History

Jamaica Plain’s Connections to the History of Baseball

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The beginnings of baseball in Boston and its first connection to Jamaica Plain are found with Harry Wright and his brother George. Harry was born in England. George, 13 years his junior, was born in New York City. Their father, Samuel, was a professional cricket player in New York and both boys started with that sport before switching to baseball. Harry played and managed the Cincinnati Red Stockings, the first professional baseball team, to a run of 76 consecutive victories during the 1869 and 1870 seasons.

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Holidays

Happy Halloween! Go Trick-or-Treating on Centre and South Streets

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Not sure where to go trick-or-treating with the kids on Halloween? Then head to Centre and South streets where local stores will be handing out hundreds of pieces of candy. The 5th Annual JP Business and Professional Association Trick or Treat Halloween Stroll will be from 3 to 6 pm. "The last five years, the Trick or Treat Halloween Stroll on Centre and South streets was especially great," said Michael Reiskind, board member of JP BAPA, via email. "There was high energy in the business district and some businesses gave out over 1,000 pieces of candy.

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History

14 Years Later: Plaque Proclaiming JP as ‘Eden of America’ Being Reinstalled at Post Office

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A plaque from 1976 proclaiming Jamaica Plain as the "Eden of America" will be reinstalled Wednesday at the Centre Street post office more than a decade after it was removed due to construction. The plaque will be reinstalled by the Bulfinch Company June 27 during a short ceremony starting at 3:30 p.m. at the Jamaica Plain Post Office (655 Centre St.). The plaque is the third in a series of bicentennial plaques that were reinstalled after being relocated in the last two years, said Gretchen Grozier, president of the Jamaica Plain Historical Society (JPHS). Many similar plaques were installed during the bicentennial in 1776 throughout Boston neighborhoods. The one by the post office was on the Myrtle Street side of the old post office and reads, "Jamaica Plain is the Eden of America."

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Neighborhood Life

New President and Executive Director Named For JP Centre/South Main Streets

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JP Centre/South Main Streets recently named a new president and a new executive director. The executive director position had been vacant since January. Michael Reiskind is now the new president for JP Centre/South Main Streets. He takes over for Brad Brown, who served as president since 2014, and will stay on as a board member for JP Centre/South Main Streets. Reiskind is a well known person throughout Jamaica Plain having been involved in many facets of the community. For more than 30 years Michael Reiskind and Bob McDonnell have organized Boston Shines in Jamaica Plain.

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Neighborhood Life

Hundreds Help Jamaica Plain Shine

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Cleaning up Jamaica Street. Credit: Richard Heath
For thirty years Michael Reiskind and Bob McDonnell have organized Boston Shines in Jamaica Plain. That's three mayors', five governors' and five presidents' worth of neighborhood cleanups. And of course, they've had lots of help. For the past several Boston Shines, City Hall's liaison to JP, Jullieanne Doherty, has been the Energizer Bunny of cleanup organization.

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Neighborhood Life

Owners of Notorious Apartment House Hire Super, Agree to Add Cameras

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The owners of one of the neighborhood's most notorious buildings have met with cops and taken steps to curb suspected drug use and other problems.

That's the word from police officers who discussed progress on the long list of complaints about a corner apartment house at 3116-3122 Washington/87 School streets. For more than two years, police and community groups have worked to improve the property. As officers reported during an April 1 meeting of the neighborhood's "Problem Properties" watch group, police and resident Michael Reiskind met with property owners Chris and George Stamatos on March 11. The meeting, convened at the Area E-13 station house, included Sgt. Beth Leary and Officers Carlos Lara and Carlos Martinez.

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