The old saw holds that we all grow up to be our parents. This is undoubtedly true, but I think we all inherit bits of other family members as well. After retirement my grandfather enjoyed delving into local history, to the extent of writing a column for the local paper on the subject. So it’s no accident that I find this 1901 map of Quincy fascinating. Obviously you can look and see how the city has grown, but I find myself drawn to landmarks that have (as far as I know) vanished. Is there any remaining trace of the National Sailors Home? What about the Greenleaf Hotel or the ‘Music Hall’ indicated on the lower end of Hancock Street? It makes me want to dig further.
Naturally the internet abounds with all sorts of resources for such digging. archBoston.org has all sorts of picture-y goodness. There are a number of threads chock full of pictures of Boston-That-Was. Flickr of course, can ensnare you for hours of searching. You can also find maps from the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center on flickr.
Fascinating map, d, but you always grab me with your titles. I thought this one was about my second favourite Robert Mitchum film, Out of the Past. First is, of course, Night of the Hunter. Just sayin.
ps. We always lern something… The water next to “Sailors home”, which is now rice rd, etc, is and has been called Sailors Pond since I remember. Whaddaya know?