In 1918, the influenza epidemic devastated Boston's congested North End and left hundreds of orphans in its wake. Touched by this crisis, a Roman Catholic priest and a group of Italian Americans founded the first home for Italian children in Massachusetts. Franciscan Sisters devoted 24 hours a day to providing the children with a safe, loving, and spiritual environment. This talk from 9/22/2024 outlines the remarkable history of this remarkable institution.
Read MoreEthan Carr believes Franklin Park is one of the great urban parks in the world. Generations of Bostonians have loved this landscape and invested it with many diverse memories and meanings. Today the park is at a turning point. Mayor Wu has approved an Action Plan to guide its future, and the city and its partners have proposed new multi-million dollar construction projects. In this talk he argues that the time is right to consider the past, as well as the future, of Franklin Park.
Read MoreAlex Krieger realized that his own neighborhood of Jamaica Plain is emblematic of a number of American ideals. Americans still identify with Ralph Waldo Emerson who lamented, “I wish for rural strength and religion, and city facility and polish...” Krieger uses his talk to trace this long American desire to occupy a place in between: city and country; civilization and nature, sophistication and simplicity, community and family and to argue that JP is an answer to Emerson’s wish.
Read MoreA talk about the History of the area of JP known as Allandale. Once a rural farming area it still includes Boston’s only working farm. Centre Street has traversed the area since the 1600s and a famous colonial tavern once offered respite to weary travelers. Eventually, large estates came to be built in the area whose inhabitants created history in their own right. And we mustn’t forget the Allandale Spring - whose Spring House is still around and who waters were said to cure dyspepsia, dropsy, catareh, and many other ailments.
Read MoreJoe Bagley, the Archaeologist for the City of Boston presents the initial findings from the dig conducted at the Loring Greenough House in the fall of 2022.
Read MoreCharlie Rosenberg of the Jamaica Plain Historical Society presents a talk about this fascinating industry and the over-sized role it played in Jamaica Plain’s economy. By 1880, the Jamaica Pond Ice Company had 22 icehouses on Jamaica Pond with a storage capacity of 30,000 tons.
Read MoreSally Zimmerman, an architectural historian and preservation planner provides an online presentation focusing on finding out more about the history of old houses and provides tips on preserving their historic character. Using lots of images from around our JP neighborhood Sally’s helpful tips will have you looking at your old house in a whole new way.
Read MoreA presentation featuring JPHS VP and Historian Michael Reiskind focusing on the industrial history of the eastern end of Green Street (from Washington Street over to Amory Street). Zoom recording from January 13, 2022.
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