The Beehive: the official blog of the Massachusetts Historical Society

A Lovely Day in the City

Yesterday walking around neighborhood in the sunny but crisp fall weather — Kenmore Square filled with bustling pedestrians, many carrying lightweight jackets thrown over their arms, others basking in the last warm days of season and braving the elements sans jackets — brought this image from the 1940s to  mind. Arriving at the MHS this morning I immediately went to the stacks to find the image. A close inspection revealed the image was likely captured in the spring rather than the fall, but the essence of Boston in the changing seasons is still there.

A crowd of pedestrians walking on Comm Ave in Kenmore Square, spring circa 1944

To relive this photographic moment today, head over to the Kenmore Square area and stand in front of Eastern Standard (528 Commonwealth Ave) looking down Commonwealth toward the Back Bay. In the image the two black signs on posts just behind the sign for the Kenmore Cafeteria mark the entrance to Kenmore Station.

 

Original photograph from Massachusetts Views, Boston Streets, Massachusetts Historical Society.

permalink | Published: Wednesday, 12 October, 2011, 8:00 AM

Comments 

Oct 12, 2011, 8:00 pm

Perfidious Albion

I'm curious to know what you're using to determine the date of this photo.

Oct 13, 2011, 7:08 am

Elaine Grublin

Thank you for the question. In terms of deciding that the photograph was taken in the spring rather than fall, I am basing my assumption primarily on the appearance of the trees along the center of Commonwealth Ave. The leaves appear to be young and green, not fully developed and close to turning as they would be in the fall. This is a bit easier to see in the original photograph.


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