 1886). Only a few years later, in 1886, Daniel Simpson passed away in his South Boston home in 1886 with the reputation of being a wealthy and successful businessman firmly established. 

J.F. Fitzgerald: 

J.F. Fitzgerald and his father, J.R. Fitzgerald, were both involved in the paper stock industry. Additionally, although it was never recorded in census records, it would appear that the Fitzgerald family was also in the junk/trash industry based upon labels on the 1867 and 1882 Sanborn maps and the U.S. City Directory from 1883. The U.S. City Directory from 1883 reads that John R. & Son (John F.) had a junk shop at 275 Federal Street, Boston (“John F. Fitzgerald in the U.S. City Directories” 1822-1995). On a more personal note, it is known that John R. Fitzgerald was born around 1824 in Ireland. John R. had three daughters in addition to his son and was later widowed. His daughters' names were Margaret, Mary L., and Anna (Annie) V. Mary and Anna are listed on the Federal Street properties in the years 1888, 1890, and 1895 without J.R. or J.F. which suggests that they were the primary owners during these years. Regardless of their ownership, Mary L. was a teacher at a local school named St. Andrew’s (“Mary L.  in the U.S. City Directories” 1892). Annie V. was still in school herself at the time of these records. J.R. Fitzgerald’s eldest daughter, Margaret, was married to Timothy Brosnihan, and her occupation was keeping up the family home at 5 Telegraph Street. In 1880, The Fitzgeralds and Brosnihans all lived together at this residence, 5 Telegraph Street, Boston (“John R., John F. Mary L., Annie V., in the U.S. Federal Census” 1880).

While 2-38 Cove and 267-195 Federal Street were primarily composed of commercial buildings, there were at least two named families recognized as a residential tenants. This would be the Butler family. James Butler, the head of the family, was born in Ireland around 1847. At some point, he immigrated to the United States and began working as a liquor dealer. In 1880, he resided in dwelling number 121, house number 285 on Federal Street in Boston with the rest of his family members. He and his wife Margaret had four sons and one daughter. Their names were John, Timothy, Patrick, James, and Ellen. It is also clear from the 1880 United States Federal Census that the Butlers had neighbors. Other families lived in adjacent house numbers. At the time the Butlers lived at 285 Federal Street, the Hayes family lived in dwelling number 119, house number 281 Federal Street. Through analysis of this 1880 census page, it seems that more families and individuals began moving to Federal Street; however, this all came to a halt in 1898 when South Station completely annihilated 2-38 Cove and 267-195 Federal Street (“James Butler in the U.S. Federal Census” 1880).

The Boston Terminal Company, a private company, was persistent in taking action to modernize South Boston in the 1880s and 1890s. For example, the closings of Federal Street, Cove Street, and Summer Street were all the Boston Terminal Company’s responsibility. This fact was contrary to the public’s original assumptions that the mayor was behind it all (“Naphen Not Yet Beaten on Cove Street Plan” 1900). The Boston Terminal Company claimed to have taken it upon themselves to close Federal Street in order to connect the Cove and Summer Street sewers. However, the more likely reason for the closures was their long-term plan for South Station. The South Boston Citizens’ Association, was particularly concerned about these closures along with unclean street conditions. Apparently, any delivered goods to the street were ruined by dust and debris from the dirty streets (“Mayor’s Reply: Not Responsible for Federal St Closing” 1897). Secondly, Boston Terminal Company was absolutely unstoppable in buying up property throughout South Boston. In March 1897, the company acquired three large brick buildings from 271-277 Federal Street. Parcels from 341 to 347 Federal Street were also overtaken (Real Estate Matters: One more Site for Boston Terminal Company” 1896). The buildings were worth $3,000 each and the land (1421 square feet to be exact) priced at $13,900. Mary L. Fitzgerald’s (see Business Owners section above) property was unfortunately amongst the taken properties (“Real Estate Matters: Boston Terminal Company Takes Three Estates on Federal and Cove Sts” 1897). Just one month later (April 1897), two more nearby estates on Federal and Cove Street were taken by the Boston Terminal Company (“Further Transfers on Fed St to the Boston Terminal Company” 1897). 36 Cove Street is an exact address referenced (“Real Estate Matters: The Boston Terminal Company Pays Big Price for 36 Cove St.” 1897).

Congestion arose in South Boston almost immediately following the construction of South Station which annihilated buildings on Federal and Cove Streets including the highlighted parcel, 2-38 Cove and 267-195 Federal Street. Such congestion became particularly restraining in the late 1890s and in the early 1900s. In fact, the South Station worker’s strike in July 1919 garnered significant newspaper coverage. As a result, there were many delays. People working in other parts of the city were unable to return home until the late hours of the evening. These delays had been going on since the early 1900s when rail traffic started to be used for both work and leisure travel (“Busy Day for Railroad Men” 1913). On one particularly brutal day of this strike, people rushed the gates twice which caused significant but not fatal injuries to a number of passengers. It is noted in one newspaper article that North Station was nowhere near as crowded as South Station which speaks to the latter's flaws in both design and daily execution (“Worst Congestion of L Strike At South Station” 1919). One attempt to correct such congestion was street widenings, discussed as early as 1872. There were actual hearings carried out in order to determine whether such widening of streets (including Federal Street) were worthwhile. A South Boston property owner, Robert K. Potter, sat in on the hearings and eventually declared his disapproval citing that such widening would negatively impact his business (like the fire of 1872 did). Many other South Boston residents shared thoughts such as P.A. Collins, another name present on the maps in 1874, 1883, 1888, 1890, and 1895 (“Street Commissioners: Hearings on Proposed Widening” 1872).