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Excerpts from "A Half Century of Boston’s Building"
Listed below are several excerpts from Charles Damrell's "A Half Century of Boston’s Building," which was published in 1895. Charles Damrell was the clerk of the Building Department for the City of Boston.
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Ames Bristol Mercantile Building (p. 54)
"Mercantile Building, 29-31 Bedford and 77-79 Chauncy streets, owned by Frederick L. Ames, was designed by Sturgis & Brigham, and built by Thomas J. Whidden & Co., masons, and B.D. Whitcomb, carpenter. A handsome brick building, fitted with all conveniences as a modern business block. Built in 1884, and cost $180,000."
Church of the Advent (p. 58)
"Church of the Advent, Mt. Vernon Street, built 1878-9. Sturgis & Brigham, architects; Woodbury & Leighton, builders. This is a very handsome brick and stone structure, with an interior or brick and freestone. The main body is 72 by 73 feet, with a nave 76 feet in height. There is a chapel on the south side, 18 by 33 feet. The tower is 22 feet square and 190 feet in height. The general design is odd and unique, giving to the building an individuality that marked and noticeable."
E.V.R. Thayer Residence (p. 74)
"E.V.R. Thayer, residence at 19 Gloucester Street. Another of the elegant Back Bay houses of modern design and construction. There are few handsomer dwellings in the city, in point or architectural arrangement. The features are so harmoniously designed, and the execution of the design so skillfully carried out, that the whole is attractive without being too conspicuous. The interior is perfectly arranged and elegantly finished. It was built in 1886-7, the plans being furnished by “Sturgis & Brigham and the building done by David Connery & Co. Its cost was $120,000."
Massachusetts Hospital Life Building (p. 71)
"Massachusetts Hospital Life Building, on State Street, opposite the elegant Exchange building is one of the handsomest as well as largest office buildings on the street. It was built in 1884-6, the plans being furnished by Sturgis & Brigham and the work of construction being done by Thomas J. Whidden & Co., at a cost of $400,000. The material is brownstone and brick, the façade showing a splendid combination of design, the main features of which are the massive and elaborate entrance, which is a splendid piece of work, and the cornices and coping above, which are elaborate in design and finish. The interior is elegantly finished, all the hall floors being of tiling in various colors, the sheathing of the stairways being done in polished marble, and the balustrades of iron. The building is eight stories in height, with a balcony near the top story. It is fire-resistant throughout, and provided with all modern conveniences, two passenger elevators being supplied for the convenience of the tenants and their customers. the offices are finished in the most modern style and fitted with all conveniences."
The Boston Art Museum (pp. 68-69)
"The Boston Art Museum, located at the corner of Dartmouth Street and St. James Avenue, in the Back Bay district, is one of the finest art buildings in the country, and with the annex is one of the largest. Architecturally, also, this is one of the handsomest buildings in the city, and as viewed from Copley Square, upon which it fronts, is attractive and impressive. The material used in the construction of the walls is brick, with a liberal use of red and buff terra cotta imported from England for the purpose. All moldings, copings, etc., are of this material. The façade is ornamented with two very large and handsomely executed relief pieces, representing figures appropriate to the building. One shows the “Genius of Art,” illustrating the art and architecture of all nations, both ancient and modern; while the other shows “Art and Industry” joined. In the roundels are the heads of the most distinguished artists and patrons of art, among them American being represented by Copley, Crawford and Allston. It was in the construction of this building that the terra cotta work, which gives it a most distinguished and finished appearance, was first used on so large a scale in this country. The grand entrance is one of the special features. It is approached by rich marble steps. The entrance itself is ornamented with handsome polished granite columns, with rich terra cotta capitals. The cornice, moulding, etc., is handsomely designed and adds greatly to the ornamentation of this magnificent building. The interior is finished in the best of taste, and perfectly suited to the purpose for which the various rooms are intended. In this building is one of the finest and most valuable collections of art and antiquities, sculpture and bric-a-brac in the world. The land on which it stands, containing 91,000 square feet, was given to the city by Boston Water Power Company, and was granted by the city to the trustees of the corporation formed for the purpose of erecting and maintaining a museum of fine arts. The money for the buildings has been raised by public subscription, and that portion built in 1871-76 cost about $250,000, and that in 1878-9 about $125,000 more. The architects for this elegant structure were Messrs. Sturgis & Brigham."
Nathaniel Thayer, Jr. Residence (p. 72)
"The residence of Nathaniel Thayer, Jr., at the corner of Commonwealth Avenue and Fairfield Street, is an elegant and substantial building of brick and brownstone. The features of the façade on Fairfield Street is the entrance, which is a handsomely designed doorway, set into the walls and arched over with ornamental carved work. There is nothing striking in the exterior work or appearance of the building to attract special attention, surrounded as it is, in the immediate vicinity, by many very handsome structures. It is in the interior finish and furnishings that is seen the result of careful study and artistic taste in design and execution. Everything is very elaborately planned and most admirably arranged. The finish is of the finest material and best of workmanship. It is one of the finest private residences in this most fashionable quarter. The architects were Messrs. Sturgis & Brigham, the masonry was executed by D. Connery & Co., and the carpentry work was done by B.D. Whitcomb. It was built in 1882-85 and the cost was $125,000."
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