Hawley Street (Boston)
Encyclopedia
Hawley Street is located in the Financial District of Boston
, Massachusetts
, between Milk
and Summer
Streets. Prior to 1799, it was called Bishop's Alley and briefly in the 1790s Board Alley.
, in 1645 the path that later would become Hawley Street was "laid out through the gardens towards the south windmill, between the houses of Amos Richardson and John Palmer on Summer Street." In the 17th century people referred to it as "'the lane in which the house of Gilbert the tanner stands,' 'a little lane formerly called Gilbert's lane.'"
, who lived in King Street
." Because the terrain consisted of a marshy bog, wooden planks were laid down to facilitate travel, and so it was referred to as "Board Alley."
In 1792, theatre enthusiasts organized an illegal theatre, the Board Alley Theatre
, also called the "New Exhibition Room." With mixed popular opinion, governor John Hancock
shut it down in June 1793.
lived on the corner of Hawley and Summer Streets. In December 1810, a fire began at Stephen Soper's livery stable, spreading from Hawley to Milk Street, and burning the former home of Benjamin Franklin
.
When Melvil Dewey
lived in Boston in the 1870s, he served as an officer of the Spelling Reform Association, headquartered at 32 Hawley St.
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, between Milk
Milk Street
Milk Street is a street in the financial district of Boston, Massachusetts.Milk Street was one of Boston's earliest highways. The name "Milk Street" was given to the street in 1708 due to the milk market at the location...
and Summer
Summer Street (Boston)
Summer Street in Boston, Massachusetts extends from Downtown Crossing in the Financial District, over Fort Point Channel, and into South Boston...
Streets. Prior to 1799, it was called Bishop's Alley and briefly in the 1790s Board Alley.
17th century
According to historian Annie Haven ThwingAnnie Haven Thwing
Annie Haven Thwing , also known as A.H. Thwing and Anne Haven Thwing, was an historian and children's author.- Biography :...
, in 1645 the path that later would become Hawley Street was "laid out through the gardens towards the south windmill, between the houses of Amos Richardson and John Palmer on Summer Street." In the 17th century people referred to it as "'the lane in which the house of Gilbert the tanner stands,' 'a little lane formerly called Gilbert's lane.'"
18th century
After 1728, the lane was "a path through a pasture made by the worshippers of Trinity ChurchTrinity Church, Boston (Summer Street)
Trinity Church was an Episcopal church in Boston, Massachusetts, located on Summer Street. It housed Boston's third Anglican congregation...
, who lived in King Street
State Street (Boston)
State Street is a major street in the financial district in Boston, Massachusetts and is one of the oldest streets in the city. The street is the site of some historic landmarks. The Faneuil Hall Marketplace can also be found nearby...
." Because the terrain consisted of a marshy bog, wooden planks were laid down to facilitate travel, and so it was referred to as "Board Alley."
In 1792, theatre enthusiasts organized an illegal theatre, the Board Alley Theatre
Board Alley Theatre
Board Alley Theatre was an illegal theatre in Boston, Massachusetts in the late 18th-century. Also called the New Exhibition Room, it was located in Board Alley in the Financial District. Although some in town supported the theatre, others vehemently opposed it...
, also called the "New Exhibition Room." With mixed popular opinion, governor John Hancock
John Hancock
John Hancock was a merchant, statesman, and prominent Patriot of the American Revolution. He served as president of the Second Continental Congress and was the first and third Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts...
shut it down in June 1793.
19th century
Around the early 19th century, politicians James Sullivan and William GrayWilliam Gray (Massachusetts)
William Gray was a Massachusetts merchant and politician. Born into a lower class family in Lynn, Massachusetts, he managed to build his own business and rise through the state's political ranks, becoming the richest man in New England, and in the eyes of many the richest man in all of America...
lived on the corner of Hawley and Summer Streets. In December 1810, a fire began at Stephen Soper's livery stable, spreading from Hawley to Milk Street, and burning the former home of Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
.
When Melvil Dewey
Melvil Dewey
Melville Louis Kossuth Dewey was an American librarian and educator, inventor of the Dewey Decimal system of library classification, and a founder of the Lake Placid Club....
lived in Boston in the 1870s, he served as an officer of the Spelling Reform Association, headquartered at 32 Hawley St.
External links
- Bostonian Society has materials related to the street.
- http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pga.03102 Lithograph published by James H. Earle, 20 Hawley Street, 1875.
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/mit-libraries/3401115429/ ca.1954
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/24786860@N08/2582150538/ 2008
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/bostoncitywalk/2474565797/ 2008
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/antydiluvian/3290447004/ 2009
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/28175182@N07/3557271231/ 2009