149-189 Blackstone street
By: Emily M.
Preparation for the central Artery
Prior to the 1950s implementation of the Central Artery elevated highway, a meandering sliver of land spanning the city of Boston was stripped of its buildings, businesses, and community, left devoid of any memory of its existence.
This land was cleared to make way for a freeway, intended to ease poor automotive traffic flow that previous roadway infrastructure could not accommodate.
On my assigned parcel of land located at 149 to 189 Blackstone Street, the fate of displacement was inevitable. The path of destruction to welcome the remedy Boston desired, visualized through a photograph of my parcel's demolition from neighboring Haymarket Square, created a lasting urban scar through the city.
Context About 149-189 Blackstone Street
Located in Boston's Historic North End, 149 to 189 Blackstone Street was close to the intersection of Haymarket Square and the Boston and Maine Railroad Line. This location allowed the district to act as a hub of regional wholesale businesses. The closeness of railway transportation created the convenient ability to ship goods efficiently, which enhanced the success of companies on the parcel.
InfluenTial Businesses on the Block
Click below to explore two outstanding businesses along Blackstone Street that touted a reputation of stellar expertise in their lines of work!
A Glimpse into Other Bustling businesses on Blackstone
Learn more about additional businesses that contributed to the bustling industry on Blackstone Street!
Want to explore my parcel up close and personal? Take a look at Blackstone Street for yourself on Boston Atlascope!
Citations
Bibliography
“Atlascope Boston · Historic Urban Atlases from the Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center.” n.d. Atlascope.leventhalmap.org. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://atlascope.leventhalmap.org/#view:address-search-bar.
Fairchild Aerial Surveys, inc. "Boston. Haymarket Square." Photograph. 1925. Digital Commonwealth, https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/8k71nz699 (accessed December 12, 2022).
Jones, Leslie. "Airplane view of Boston showing Haymarket Square." Photograph. [ca. 1940]. Digital Commonwealth, https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/8c97mm62r (accessed December 12, 2022).
Jones, Leslie. "Construction of Central Artery, Haymarket Square." Photograph. 1952. Digital Commonwealth, https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/8c97mg64g (accessed December 12, 2022).