Pinebank Mansion

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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 Years

Pinebank 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 Perkins.

That house was torn down in 1848 by Edward N. Perkins and replaces with a three storey, year-round building featuring a mansard roof.

The 1848 home burned down in 1868. This would, unfortunately, not be the last time a building on the site would burn. Edward N. Perkins commissioned John Hubbard Sturgis to design and build its replacement. The home was constructed on the foundations of the 1848 building where it stood until only recently.

Emerald Necklace Years

Pinebank was purchased in the early 1890’s by the City of Boston, along with several other nearby estates, to create Jamaica Pond Park and the Emerald Necklace. Frederick Law Olmsted, architect of the parks chain, chose to incorporate Pinebank into the park while razing all but one other mansion (which soon burned down.)

The building sat largely unused for many years and saw only occasional use. Is served as the first Children’s Museum between 1913 and 1936; Boston Parks Commission facility from 1936 to 1970; and as an arts center through the early 1970’s.

More Fires

A fire in 1978 engulfed the interior and roof. Though a temporary roof was constructed, the building was no longer usable. Fire struck again in 1982 and consumed what was left of the interior and destroyed the temporary roof. Another roof was constructed and the what was left of Pinebank surrounded with a chain link fence which was easily scaled by vandals.

The next several years saw Pinebank empty and deteriorating.

Demolition

In the mid 1990s an ongoing restoration of the Emerald Necklace chain of parks began. Pinebank was included in the master plan and slated for some sort of restoration. Though most of the park saw substantial improvements, Pinebank’s condition remained unaddressed.

After prolonged discussion, in 2006 it was decided by the City of Boston that Pinebank was far past the point of being restored. Pinebank was to be demolished.

Uncertain Future

The ultimate fate of the site is still undecided. The alternatives include complete restoration, “interpretation”, or just allowing the return of the wild.

The option which seems to be preferred by the City of Boston is to construct an “interpretation” of the space. This would involve building either a low brick wall or bushes tracing the outline of the mansion’s foundation, possibly with elements saved from the original mansion.

Friends of Pinebank advocates a complete reconstruction and restoration of the mansion. The mansion would serve as an arts center and host other public events. There are currently no timelines for any of these projects.

References

• Pinebank, a Former Homestead in Jamaica Plain
• Friends of Pinebank