Today in the studio we have a pair of old Boston maps, from 1803 and 1863. Boston is probably built on more man-made land than any other city in North America, so its maps tell a dramatic story of geographical transformation spurred by prosperity, pollution, technological advances, and social change. The first map is from a Boston Directory—like an 1800’s Yellow Pages where you could look up your innkeeper or ropemaker—and depicts a slender peninsula between the Harbor and the Charles River; Washington Street exists already but becomes an island at high tide. Our second map is from an auction catalog selling plots of land in the newly created, or still in progress, Back Bay neighborhood (formerly a bay). One of Boston’s most desirable areas today, Back Bay was built to seclude affluent families from an increasingly crowded and impoverished downtown—essentially creating a miniature suburb in the heart of the city. Listen to learn more about Boston’s history and cartography on this orienting #brattlecast.
Brattlecast #168 - The Great Boston Fire in 3D
In November of 1872 a massive fire destroyed most of Boston’s financial district, from Washington Street to the harbor. Starting in the basement of a commercial warehouse, it spread rapidly along narrow streets packed with wooden-roofed buildings. The fire department was hindered by inaccessible alarm boxes, low water pressure, and an equine flu that left them short of horsepower. Raging for about 12 hours, the Great Fire caused millions of dollars in damages and reshaped downtown Boston (plus fire codes everywhere) in ways that are still visible today.
In its aftermath, artists and photographers flocked to the so-called ‘Burnt District,’ capturing dramatic images of the ruins. Many photos were taken in newish-at-the-time stereoview: an early precursor to 3D movie technology—and the Viewfinder—in which two nearly identical images are viewed at the same time to create the illusion of dimension. We have some of these stereoview images in the studio with us, sparking a conversation about photography, flames, and urban renewal by way of disaster on this blazing new #brattlecast.
Brattlecast #78 - The Brattle and the City
A radio interview with Lizabeth Cohen, author of the new book, Saving America’s Cities: Ed Logue and the Struggle to Renew Urban America in the Suburban Age, reminds Ken of the Brattle’s own struggle with urban renewal. Logue was head of the Boston Redevelopment Agency when, in the 1960’s, the city demolished most of Scollay Square, a vibrant but increasingly seedy entertainment district - and original home of the Brattle Book Shop. Most of the area was replaced with the I.M. Pei designed Government Center, a monumental plaza of modernist buildings which many consider cold and alienating. Although Ken’s father, George Gloss, together with the Boston Athenaeum, raised enough of an outcry to save a few historic buildings from the wrecking ball, the Brattle itself was displaced. It would be the first of seven moves for the plucky book shop, one of which was occasioned by a catastrophic fire, but the Brattle endured, with a great deal of personality and help from the community; eventually landing in the West Street location where it thrives today.
Brattlecast #50 - Books to the Future
What does the future hold for brick and mortar book shops? Things are looking bright! As the internet has decimated big box book retailers, small independent book shops have reemerged as vital community spaces. These shops offer the author readings and events, fortuitous browsing discoveries, and simple human interactions that you just can't find online. So what's the greatest threat to modern booksellers? It isn't the Kindle: it's the rising rents.
