Honoring the Historical Details of Boston
How often do you look up from our Boston city streets to admire the architectural history that surrounds you? Most of us, living in this fast-paced society, tend to experience the world at street level hurrying from destination to destination, rarely raising our eyes to the beauty above us.
At JB Sash, we spend much of our time looking up. For almost a century, we have preserved the historic beauty of Greater Boston by recreating thousands of unique windows and doors that embody our iconic local architecture.
This month we wanted to remind ourselves to pause with gratitude and appreciate the rich history surrounding us. We welcome you to join us as we reflect on the historical landmarks of Boston that we had the honor to be a part of.
First off, what is a National Historic Landmark?
A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure the federal government officially recognizes for its outstanding historical significance. Of over 90,000 places individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places, only some 2,500 are recognized as National Historic Landmarks.
Let the historical details of Boston tour begin!
1. Fenway Park
4 Jersey St, Boston, MA
Year completed: 1912
Architect: James E. McLaughlin
Product Featured: JB Proper Bostonian & Marvin
First up on our significant building tour is America’s most beloved and oldest baseball park in Major League Baseball, Fenway Park. The home of the Boston Red Sox and “the greatest of all time” Ted Williams, Babe Ruth, and Carl Yastrzemski.
Notable architectural features: The original architectural style is called “Tapestry Brickstyle,” which was popularized at the beginning of the 1900s. This style is distinguished by red bricks fashioned with decorative patterns, usually at one level. Standing at Fenway Park, that old-school vibe is ever so present.
Fun fact: Did you know that Johnny Pesky was one of the original Window Boys here at JB Sash? Sal Bertolami contracted Pesky as a spokesman, and the rest is history!
2. Congregational House
14 Beacon St, Boston, MA
Year completed: 1898
Architect: Shepley, Ruttan, and Coolidge, now Shepley Bulfinch
Product Featured: JB Proper Bostonian & Marvin windows
In the Beacon Hill Historic District of Boston, you can locate this stately building known as the Congregational House, home of the Congregational Library and Archives. According to Wikipedia, The building was constructed, according to its explanatory plaque, to house the library and “…provide housing for Congregational societies and other religious, charitable organizations.
Notable architectural features: On the second floor are four bas-relief sculptors that “illustrate the core value of the Congregational tradition.” Carved by Domingo Mora, a sculptor, and immigrant from Catalonia who has left his artistic mark in various places around Boston.
Fun fact: The Congregational Library and Archives collections include a ledger recording Benjamin Franklin’s baptism in 1706.
3. Musicians Mutual Relief Society Building
52-56 St Botolph St, Boston, MA
Year completed: 1898
Architect: Cabot and Chandler, in 1886 for the Allen Gymnasium Company, was converted in 1913 by architects Maher & Winchester into a hall, studios, and assembly rooms.
Product Featured: Marvin Windows
Next, we have the Musicians Mutual Relief Society: According to The BrickBuilder, an architectural monthly, this building was one of the first of its kind to be constructed in the country in 1886. There were offices, meeting rooms, and ballrooms for the society. As of today, some lucky Bostonians can call this home.
Notable architectural features: The inscription “Musicians’ Mutual Relief Society” is still visible over the building’s main door on Saint Botolph Street. In addition, note the stained glass between the doors and the inscription. This neighborhood was home to numerous stained-glass artisans at the time and still houses a stained-glass studio today.
Fun fact: Below the roof line, inscribed around the building, are the surnames of many composers.
4. Blackstone Block
120 Blackstone Street, Boston, MA
Year completed: the 17th Century
Product Featured: Marvin Windows
The Blackstone Block is a fragment of Boston’s original settlement and Boston’s most treasured hidden gem. Located near Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market, its boundaries and street pattern are still intact after 300 years. Its narrow cobblestone alleyways and open spaces that run through Blackstone Street offer a glimpse of the scale and size of colonial Boston.
Fun fact: tucked away at the base of one of the alleyways, you can locate what is known as the Boston Stone. According to Wikipedia, the stone is the geographic center of Boston, as it was used in colonial times by surveyors as the zero point for outlying milestones showing the distance to Boston, analogous to the London Stone.
We hope you enjoyed our trip down memory lane. Lastly, remember to take the time to look up every once in a while!
