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Posts tagged as “Jamaica Plain Historical Society”

People Before Highways

By Chris Helms on June 11, 2015

Ron Hafer, who was among the many locals who organized to stop I-95, speaks at a panel discussion hosted by the JP Historical Society in September 2014.

Ron Hafer, who was among the many locals who organized to stop I-95, speaks at a panel discussion hosted by the JP Historical Society in September 2014.

Ron Hafer, one of many neighborhood residents involved in the fight against I-95, speaks at a Sept. 28, 2014 panel discussion at Doyle’s. The meeting was hosted by the Jamaica Plain Historical Society. Here’s an edited transcript of the discussion.

To learn more about this crucial period in the neighborhood’s history, there’s a free walking tour set for June 28.

Throwback Thursday Photo of the Day: Casey and the El

By Chris Helms on May 21, 2015

As a train travels towards downtown Boston along the Boston Elevated Railway at Forest Hills, a portion of the new Monsignor William J. Casey Overpass (Morton St.) is being constructed above. A commuter train on the former Boston & Providence Railroad route can be seen between the columns at the lower left. Notice the Metropolitan Police traffic booth on the sidewalk to the right. The booth was used by police who directed traffic during the morning and evening rush hours. Courtesy of Anthony Sammarco.

As a train travels towards downtown Boston along the Boston Elevated Railway at Forest Hills, a portion of the new Monsignor William J. Casey Overpass (Morton St.) is being constructed above. A commuter train on the former Boston & Providence Railroad route can be seen between the columns at the lower left. Notice the Metropolitan Police traffic booth on the sidewalk to the right. The booth was used by police who directed traffic during the morning and evening rush hours. Courtesy of Anthony Sammarco, via the JP Historical Society.

For our Photo of the Day on Thursdays, we highlight an image of old JP from the online archives of the Jamaica Plain Historical Society. This week, naturally, it’s a view during construction of the Casey Overpass back in the 1950s.

Gimme a J! Gimme a P!

By Chris Helms on April 9, 2015

Cheerleaders of the Jamaica Plain High School in 1956 were, from left to right: Barbara Spinney, Catherine Gotovitch, Mary Parlon, Claire Boyce, Lorraine Dustin, Ann Kearns, Ann Litch, Beatrice Canny, Betty Ann Fetler, Joyce Mutlow, Gwenneth Edwards, Mary Jo McLaughlin, and Marilyn Guiva (kneeling in the center). Photograph courtesy of the Boston Public Library.

Throwback Thursday Photo of the Day: Cheerleaders of the Jamaica Plain High School in 1956 were, from left to right: Barbara Spinney, Catherine Gotovitch, Mary Parlon, Claire Boyce, Lorraine Dustin, Ann Kearns, Ann Litch, Beatrice Canny, Betty Ann Fetler, Joyce Mutlow, Gwenneth Edwards, Mary Jo McLaughlin, and Marilyn Guiva (kneeling in the center). Photograph courtesy of the Boston Public Library.

For our Throwback Thursday Photo of the Day, here’s an image of old JP from the online archives of the Jamaica Plain Historical Society.

Throwback Thursday: Where to Find Old JP Yearbooks Online

By Chris Helms on February 19, 2015

Page from 1940 Jamaica Plain High School yearbook.

Page from 1940 Jamaica Plain High School yearbook. Credit: Via JP Historical Society online archives.

For our Photo of the Day on Thursdays, we highlight an image of old JP, often from the online archives of the Jamaica Plain Historical Society.

This week we feature a page from the 1940 yearbook of Jamaica Plain High School. The Historical Society has an online collection of yearbooks both from JPHS as well as St. Thomas Aquinas High School.

Trolley Engineer, Circa 1896

By Chris Helms on December 4, 2014

The engineer of this open-end car poses in front of the Forest Hills carhouse (which would later become the Jamaica Loop) about 1896. By 1905, all cars were enclosed.

The engineer of this open-end car poses in front of the Forest Hills carhouse (which would later become the Jamaica Loop) about 1896. By 1905, all cars were enclosed. Credit: Via Jamaica Plain Historical Society

For our Throwback Thursday Photo of the Day, here’s the engineer of an open-end trolley car, taken about 1896. By 1905, all the cars were enclosed. He’s posed in front of the Forest Hills car house. This photo comes courtesy of the Jamaica Plain Historical Society.

Under Construction and Under WaterConstruction of the Southwest Corridor rail lines and park in Jamaica Plain in the early 1980s. This view is looking from Everett St. towards Jamaica Plain High School. A catastrophic rain created this flood, just before the main drainage hookup was completed. Photograph courtesy of Will and Sharlene Cochrane.

Under Construction and Under Water

By Chris Helms on August 28, 2014
Construction of the Southwest Corridor rail lines and park in Jamaica Plain in the early 1980s. This view is looking from Everett St. towards Jamaica Plain High School. A catastrophic rain created this flood, just before the main drainage hookup was completed. Photograph courtesy of Will and Sharlene Cochrane.
Construction of the Southwest Corridor rail lines and park in Jamaica Plain in the early 1980s. This view is looking from Everett St. towards Jamaica Plain High School. A catastrophic rain created this flood, just before the main drainage hookup was completed.

For our Photo of the Day on Thursdays, I highlight an image of old JP. This one comes from the JP Historical Society’s photo archives, courtesy of Will and Sharlene Cochrane. Here’s the caption from the archives:

Construction of the Southwest Corridor rail lines and park in Jamaica Plain in the early 1980s. This view is looking from Everett St. towards Jamaica Plain High School. A catastrophic rain created this flood, just before the main drainage hookup was completed.

JP Women Played Big Role in Suffrage MovementJudith Winsor Smith, who for decades fought for women's suffrage, spent the last part of her long life in Jamaica Plain.

JP Women Played Big Role in Suffrage Movement

By Chris Helms on August 26, 2014
Judith Winsor Smith, who for decades fought for women's suffrage, spent the last part of her long life in Jamaica Plain.
Judith Winsor Smith, who for decades fought for women's suffrage, spent the last part of her long life in Jamaica Plain.

Tuesday is Women’s Equality Day, which celebrates women in the U.S. winning the right to vote. It won’t surprise you to know that JP has long been a hotbed of activism on behalf of women’s rights. Here are a few feminist forebears with ties to JP.