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Washington St Brighton MA
This page
addresses the history and development of Washington St
in Brighton, MA from the Newton line to the Brookline
line.
Before the Back Bay landfill started in 1857, the only road from the Boston peninsula to the mainland ran down the Roxbury Neck, through the South End, passing over Parker Hill and into Brookline Village. From there, the so-called Watertown Highway (present-day Washington Street), passed through Little Cambridge (Brighton) to Newton, Watertown and points west. This important roadway existed in a crude state as early as 1640. In 1657, the towns of Boston, Cambridge and Watertown cooperated in widening the portion between Muddy River (Brookline) and Watertown. It was paved for the first time and named Washington Street in 1840.
1805 The road marked with red dots is Washington St from downtown Boston to Brookline Village <Hi Res Image>
1830 Map of Brighton Center and Oak Square (Hi Res Image)
c1900 Washington St at Newton Corner (Card Cow)
Our Lady of the Presentation (OLP) Parish Nuns Convent which was formerly the Brown Estate at 10 Washington St, Newton. It was demolished c1998 and replaced with private homes
Next to the Convent/Brown Estate on the Newton Line (right side of above image) was the Estate of J. Q. A Whittemore, a leather merchant which was built in c1897. In 1942, OLP Parish purchased the building and converted it to the Our Lady of the Presentation Academy girls high school. In 1984, the Academy closed and is now a private home again.
Our Lady of the Presentation Academy c1960. The "Villa" on the left was a carriage house and servant's quarters when owned by the Whittemores. The OLP parish used it as a lunchroom and parish meeting room. It was destroyed by fire in 1974
OLP Academy c1960. The building on the left was the Brackett family home
1909 Map. Top left is the Whittemore estate. To the right is the Brackett home and nursery which extended down the hill to Tremont St. The Brackett homes were purchased by OLP Parish and became the OLP parking lot c1960. Note the planned Westview St to the right where the OLP Church was built a few years later
Tremont St and Holbrow Florist. The white house on the left is the back of the Brackett home on Washington St and below that are the greenhouses. The greenhouses on the right extended to the steps going up to the church which were removed c2020.
OLP Parking Lot in 2007 (Google Maps). The wall facing the sidewalk is the original wall from the Brackett property which had a circular driveway with an entrance/exit onto Washington St. See the above 1925 map. Several private homes were built here in 2024.
OLP Parking Lot 2016 (Peter Kingman)
OLP Church and Rectory in 2004 just before the church was closed
For more photos and history of the OLP Parish <click here>
1885 Map of Oak Square
c1890 Home of Charles Shedd (Shed) at 675 Washington at today's intersection with Atkins St. This house predates the Champney house on the right
Zoom of the previous Shedd house photo. The two white houses to the right of center are on Bigelow St opposite the intersection with Justin Rd and were built before 1875
649 Washington St Champney Home c1890. Bigelow St is in the background on the right. Richard Champney emigrated from Lincolnshire, England in 1635, Champney was an important figure in early Cambridge who bequeathed forty acres of land in Brighton to Harvard College. Richard's descendant Nathaniel moved to this property then owned by the Stratton family. Nathaniel inherited the estate and represented Brighton in the state legislature and as treasurer in the early 1800s
Zoom of the previous Champney home photo. These homes on Bigelow St were built before 1875. To the right of center there is a house in the background between two white houses. This building is part of the Faneuil Estate on Faneuil St and the home of Benjamin Faneuil the brother of Peter Faneuil of Faneuil Hall fame.
647 Washington decorated for the 1907 Centennial. The Champney house is on the left
c1912 Champney St. Commercial property was added to the front of the house on the right at a later date. See photo below.
2022 Champney St
Matchett Home For Sale c1912. The early development along Washington St can be seen on the right
Washington St west of Oak Square in 1914
c1920 Near Tip Top St looking towards Tremont and Nonantum Streets. The Shillaber home is on the left
1890
Original Oak Square School was located in the square as shown on the left of the 1890 map above
2024 The original Oak Square School was moved to 16 Bigelow St with some modifications
1910 Nonantum St on the right and Breck Ave just past the horse and buggy. This is before the block of stores in the c1950 below were developed next to Breck Ave. The peak of a house visible in the upper right is the first house built on Langley Rd. <Hi Res Photo>
c1950 Breck Ave is right of center. Note the Stop & Shop, Hunnewell Market and the First National grocery stores. Before the automobile era, people walked to buy groceries and store loyalty was common. Most of this block was destroyed by fire c1956 and replaced by a gas station. Hunnewell Market relocated to the Newton Corner area.
1919 Streetcar Car Barns looking west where the YMCA is today
For more photos and history of Oak Square <click here>
c1910 Brackett St on the left looking east.
c1910 Zoom of above photo. The car was probably added and not in the original photo
c1910 Zoom of above photo. Note the ground floor businesses have not yet been added to the building on the right. The car was added and not in the original photo.
c1910 Brackett St (Anthony Sammarco)
1940 Washington St at Montfern Ave on the right (Historic New England).
Zoom of previous photo
c1900 Montfern St Tree Removal
Montfern St workers and locals after felling the above tree. Note the exterior detail of the recently built three decker behind the workers <Hi Res Photo>
1938 Washington St at Montfern Ave on the left (Historic New England). Hardware store (Bents) has been added in front of the building on the right (see 2nd Zoom of the c1910 photo above for before).
1938 Montfern Ave intersection where the tree was removed years earlier and after commercial businesses were added in the front
c1920 566 Washington opposite Montfern Ave. Built c1800 and destroyed by fire in the late 1970s
566 Washington St 2022 (Google Maps)
544 Washington at the intersection with Langley Rd c1980. This house is on Brighton maps going back to 1875
1918 Fairbanks St (BPL)
Washington St at Fairbanks 1918. The house with the visible rooftop on the left is on Langley Rd. The foreground is where where Dickinson St and Greymere Rd are today. This area was developed after the streams (see map below) were put underground
Zoom of above. The 3 decker on the right is 523 Washington St. The large apartment building in the center is 539 Washington which still stands today but with siding that has changed its appearance.
1875 Map Showing Streams from Chandlers Pond crossing Washington St
c1920 after laying pipe to put stream underground
c1900 Washington St at Turner St looking towards Oak Sq. On the left is the Breck Ave hill before housing was added and to the right of that is 544 Washington and today's Langley Rd intersection with Washington St. To the right of center is the Brighton Nursery building (#527) close to Fairbanks St with supporting buildings behind it
c1900 The Brighton Nursery at 527 Washington is on the left. Part of the Jacob Taylor home (below) can be seen to the left of the tree. The Burlingame house (below) is to the right of center
1915 Oak Square Methodist Church at 519 Washington St
c1900 Jacob Taylor house at 517 Washington St and to the right of today's Turner St. Some of the wall remains today.
Taylor House
Front of Taylor House
Burlingame House at approx 505 Washington St to the right of the Taylor house. The rock ledge behind the house that used to be common in this area has been removed from most areas and replaced by housing.
Morse house at approx 501 Washington St. Note the rock ledge behind the house
The above Morse house was moved to 46 Brock St
Samuel Tilton home owned by Jacob Taylor, opposite Lake St where Brock St is today.
1918 Photo taken from Washington St at Langley Rd looking east. Lake St is located where the row of trees are (l to r) in the center and Foster St further back. The building in the center is the field house for Rogers Park close to Foster St.
1918 Similar location as the previous photo. The building at the center is 222 Lake St.
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1978 Blizzard (Charlie Vasiliades)
c1900 City Council member Henry B Goodenough's home in the distance (center) opposite Allen Rd. Six acres of his land were sold to the City of Boston in 1885 which became Rogers Park
Front of the Goodenough home opposite Allen Rd
1954 Back of Washington St houses taken from Rogers Park (Digital Commonwealth). The house on the right behind the trees is the Goodenough home
c1965 American gas station at Brock/Lake St
c1970 Birmingham Funeral Home at Allen Rd.
c1882 Albert N Monroe house on Malbert St (left) setback from Washington St (right). A brick apartment building now stands between it and Washington St (#461)
Ellen Livermore house with Oakland St on the right.
2007 Oakland St. Livermore house to the left of center before being demolished for new housing. The three story brick apartment building on the left is in front of the Munroe house. The small brick building on the left was a former Gulf station which previously was on the opposite corner on the right where the three story brick building is.
1899 Map McMurty Quarry on the left with the Munroe and Livermore houses above it. On the right is the Goodenough home.
c1940 Oakland St on the right before the brick apartment buildings were added in front of the Monroe house
1958 Gulf station on the east corner of Oakland St before moving to the west corner (see above 2007 photo) and replaced by an apartment building . Horrigans market on the right was a popular supermarket from the 1930s to 1970s. (Clark Frazier)
c1900 Noah Worcester House built in 1688 at 437 Washington with Foster St on the right. The Rev. Noah Worcester, was the father of the American Peace Movement, and Brighton's first postmaster. The building was demolished in 1915.
Noah Worcester House. A commemorative stone still exists at the current site.
427 Washington (CVS location today) Whittemore Mansion. Built in 1831and survived until the 1930s
c1904 Looking East.
Zoom of the previous photo. Notice the height of Nevins Hill in the distant center before the construction of St Elizabeth's Hospital which leveled some of the hill
c1900 Washington St and Beacon St - Washington Square
References
Before the Back Bay landfill started in 1857, the only road from the Boston peninsula to the mainland ran down the Roxbury Neck, through the South End, passing over Parker Hill and into Brookline Village. From there, the so-called Watertown Highway (present-day Washington Street), passed through Little Cambridge (Brighton) to Newton, Watertown and points west. This important roadway existed in a crude state as early as 1640. In 1657, the towns of Boston, Cambridge and Watertown cooperated in widening the portion between Muddy River (Brookline) and Watertown. It was paved for the first time and named Washington Street in 1840.
1805 The road marked with red dots is Washington St from downtown Boston to Brookline Village <Hi Res Image>
1830 Map of Brighton Center and Oak Square (Hi Res Image)
In the 1830s, the principal
landmark in the Town of Brighton was its Cattle
Market which was located on the grounds of the
Cattle Fair Hotel between present day Parsons and
Market Streets and it extended back as far as
Bennett Street. The total
population of the town in 1830 was just 972
persons predominantly
Anglo-Saxon, Protestant and young with 707
people under the age of 30.
The above 1830 map indicates that the entire town contained a total of 15 roads: Brighton Avenue, North Beacon Street, Western Avenue (then called River Street), Cambridge Street, North Harvard and Harvard Streets, Allston Street, Washington Street, which provided Cattle Market access to Boston via the Neck; Market Street, then called Meetinghouse Lane; Faneuil Street, Nonantum Street (part of an original Indian path and probably the oldest road in the town, Foster Street, known as Seaver’s Lane; the combination of Academy Hill Road and Chestnut Hill Avenue, called Rockland Street owing to its many ledge outcroppings; and finally South Street, a combination of present-day South Street and the part of Commonwealth Avenue that leads to the Newton boundary.
The above 1830 map indicates that the entire town contained a total of 15 roads: Brighton Avenue, North Beacon Street, Western Avenue (then called River Street), Cambridge Street, North Harvard and Harvard Streets, Allston Street, Washington Street, which provided Cattle Market access to Boston via the Neck; Market Street, then called Meetinghouse Lane; Faneuil Street, Nonantum Street (part of an original Indian path and probably the oldest road in the town, Foster Street, known as Seaver’s Lane; the combination of Academy Hill Road and Chestnut Hill Avenue, called Rockland Street owing to its many ledge outcroppings; and finally South Street, a combination of present-day South Street and the part of Commonwealth Avenue that leads to the Newton boundary.
c1900 Washington St at Newton Corner (Card Cow)
The original
Chestnut Hill Reservoir had two basins, Lawrence
and Bradlee. The Lawrence Basin was filled
in the 1950s and was located where the Boston
College football stadium is today. The
Bradlee basin was in Boston and the Lawrence Basin
in Newton when the Reservoir opened around
1870. Boston wanted all of the Reservoir to
be within the Boston boundary and made a land swap
with Newton to achieve this. The land Boston
lost in the exchange was west of the current
Newton line on Washington St. The Brighton
Newton line then would have been located near the
intersection of Waverly Ave and Washington St
(circle on the map below). The red
line is the current Newton Brighton Boundary (2024
Google Maps).
c1870 Newton Boundary Change
c1870 Newton Boundary Change
Brighton Newton line in 1896 with
Newton on the left. The house is 11 Washington
St, Newton and was the Elizabeth Manor nursing home
in the1960s
Our Lady of the Presentation (OLP) Parish Nuns Convent which was formerly the Brown Estate at 10 Washington St, Newton. It was demolished c1998 and replaced with private homes
Next to the Convent/Brown Estate on the Newton Line (right side of above image) was the Estate of J. Q. A Whittemore, a leather merchant which was built in c1897. In 1942, OLP Parish purchased the building and converted it to the Our Lady of the Presentation Academy girls high school. In 1984, the Academy closed and is now a private home again.
Our Lady of the Presentation Academy c1960. The "Villa" on the left was a carriage house and servant's quarters when owned by the Whittemores. The OLP parish used it as a lunchroom and parish meeting room. It was destroyed by fire in 1974
OLP Academy c1960. The building on the left was the Brackett family home
1909 Map. Top left is the Whittemore estate. To the right is the Brackett home and nursery which extended down the hill to Tremont St. The Brackett homes were purchased by OLP Parish and became the OLP parking lot c1960. Note the planned Westview St to the right where the OLP Church was built a few years later
Tremont St and Holbrow Florist. The white house on the left is the back of the Brackett home on Washington St and below that are the greenhouses. The greenhouses on the right extended to the steps going up to the church which were removed c2020.
OLP Parking Lot in 2007 (Google Maps). The wall facing the sidewalk is the original wall from the Brackett property which had a circular driveway with an entrance/exit onto Washington St. See the above 1925 map. Several private homes were built here in 2024.
OLP Parking Lot 2016 (Peter Kingman)
OLP Church and Rectory in 2004 just before the church was closed
For more photos and history of the OLP Parish <click here>
1885 Map of Oak Square
c1890 Home of Charles Shedd (Shed) at 675 Washington at today's intersection with Atkins St. This house predates the Champney house on the right
Zoom of the previous Shedd house photo. The two white houses to the right of center are on Bigelow St opposite the intersection with Justin Rd and were built before 1875
649 Washington St Champney Home c1890. Bigelow St is in the background on the right. Richard Champney emigrated from Lincolnshire, England in 1635, Champney was an important figure in early Cambridge who bequeathed forty acres of land in Brighton to Harvard College. Richard's descendant Nathaniel moved to this property then owned by the Stratton family. Nathaniel inherited the estate and represented Brighton in the state legislature and as treasurer in the early 1800s
Zoom of the previous Champney home photo. These homes on Bigelow St were built before 1875. To the right of center there is a house in the background between two white houses. This building is part of the Faneuil Estate on Faneuil St and the home of Benjamin Faneuil the brother of Peter Faneuil of Faneuil Hall fame.
647 Washington decorated for the 1907 Centennial. The Champney house is on the left
c1912 Champney St. Commercial property was added to the front of the house on the right at a later date. See photo below.
2022 Champney St
The Matchett
Mansion was built in 1771 and located at 654
Washington St at today's Tip Top Street.
In 1745 Joshua Fuller sold to Thomas Parks a
mansion house, barn, cider mill and eleven acres
of land between Indian Lane (Nonantum St) and
Washington Street. Frederick Tudor
purchased the estate in 1780. He was the great
"Ice King of New England " who chartered
ships to carry ice to Calcutta. At
Calcutta, the ships were chartered back to
Boston by Cyrus Wakefield, who imported general
East India merchandise, and large quantities of
rattan for his factory in Wakefield.
Daniel Bowen who owned the Columbian Museum in
Boston bought the estate, then called Lime
Grove, in 1791. This area was called Bowen
Hill during this time. William Matchett, a
Civil War Navy veteran whose ancestors came here
from England in 1700, became the owner in 1820.
His son Charles Matchett was the Socialist Labor
Party candidate for President in 1896.
Matchett Home For Sale c1912. The early development along Washington St can be seen on the right
Tremont St on
the left and Washington St on the right. Estate
of Boston merchant Daniel Shillaber built this
house in 1774 on land originally owned by the
Matchett estate. After his death in 1871, it
was rented by civil war veteran J.
L. B. Pratt.
The smaller building on the right was a grocery
store associated with the Pratt family. To
the right of that is the Matchett mansion.
The Presentation School Foundation now occupies
this location. Two of the granite columns
still stand in front of the PSF entrance.
1916 Oak Square. Compared to the above 1885 map, the Oak Square area was largely developed by 1916, i.e., most of the lots now had houses, OLP church was built, Tip Top St existed and a new Oak Square school was built on Nonantum St. <Hi Res Image>
1916 Oak Square. Compared to the above 1885 map, the Oak Square area was largely developed by 1916, i.e., most of the lots now had houses, OLP church was built, Tip Top St existed and a new Oak Square school was built on Nonantum St. <Hi Res Image>
Washington St west of Oak Square in 1914
c1920 Near Tip Top St looking towards Tremont and Nonantum Streets. The Shillaber home is on the left
1890
Original Oak Square School was located in the square as shown on the left of the 1890 map above
2024 The original Oak Square School was moved to 16 Bigelow St with some modifications
1910 Nonantum St on the right and Breck Ave just past the horse and buggy. This is before the block of stores in the c1950 below were developed next to Breck Ave. The peak of a house visible in the upper right is the first house built on Langley Rd. <Hi Res Photo>
c1950 Breck Ave is right of center. Note the Stop & Shop, Hunnewell Market and the First National grocery stores. Before the automobile era, people walked to buy groceries and store loyalty was common. Most of this block was destroyed by fire c1956 and replaced by a gas station. Hunnewell Market relocated to the Newton Corner area.
1919 Streetcar Car Barns looking west where the YMCA is today
For more photos and history of Oak Square <click here>
c1910 Brackett St on the left looking east.
c1910 Zoom of above photo. The car was probably added and not in the original photo
c1910 Zoom of above photo. Note the ground floor businesses have not yet been added to the building on the right. The car was added and not in the original photo.
c1910 Brackett St (Anthony Sammarco)
1940 Washington St at Montfern Ave on the right (Historic New England).
Zoom of previous photo
c1900 Montfern St Tree Removal
Montfern St workers and locals after felling the above tree. Note the exterior detail of the recently built three decker behind the workers <Hi Res Photo>
1938 Washington St at Montfern Ave on the left (Historic New England). Hardware store (Bents) has been added in front of the building on the right (see 2nd Zoom of the c1910 photo above for before).
1938 Montfern Ave intersection where the tree was removed years earlier and after commercial businesses were added in the front
c1920 566 Washington opposite Montfern Ave. Built c1800 and destroyed by fire in the late 1970s
566 Washington St 2022 (Google Maps)
544 Washington at the intersection with Langley Rd c1980. This house is on Brighton maps going back to 1875
1918 Fairbanks St (BPL)
Washington St at Fairbanks 1918. The house with the visible rooftop on the left is on Langley Rd. The foreground is where where Dickinson St and Greymere Rd are today. This area was developed after the streams (see map below) were put underground
Zoom of above. The 3 decker on the right is 523 Washington St. The large apartment building in the center is 539 Washington which still stands today but with siding that has changed its appearance.
1875 Map Showing Streams from Chandlers Pond crossing Washington St
c1920 after laying pipe to put stream underground
c1900 Washington St at Turner St looking towards Oak Sq. On the left is the Breck Ave hill before housing was added and to the right of that is 544 Washington and today's Langley Rd intersection with Washington St. To the right of center is the Brighton Nursery building (#527) close to Fairbanks St with supporting buildings behind it
1889 Brighton Nursery Receipt.
c1900 The Brighton Nursery at 527 Washington is on the left. Part of the Jacob Taylor home (below) can be seen to the left of the tree. The Burlingame house (below) is to the right of center
1915 Oak Square Methodist Church at 519 Washington St
c1900 Jacob Taylor house at 517 Washington St and to the right of today's Turner St. Some of the wall remains today.
Taylor House
Front of Taylor House
Jacob Taylor
was born in Boxborough in 1812. He came to
Brighton in 1838 and worked in the cattle
business. In 1855, he moved to the
Burlingame house (below) and a year later moved
into the above house that he had built. He
was the President of the National Market Bank
and the Abattoir, town assessor and selectman,
and director of the Citizen's Mutual Insurance
Company
Burlingame House at approx 505 Washington St to the right of the Taylor house. The rock ledge behind the house that used to be common in this area has been removed from most areas and replaced by housing.
Morse house at approx 501 Washington St. Note the rock ledge behind the house
The above Morse house was moved to 46 Brock St
Samuel Tilton home owned by Jacob Taylor, opposite Lake St where Brock St is today.
1918 Photo taken from Washington St at Langley Rd looking east. Lake St is located where the row of trees are (l to r) in the center and Foster St further back. The building in the center is the field house for Rogers Park close to Foster St.
1918 Similar location as the previous photo. The building at the center is 222 Lake St.
1978 Blizzard (Charlie Vasiliades)
c1900 City Council member Henry B Goodenough's home in the distance (center) opposite Allen Rd. Six acres of his land were sold to the City of Boston in 1885 which became Rogers Park
Front of the Goodenough home opposite Allen Rd
1954 Back of Washington St houses taken from Rogers Park (Digital Commonwealth). The house on the right behind the trees is the Goodenough home
c1965 American gas station at Brock/Lake St
c1970 Birmingham Funeral Home at Allen Rd.
c1882 Albert N Monroe house on Malbert St (left) setback from Washington St (right). A brick apartment building now stands between it and Washington St (#461)
Ellen Livermore house with Oakland St on the right.
2007 Oakland St. Livermore house to the left of center before being demolished for new housing. The three story brick apartment building on the left is in front of the Munroe house. The small brick building on the left was a former Gulf station which previously was on the opposite corner on the right where the three story brick building is.
1899 Map McMurty Quarry on the left with the Munroe and Livermore houses above it. On the right is the Goodenough home.
c1940 Oakland St on the right before the brick apartment buildings were added in front of the Monroe house
1958 Gulf station on the east corner of Oakland St before moving to the west corner (see above 2007 photo) and replaced by an apartment building . Horrigans market on the right was a popular supermarket from the 1930s to 1970s. (Clark Frazier)
c1900 Noah Worcester House built in 1688 at 437 Washington with Foster St on the right. The Rev. Noah Worcester, was the father of the American Peace Movement, and Brighton's first postmaster. The building was demolished in 1915.
Noah Worcester House. A commemorative stone still exists at the current site.
427 Washington (CVS location today) Whittemore Mansion. Built in 1831and survived until the 1930s
Cattle Fair Hotel
in 1865 at the corner of Washington and Market
Streets celebrating the end of the Civil War.
The original cattle stockyards were located
behind the hotel before moving down Market
St. <click here>
for more photos of the hotel.
c1904 Looking East.
Zoom of the previous photo. Notice the height of Nevins Hill in the distant center before the construction of St Elizabeth's Hospital which leveled some of the hill
c1890 Looking West. Cattle Fair Hotel
and Market St on the right
1937. Note the curved building at the corner of Washington and Cambridge streets which predates St Elizabeth's built in 1914. See 1899 map below
For more photos and history of Brighton Center <click here>
1899 Note the planned roads on Nevins Hill
1935 Washington St on the right towards Commonwealth Ave. St Gabriels at the top center
2022 Google Maps update of the previous 1935 aerial photo
Bulls Head Tavern at approximately 201 Washington St opposite Nantasket Ave was established in 1776 and was Brighton's oldest hotel. The original Little Cambridge (Brighton) Cattle Market was located here. The tavern also served as a stop on the Boston to Worcester stagecoach line.
1980 #201 Washington St John Pierce House which can be seen in the 1935 Aerial photo above on the left side of Washington St near St Gabriels
Pierce-Furbish House at the corner of Washington St and Nantasket Ave
Washington St is on the right
Steeple in the far right is part of St Columbkille's Church
Photo c1970. In 1908, the Nevins property was sold to the Passionist Religious Society where St Gabriels Monastery was built. In 1934, St Gabriel's became a Parish. In the late 1970s, the upper church was still used for religious services but the retreat house and Monastery buildings were used by St Elizabeth's Hospital. St Gabriel's closed in 2006. Washington St runs left to right near the top of the photo
The original St Gabriel's Chapel was formerly a Nevin's Estate barn
Original Chapel c1910
1925 Map showing the early development of St Elizabeth's and St Gabriels on Nevins Hill
This church was built in 1928 to replace the chapel
Monastery Front Entrance
1912 Entrance from Washington St
Rear of the monastery
View from Washington St. One of the remaining Nevin's Estate buildings can be seen on the right
The grammar school closed in 1970 with an enrollment of 320 students
Church property deteriorated before being renovated as the Overlook (Frank Grace photo)
The Overlook at St Gabriels, a 555 unit living complex, opened in 2021. Above is the renovated altar area shown in the previous photo and is an Overlook common area today
2016 (Google Maps) St Gabriel's Entrance from Washington St with the school on the right
1899 Union St on the left has been renamed Monastery Rd. Commonwealth Ave is near the center and the Brookline border to the right
HH Learnard (Larned) home at 155 Washington St near Monastery Rd (formerly Union St). He was the Brighton Treasurer from 1836 to 1869. St Gabriel's Monastery is visible on the left
Samuel Learnard Home behind HH Learnard's residence
1916 George Reed. Learnard Home in the background. The fence on the left of the house is where Monastery Rd is today.
1916 156 Washington St Home of George Reed
1890 William Monroe House at 113 Washington St. The two barn buildings at the top left are part of the Samuel Larned property
1890 Albert Monroe House at 125 Washington St (left)
91 Washington St near Comm Ave. Birthplace of James Holton who left $6000 for the purchase of books for a public library which motivated Brighton to build the Holton Library on Academy Hill Rd that opened in 1864
George Livermore House on the left and Sarah Livermore on the right on either side of Allston St
c1910 Dana House built around 1680 near the intersection with Allston St by a son of Richard Dana whose family included Congressman Francis Dana and the author of Two Years Before The Mast Richard Henry Dana II
Dana House
1937. Note the curved building at the corner of Washington and Cambridge streets which predates St Elizabeth's built in 1914. See 1899 map below
For more photos and history of Brighton Center <click here>
1899 Note the planned roads on Nevins Hill
1935 Washington St on the right towards Commonwealth Ave. St Gabriels at the top center
2022 Google Maps update of the previous 1935 aerial photo
Bulls Head Tavern at approximately 201 Washington St opposite Nantasket Ave was established in 1776 and was Brighton's oldest hotel. The original Little Cambridge (Brighton) Cattle Market was located here. The tavern also served as a stop on the Boston to Worcester stagecoach line.
1980 #201 Washington St John Pierce House which can be seen in the 1935 Aerial photo above on the left side of Washington St near St Gabriels
Pierce-Furbish House at the corner of Washington St and Nantasket Ave
Nevins Estate
with Washington St on the left. It was
located behind 201 Washington and built by
wealthy Boston merchant Capt Nathaniel
Cunningham around 1730. See the above 1899
map. In 1770, it was destroyed by a fire
and rebuilt. General Washington dined
there in 1775. In 1777, Samuel Willis
Pomeroy, owner
of the Bull's Head Tavern,
constructed a second estate there called
Bellevue. Pomeroy, who lived there until 1830,
was a founding member of the Massachusetts
Horticultural Society and a State
Representative. The estate originally consisted
of 36 acres, and extended all the way to the
Charles River. In 1843 the estate was purchased
by Jared Coffin who was the fifth great grandson
of Tristam Coffin, one of the first purchasers
and founders of Nantucket. Coffin built a large
Greek Revival mansion in 1845. At that time, the
estate included five structures: two houses,
three barns and extensive gardens and orchards.
Several years later, Coffin sold the estate to
his son-in-law, David Nevins. Nevins was
involved in manufacturing, and owned several
plants in Lawrence, Methuen and Salem.
Washington St is on the right
Steeple in the far right is part of St Columbkille's Church
Photo c1970. In 1908, the Nevins property was sold to the Passionist Religious Society where St Gabriels Monastery was built. In 1934, St Gabriel's became a Parish. In the late 1970s, the upper church was still used for religious services but the retreat house and Monastery buildings were used by St Elizabeth's Hospital. St Gabriel's closed in 2006. Washington St runs left to right near the top of the photo
The original St Gabriel's Chapel was formerly a Nevin's Estate barn
Original Chapel c1910
1925 Map showing the early development of St Elizabeth's and St Gabriels on Nevins Hill
This church was built in 1928 to replace the chapel
Monastery Front Entrance
1912 Entrance from Washington St
Rear of the monastery
View from Washington St. One of the remaining Nevin's Estate buildings can be seen on the right
The grammar school closed in 1970 with an enrollment of 320 students
Church property deteriorated before being renovated as the Overlook (Frank Grace photo)
The Overlook at St Gabriels, a 555 unit living complex, opened in 2021. Above is the renovated altar area shown in the previous photo and is an Overlook common area today
2016 (Google Maps) St Gabriel's Entrance from Washington St with the school on the right
1899 Union St on the left has been renamed Monastery Rd. Commonwealth Ave is near the center and the Brookline border to the right
HH Learnard (Larned) home at 155 Washington St near Monastery Rd (formerly Union St). He was the Brighton Treasurer from 1836 to 1869. St Gabriel's Monastery is visible on the left
Samuel Learnard Home behind HH Learnard's residence
1916 George Reed. Learnard Home in the background. The fence on the left of the house is where Monastery Rd is today.
1916 156 Washington St Home of George Reed
1890 William Monroe House at 113 Washington St. The two barn buildings at the top left are part of the Samuel Larned property
1890 Albert Monroe House at 125 Washington St (left)
91 Washington St near Comm Ave. Birthplace of James Holton who left $6000 for the purchase of books for a public library which motivated Brighton to build the Holton Library on Academy Hill Rd that opened in 1864
George Livermore House on the left and Sarah Livermore on the right on either side of Allston St
c1910 Dana House built around 1680 near the intersection with Allston St by a son of Richard Dana whose family included Congressman Francis Dana and the author of Two Years Before The Mast Richard Henry Dana II
Dana House
c1900 Washington St and Beacon St - Washington Square
References
- Oak Square
- Brighton Center
- Passionists St Gabriel's History
- OLPresentation Parish History
- Overlook - Church History
- Uncommon Suburbs: Suburbanization At The Western Edge Of Boston, 1820-1873 - William Marchione
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