spotstory: spots near Old Lamp Post in Olmsted Park Woods

Old Lamp Post by the Babbling Brook

Mon, 05 Mar 2007 00:32:57 +0000

This lamp post sits on the hill overlooking the Babbling Brook in Olmsted Park in Brookline, MA. It is located next to a wooded walking path.Typical of the other lamps in the park, this one is unique. It has a rectangular base where the others are round. It alone is marked with the letters "EL".Like the lamp near Levrett Pond, it appears that at some point an attempt was made to restore the lamp's post. It doesn't seem like there was any...

Old Lamp Post by Wards Pond

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 13:34:19 +0000

Sitting perilously close to the southern waterline of Wards Pond is the most complete of several old lamp posts in Olmsted Park. It stands tilted towards the pond alongside a walking path. It is unclear if this was an original element in Olmsted’s design, or from when it dates. The lamp by Wards Pond is made entirely of metal: the base and post seem to be cast, and the crown worked. It seems to have been painted dark green. Electric cabling can still be seen in its base, though...

Pinebank Mansion

Wed, 10 Jan 2007 17:00:19 +0000

Pinebank was a mansion that stood atop the hill on the northeast shore of Jamaica Pond. It was built in 1868 and demolished in January 2007.Pinebank was a house in the Ruskian Gothic (some say Queen Anne) style home. It was faced primarily with red brick and terra cotta.Perkins Family YearsPinebank was the third residence by that name, all built by the Perkins family, to stand on the site. The first Pinebank was a wooden two story home built in Federal style in 1806 as a summer home by James...

Old Lamp Post by Levrett Pond

Sun, 28 Jan 2007 23:57:40 +0000

This is a non-functioning lamp post in the woods of Olmsted Park in Brookline, MA. The post sits at a fork in the walking path alongside the Muddy River. It is one of many old lampposts whose remains can be seen in the Emerald Necklace parks. The age of the lamp is unknown, as well as whether or not it was an element in F.L. Olmsted’s original design in the park. The lamp consists of three main parts: base, post, and crown. It appears that it was painted a dark forest green. The base...

5 Mile Stone, Brookline MA

Thu, 11 Jan 2007 18:40:21 +0000

This is a mile stone, apparently dating from 1729, which resides nestled between a couple of bushes on Washington Street, just outside of Coolidge Corner, in Brookline, MA. The stone sits only a few inches from the sidewalk.InscriptionThe stone is inscribed with the following:BOSTON 5 : MILES 1729PDThe meaning of “PD” is unknown. The “5” seems to have suffered some chipping in the past 60 years.5 miles to where in Boston?Where the stone stands today, it is less than a...

Boston Marathon 24 Mile Marker

Mon, 09 Apr 2007 17:23:45 +0000

This is the twenty-fourth mile marker for the Boston Marathon.

Boston Marathon 23 Mile Marker

Mon, 09 Apr 2007 17:23:45 +0000

This is the twenty-third mile marker for the Boston Marathon.

Cy Young Statue Marking old Huntington Avenue Grounds

Sat, 17 Feb 2007 16:25:06 +0000

Fenway Park is the second oldest Major League ballpark in current use - but it had a predecessor in town just a couple blocks away. The Huntington Avenue Grounds were nestled right next to Symphony Hall. This spacious ballpark played home to the Boston Americans (the team's name before it was changed to the Red Sox) and hosted the very first World Series in 1903. Boston beat Pittsburgh in that series which featured the famous Boston Rooters - a boisterous group of fans that would...

Cleveland Circle (Boston)

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 05:57:58 +0000

Cleveland Circle is the hub of the southwestern part of Boston's Brighton neighborhood. There is no circle to be found there--just a stop light at the intersection of Beacon Street and Chestnut Hill Avenue.Steps away from Boston College, Cleveland Circle is home mostly to convenience stores, bars, and restaurants.But the real story of the place is, when Rosie Ruiz cheated in the 1980 Boston Marathon by jumping on the T, this is where she got on. Those who know the area will...

Boston Marathon 25 Mile Marker

Mon, 09 Apr 2007 17:23:45 +0000

This is the twenty-fifth mile marker for the Boston Marathon. It sits right atop the Mass Turnpike.The skyline filled with classic Boston features like Fenway Park, the Citgo sign, and the Prudential lets runners know the finish is near.

Boston Marathon 22 Mile Marker

Mon, 09 Apr 2007 17:23:45 +0000

This is the twenty-second mile marker for the Boston Marathon.

Boston Marathon Finish Line

Mon, 09 Apr 2007 17:23:45 +0000

This is the finish line for the Boston Marathon.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:28:07 +0000

This is one of the best-known universities in the world.

Skull, Corridor, Building 3

Fri, 02 Mar 2007 22:26:02 +0000

I walk over this whenever I pass through Building 3 but have no idea of its story.It more likely than not has something to do with the Phi Kappa Sigma (Skullhouse) fraternity at MIT; the symbol in the lower-right corner of their logo matches the symbols in the eyes of this skull. Similar skulls can be found in a couple other places on campus, although none are coming to mind right now.

Angola - sculpture

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 19:52:39 +0000

Angola, Issac Witkin, 1968

Birth of the Muses

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 19:48:05 +0000

Birth of the Muses, Jaques Lipchitz, 1944-1950

Boston Marathon 21 Mile Marker

Mon, 09 Apr 2007 17:23:44 +0000

This is the twenty-first mile marker for the Boston Marathon. It's located just past the summit of Heartbreak Hill alongside the campus of Boston College.

Elmo MIT - sculpture

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 19:43:00 +0000

Elmo MIT, Dimitri Hadzi, 1963

TV Man (aka Five Piece Cube with a Strange Hole)

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 19:58:47 +0000

Also known as Five Piece Cube with a Strange Hole; David Bakalar, 1993

John Hancock Tower

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 11:26:58 +0000

One of the two tallest buildings in Boston and a great place to visit for tourists.