Furnace Brook Parkway
Encyclopedia
Furnace Brook Parkway is a historic parkway
in Quincy, Massachusetts
. Part of the Metropolitan Park System of Greater Boston
, it serves as a connector between the Blue Hills Reservation
and Quincy Shore Reservation
at Quincy Bay
. First conceived in the late nineteenth century, the state parkway is owned and maintained by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
(DCR) and travels through land formerly owned by the families
of John Adams
and John Quincy Adams
, passing several historic sites. It ends in the Merrymount
neighborhood, where Quincy was first settled by Captain Richard Wollaston in 1625. The road was started in 1904, completed in 1916 and added to the National Register of Historic Places
(NRHP) in 2004.
Furnace Brook Parkway approximately bisects central Quincy on a southwest–northeast line, following closely the courses of Furnace Brook and Blacks Creek, the estuary into which the brook flows, crossing them several times. For the majority of its length it is two lanes undivided, with the exception of directional lanes at a traffic circle
(called a "rotary" in New England
) where it meets Interstate 93
.
and meanders for about four miles from southwest to northeast through the middle of Quincy, ending where it meets the Atlantic
estuary known as Blacks Creek near Quincy Bay. The brook was named in the seventeenth century for its proximity to the Winthrop Iron Furnace, also known as Braintree Furnace, the first iron blast furnace
established in what would become the United States. The furnace and forge operation was started in 1644 by John Winthrop the Younger in the North Precinct of Braintree
, which became the separate town of Quincy in 1792.
and later assumed leadership of Olmsted's design firm in 1893. Olmsted had been responsible for the development of Central Park
in Manhattan
and, with Eliot, had worked to create Boston's Emerald Necklace
, a string of connected parks and waterways. Eliot was instrumental in the founding of The Trustees of Reservations
and the public Metropolitan Parks Commission in the 1890s and envisioned an expansion of the parks network to areas surrounding Boston. Among these were the Middlesex Fells
, Stony Brook
, Blue Hills and Quincy Shore reservations; Furnace Brook was viewed as an integral part of the system, with an urban parkway proposed connecting the Blue Hills and Quincy Shore portions.
in 1901. The proposed route of the parkway was soon also scheduled for use in directing a portion of a major sewer line from Boston to Nut Island at the end of Hough's Neck in 1902. The western part of the parkway was both planned and completed first, with plans for the section from Wampatuck Road to Hancock Street submitted in 1903. Construction of the roadway began in 1904, with a major component, a granite-faced concrete bridge carrying the Granite Branch of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
over the parkway route completed in 1906. Subgrading of the road surface from the Blue Hills Reservation to Adams Street was also completed at that time. Construction of the roadway from Blue Hills to Adams Street and most of the land acquisition required for the continuation of the route to Quincy Shore was completed by January 1908.
-style triple decker
s being added by 1910. Work on a stone and concrete bridge carrying the parkway over Blacks Creek began in the fall of 1915. Construction was finished later the next year and the completed Furnace Brook Parkway was officially opened for public travel on November 18, 1916.
The parkway route has been the same since completion in 1916, with the exception of one major interruption caused by the construction of the Interstate Highway System
in the 1950s. Exit 8 of the Southeast Expressway, which carries Interstate 93 along with U.S. Route 1
and Massachusetts Route 3, was constructed over the right-of-way of the former New York, New Haven and Hartford rail line in 1956–57. The old Granite Branch railroad bridge was demolished and a portion of the parkway was replaced with a large rotary and system of ramps to serve the limited access expressway. In 1997, the southbound exit ramp from the expressway was moved 1500 feet (457.2 m) north to handle expected long queues of exiting dump truck
s moving dirt excavated from the Big Dig
construction project. The dirt removed was used to fill former granite quarries and create the land now occupied by the Granite Links at Quarry Hills golf complex located north of the parkway on Ricciuti Drive, which ends at the expressway southbound exit ramp for Furnace Brook Parkway.
, located at the gated northeastern entrance to the Blue Hills Reservation at Bunker Hill Road in West Quincy
. The reservation gates at this intersection are open during the day and closed from 8 PM to 7 AM. From Bunker Hill Road the parkway travels east to northeast for 1300 feet (396.2 m) before merging with Willard Street, formerly a northern segment of Massachusetts Route 37
. The two roads enter the Furnace Brook Rotary as they meet amid single-lane directional roadways. Rotary traffic proceeds counterclockwise, with ramps entering and exiting the Southeast Expressway on either side of the limited access highway; Furnace Brook Parkway exits on the northeastern side of the rotary after passing under the expressway. Traffic traveling westbound on the parkway around the rotary is carried above the expressway on a bridge where it meets exiting southbound expressway traffic in a cross weave.
Beyond the rotary the parkway proceeds through a four block long commercial district, the only commercial presence on its length except for two gas stations. Although its general course is to the northeast, upon crossing Copeland Street here, it takes a wide swing to the northwest. Near Cross Street, it passes within 250 feet of the Winthrop Iron Furnace, which ultimately gave it its name. Between Cross and Quarry Streets, the Boston (northern) side becomes open land with the brook running down the middle of the open area, while the south side is residential. At Quarry street, its course is due north, and from here it goes generally northeast. From Quarry Street to Adams Street it is residential on both sides.
, including the Old House
, the home of the Adams Family
from 1788 until the early 20th century.
In the next block the parkway crosses under the MBTA Red Line
and the Greenbush
and Old Colony MBTA commuter lines, which parallel Newport Avenue. In this area the road has residences on the north and Furnace Brook on the south.
and the Dorothy Q Apartments
, an NRHP site. In the section from Hancock Street to Southern Artery
(Massachusetts Route 3A
) the parkway crosses Blacks Creek at the point where the brook flows into the estuary. On the north side here is Merrymount Park and the Blacks Creek estuary, while the south is residential.
The last major section is from Southern Artery to Quincy Shore Drive
. Here Furnace Brook Parkway traverses the northwest edge of Merrymount
, the site of Quincy's founding in 1625. Beyond here, the view opens on the left to a panorama north across the creek and marshes to Quincy Bay and the Boston Harbor Islands beyond. Furnace Brook Parkway ends at the intersection with Quincy Shore Drive, with traffic crossing the drive continuing onto Shore Avenue.
Parkway
The term parkway has several distinct principal meanings and numerous synonyms around the world, for either a type of landscaped area or a type of road.Type of landscaped area:...
in Quincy, Massachusetts
Quincy, Massachusetts
Quincy is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Its nicknames are "City of Presidents", "City of Legends", and "Birthplace of the American Dream". As a major part of Metropolitan Boston, Quincy is a member of Boston's Inner Core Committee for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council...
. Part of the Metropolitan Park System of Greater Boston
Metropolitan Park System of Greater Boston
The Metropolitan Park System of Greater Boston is a system of reservations, parks, parkways and roads under the control of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation in and around Boston that has been in existence for over a century...
, it serves as a connector between the Blue Hills Reservation
Blue Hills Reservation
Blue Hills Reservation is a state park in Norfolk County, Massachusetts. Managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, it extends into Milton, Quincy, Braintree, Canton, Randolph, and Dedham south of Boston.-Description:...
and Quincy Shore Reservation
Quincy Shore Reservation
Quincy Shore Reservation is a protected shoreline on Quincy Bay, Boston Harbor in Quincy, Massachusetts. Its primary attraction is a 2.3 mile beach, accessible along its entire length by Quincy Shore Drive...
at Quincy Bay
Quincy Bay
Quincy Bay is the largest of the three small bays of southern Boston Harbor, part of Massachusetts Bay and forming much of the shoreline of the city of Quincy, Massachusetts. Locally in the Wollaston neighborhood of Quincy it is known as Wollaston Bay...
. First conceived in the late nineteenth century, the state parkway is owned and maintained by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
Department of Conservation and Recreation (Massachusetts)
The Department of Conservation and Recreation is a state agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, situated in the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. It is best known for its parks and parkways. As of May 24, 2011 the Commissioner of the DCR is Edward M. Lambert, Jr...
(DCR) and travels through land formerly owned by the families
Adams political family
The Adams family was a prominent political family in the United States during the late 18th century through early 20th centuries. Based in eastern Massachusetts, they formed part of the Boston Brahmin community.-Members:...
of John Adams
John Adams
John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States...
and John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams was the sixth President of the United States . He served as an American diplomat, Senator, and Congressional representative. He was a member of the Federalist, Democratic-Republican, National Republican, and later Anti-Masonic and Whig parties. Adams was the son of former...
, passing several historic sites. It ends in the Merrymount
Merrymount (Quincy, Massachusetts)
Merrymount is a primarily residential neighborhood of Quincy, Massachusetts, located between the neighborhoods of Quincy Center and Adams Shore. Although it was the site of Quincy's initial settlement, Merrymount was not substantially developed for residential use until the first half of the 20th...
neighborhood, where Quincy was first settled by Captain Richard Wollaston in 1625. The road was started in 1904, completed in 1916 and added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
(NRHP) in 2004.
Furnace Brook Parkway approximately bisects central Quincy on a southwest–northeast line, following closely the courses of Furnace Brook and Blacks Creek, the estuary into which the brook flows, crossing them several times. For the majority of its length it is two lanes undivided, with the exception of directional lanes at a traffic circle
Traffic circle
A traffic circle or rotary is a type of circular intersection in which traffic must travel in one direction around a central island. In some countries, traffic entering the circle has the right-of-way and drivers in the circle must yield. In many other countries, traffic entering the circle must...
(called a "rotary" in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
) where it meets Interstate 93
Interstate 93
Interstate 93 is an Interstate Highway in the New England section of the United States. Its southern terminus is in Canton, Massachusetts, in the Boston metropolitan area, at Interstate 95; its northern terminus is near St. Johnsbury, Vermont, at Interstate 91...
.
History
The parkway takes its name from the course of the stream it follows, Furnace Brook, which begins on the eastern slopes of the Blue HillsBlue Hills Reservation
Blue Hills Reservation is a state park in Norfolk County, Massachusetts. Managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, it extends into Milton, Quincy, Braintree, Canton, Randolph, and Dedham south of Boston.-Description:...
and meanders for about four miles from southwest to northeast through the middle of Quincy, ending where it meets the Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
estuary known as Blacks Creek near Quincy Bay. The brook was named in the seventeenth century for its proximity to the Winthrop Iron Furnace, also known as Braintree Furnace, the first iron blast furnace
Blast furnace
A blast furnace is a type of metallurgical furnace used for smelting to produce industrial metals, generally iron.In a blast furnace, fuel and ore and flux are continuously supplied through the top of the furnace, while air is blown into the bottom of the chamber, so that the chemical reactions...
established in what would become the United States. The furnace and forge operation was started in 1644 by John Winthrop the Younger in the North Precinct of Braintree
Braintree, Massachusetts
The Town of Braintree is a suburban city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Although officially known as a town, Braintree adopted a municipal charter, effective 2008, with a mayor-council form of government and is considered a city under Massachusetts law. The population was 35,744...
, which became the separate town of Quincy in 1792.
Design
The use of the land adjacent to Furnace Brook was first conceived by landscape architect Charles Eliot, who had apprenticed with Frederick Law OlmstedFrederick Law Olmsted
Frederick Law Olmsted was an American journalist, social critic, public administrator, and landscape designer. He is popularly considered to be the father of American landscape architecture, although many scholars have bestowed that title upon Andrew Jackson Downing...
and later assumed leadership of Olmsted's design firm in 1893. Olmsted had been responsible for the development of Central Park
Central Park
Central Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
and, with Eliot, had worked to create Boston's Emerald Necklace
Emerald Necklace
The Emerald Necklace consists of an chain of parks linked by parkways and waterways in Boston and Brookline, Massachusetts. It gets its name from the way the planned chain appears to hang from the "neck" of the Boston peninsula, although it was never fully constructed.-Overview:The Necklace...
, a string of connected parks and waterways. Eliot was instrumental in the founding of The Trustees of Reservations
The Trustees of Reservations
The Trustees of Reservations is a non-profit land conservation and historic preservation organization dedicated to preserving natural and historical places in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is the oldest regional land trust in the world and has 100,000 dues-paying members...
and the public Metropolitan Parks Commission in the 1890s and envisioned an expansion of the parks network to areas surrounding Boston. Among these were the Middlesex Fells
Middlesex Fells Reservation
Middlesex Fells Reservation, often referred to simply as the Fells, is a Massachusetts state park located in Malden, Medford, Melrose, Stoneham, and Winchester...
, Stony Brook
Stony Brook Reservation
Stony Brook Reservation is a woodland park in Boston and Dedham, Massachusetts, a unit of the Metropolitan Park System of Greater Boston, part of the state park system of Massachusetts. Located in the southwest of Boston, it extends from the West Roxbury neighborhood into the Hyde Park...
, Blue Hills and Quincy Shore reservations; Furnace Brook was viewed as an integral part of the system, with an urban parkway proposed connecting the Blue Hills and Quincy Shore portions.
Construction
Funding for the proposed parkway along Furnace Brook was passed by the Massachusetts General CourtMassachusetts General Court
The Massachusetts General Court is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The name "General Court" is a hold-over from the Colonial Era, when this body also sat in judgment of judicial appeals cases...
in 1901. The proposed route of the parkway was soon also scheduled for use in directing a portion of a major sewer line from Boston to Nut Island at the end of Hough's Neck in 1902. The western part of the parkway was both planned and completed first, with plans for the section from Wampatuck Road to Hancock Street submitted in 1903. Construction of the roadway began in 1904, with a major component, a granite-faced concrete bridge carrying the Granite Branch of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad , was a railroad that operated in the northeast United States from 1872 to 1968 which served the states of Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts...
over the parkway route completed in 1906. Subgrading of the road surface from the Blue Hills Reservation to Adams Street was also completed at that time. Construction of the roadway from Blue Hills to Adams Street and most of the land acquisition required for the continuation of the route to Quincy Shore was completed by January 1908.
Completion
Further land acquisition and construction continued through the next several years. Also during this time new structures began to appear along the route, with a notable section of Colonial RevivalColonial Revival architecture
The Colonial Revival was a nationalistic architectural style, garden design, and interior design movement in the United States which sought to revive elements of Georgian architecture, part of a broader Colonial Revival Movement in the arts. In the early 1890s Americans began to value their own...
-style triple decker
Triple decker
A triple-decker is a three-story apartment building, typically of light-framed, wood construction, where each floor usually consists of a single apartment; although two apartments per floor is not uncommon....
s being added by 1910. Work on a stone and concrete bridge carrying the parkway over Blacks Creek began in the fall of 1915. Construction was finished later the next year and the completed Furnace Brook Parkway was officially opened for public travel on November 18, 1916.
Post-completion
Following completion of the parkway the speed limit was set at twenty miles per hour. This has been increased to the current limit of thirty miles per hour; a previously legislated restriction against the placement of advertising signs along the road has always been enforced. A still-existing gas station at 507 Furnace Brook Parkway was added in 1929.The parkway route has been the same since completion in 1916, with the exception of one major interruption caused by the construction of the Interstate Highway System
Interstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, , is a network of limited-access roads including freeways, highways, and expressways forming part of the National Highway System of the United States of America...
in the 1950s. Exit 8 of the Southeast Expressway, which carries Interstate 93 along with U.S. Route 1
U.S. Route 1 in Massachusetts
In the U.S. state of Massachusetts, U.S. Route 1 is a major north–south state highway through Boston. The portion of US 1 south of Boston is also known as the Boston-Providence Turnpike, and portions north of the city are known as the Northeast Expressway and the Newburyport Turnpike.-Route...
and Massachusetts Route 3, was constructed over the right-of-way of the former New York, New Haven and Hartford rail line in 1956–57. The old Granite Branch railroad bridge was demolished and a portion of the parkway was replaced with a large rotary and system of ramps to serve the limited access expressway. In 1997, the southbound exit ramp from the expressway was moved 1500 feet (457.2 m) north to handle expected long queues of exiting dump truck
Dump truck
A dump truck is a truck used for transporting loose material for construction. A typical dump truck is equipped with a hydraulically operated open-box bed hinged at the rear, the front of which can be lifted up to allow the contents to be deposited on the ground behind the truck at the site of...
s moving dirt excavated from the Big Dig
Big Dig
The Central Artery/Tunnel Project , known unofficially as the Big Dig and as the Big Dug since completion, was a megaproject in Boston that rerouted the Central Artery , the chief highway through the heart of the city, into a 3.5-mile tunnel...
construction project. The dirt removed was used to fill former granite quarries and create the land now occupied by the Granite Links at Quarry Hills golf complex located north of the parkway on Ricciuti Drive, which ends at the expressway southbound exit ramp for Furnace Brook Parkway.
Blue Hills to Adams Street
Furnace Brook Parkway begins at the east end of Wampatuck Road, one of the Blue Hills Reservation ParkwaysBlue Hills Reservation Parkways
The Blue Hills Reservation Parkways is a group of historic parkways in the Blue Hills Reservation. The system was founded in 1894 and designed by Charles Eliot...
, located at the gated northeastern entrance to the Blue Hills Reservation at Bunker Hill Road in West Quincy
West Quincy (Quincy, Massachusetts)
West Quincy is a neighborhood of Quincy, Massachusetts. It is bordered on the north by Wollaston, on the east by Quincy Center, on the south by South Quincy and on the west by the town of Milton and the Blue Hills Reservation.- History :...
. The reservation gates at this intersection are open during the day and closed from 8 PM to 7 AM. From Bunker Hill Road the parkway travels east to northeast for 1300 feet (396.2 m) before merging with Willard Street, formerly a northern segment of Massachusetts Route 37
Massachusetts Route 37
- Route description:Route 37 begins in the north end of the city of Brockton at Route 28. After crossing the Middleboro-Lakeville Line and passing the Montello Station, it enters the town of Holbrook. It winds through the center of that town, where it intersects Route 139...
. The two roads enter the Furnace Brook Rotary as they meet amid single-lane directional roadways. Rotary traffic proceeds counterclockwise, with ramps entering and exiting the Southeast Expressway on either side of the limited access highway; Furnace Brook Parkway exits on the northeastern side of the rotary after passing under the expressway. Traffic traveling westbound on the parkway around the rotary is carried above the expressway on a bridge where it meets exiting southbound expressway traffic in a cross weave.
Beyond the rotary the parkway proceeds through a four block long commercial district, the only commercial presence on its length except for two gas stations. Although its general course is to the northeast, upon crossing Copeland Street here, it takes a wide swing to the northwest. Near Cross Street, it passes within 250 feet of the Winthrop Iron Furnace, which ultimately gave it its name. Between Cross and Quarry Streets, the Boston (northern) side becomes open land with the brook running down the middle of the open area, while the south side is residential. At Quarry street, its course is due north, and from here it goes generally northeast. From Quarry Street to Adams Street it is residential on both sides.
Between Adams and Hancock Streets
From Adams Street to Willow Avenue, the north side is the Furnace Brook Golf Course and the south is residential. Inset into the golf course is the Charles A. Bernazzani Elementary School. In this section, just west of Willow Avenue, the brook passes under the parkway to the south. From Willow Avenue to Newport Avenue, the north side is residential and the south side is occupied by the Rice Eventide Nursing Home, two residences, and the largest portion of Adams National Historical ParkAdams National Historical Park
Adams National Historical Park, formerly Adams National Historic Site, in Quincy, Massachusetts, preserves the home of Presidents of the United States John Adams and John Quincy Adams, of U.S...
, including the Old House
Peacefield
Peacefield, also called Old House, is a historic home formerly owned by second President of the United States, John Adams, and other members of the Adams family, located in Quincy, Massachusetts near Boston...
, the home of the Adams Family
Adams political family
The Adams family was a prominent political family in the United States during the late 18th century through early 20th centuries. Based in eastern Massachusetts, they formed part of the Boston Brahmin community.-Members:...
from 1788 until the early 20th century.
In the next block the parkway crosses under the MBTA Red Line
Red Line (MBTA)
The Red Line is a rapid transit line operated by the MBTA running roughly north-south through Boston, Massachusetts into neighboring communities. The line begins west of Boston, in Cambridge, Massachusetts at Alewife station, near the intersection of Alewife Brook Parkway and Route 2...
and the Greenbush
Greenbush Line
The Greenbush Line is a branch of the MBTA Commuter Rail system. The line restores service along the New Haven Railroad's Greenbush Branch, from downtown Boston, Massachusetts through the towns of Braintree, Weymouth, Hingham, Cohasset, and Scituate on the South Shore of Boston...
and Old Colony MBTA commuter lines, which parallel Newport Avenue. In this area the road has residences on the north and Furnace Brook on the south.
Hancock Street to Quincy Bay
On the southeast corner at Hancock Street is the Quincy National Guard Armory. South of the armory lies the Dorothy Quincy Homestead, a National Historic LandmarkNational Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
and the Dorothy Q Apartments
Dorothy Q Apartments
The Dorothy Q Apartments are historic apartments at 36 Butler Road in Quincy, Massachusetts.They were built in 1929 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989....
, an NRHP site. In the section from Hancock Street to Southern Artery
Southern Artery
Southern Artery is a street in Quincy, Massachusetts. For much of its length it is a major arterial street which is used by an average of over 30,000 Boston area commuters daily.-History:...
(Massachusetts Route 3A
Massachusetts Route 3A
Route 3A is a state highway in eastern Massachusetts, which parallels Route 3 and U.S. Route 3 from Cedarville in southern Plymouth to Tyngsborough at the New Hampshire state line....
) the parkway crosses Blacks Creek at the point where the brook flows into the estuary. On the north side here is Merrymount Park and the Blacks Creek estuary, while the south is residential.
The last major section is from Southern Artery to Quincy Shore Drive
Quincy Shore Drive
Quincy Shore Drive is a historic road in Quincy, Massachusetts.It was built in 1903 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.-References:...
. Here Furnace Brook Parkway traverses the northwest edge of Merrymount
Merrymount (Quincy, Massachusetts)
Merrymount is a primarily residential neighborhood of Quincy, Massachusetts, located between the neighborhoods of Quincy Center and Adams Shore. Although it was the site of Quincy's initial settlement, Merrymount was not substantially developed for residential use until the first half of the 20th...
, the site of Quincy's founding in 1625. Beyond here, the view opens on the left to a panorama north across the creek and marshes to Quincy Bay and the Boston Harbor Islands beyond. Furnace Brook Parkway ends at the intersection with Quincy Shore Drive, with traffic crossing the drive continuing onto Shore Avenue.