I Walked Boston's Boston Athenaeum

An athenaeum, if you are unfamiliar, is an institution for the promotion of learning. The word derives from a reference to the Greek goddess of wisdom, Athena.

The Boston Athenaeum began as a reading room in 1807. It began by renting rooms near Kings Chapel Burying Ground and later on Pearl Street downtown before finally moving to Beacon Street location when this building was completed in 1849. It is currently only one of sixteen libraries in the country that require membership for usage of services.

Public access to the library is available for free on first floor. This level contains many historic statues and busts and affords an excellent view of the backside of the Old Granary Burying Ground (the burial site of Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, John Hancock and Mother Goose).

Boston Athenaeum

Members receive exclusive privileges to the private libraries of George Washington and The Narrative of the Life of James Allen, The Highway Man. This later was written by a convict who while on his deathbed in prison, requested that the book he wrote containing the confessions and stories of his crimes be bound in his own skin. The skin used to bind his autobiography reportedly came from his back and was treated in a process similar to leather for preservation. The process was supposedly so secretive or nonchalant that the bookbinder was not even aware of the material he was using. Perhaps the sickest part of this tale, however, was that one copy (of which there were reportedly two) was bequeathed to an alleged victim who escaped Mr. Allen and whom he held in such esteem.

• Website: http://www.bostonathenaeum.org/
• Address: 10 ½ Beacon Street, Boston, MA
• Cost: Free.

Louisburg Square Apartments in Boston

Louisburg Square Apartments is considered one of most elite neighborhoods in all of Boston and is the last private square within the city. Current famous residents include Senator John Kerry and his wife Teresa Heinz Kerry, the current heir to the Heinz family fortune.

Most of the homes within the square were built in 1835. Upon their completion, the square was named for the 1745 Battle of Louisbourg. A battle fought between the “British” and “French” in “Canada”. How does this relate to Massachusetts? Well, the Battle of Louisbourg was a part of the King George’s War fought between England and France. In this battle (fought in Nova Scotia) the Massachusetts militia actually fought alongside the English who were still allies in the Pre-Revolutionary period of this clash.

Fans of the children’s novel, Make Way For Ducklings by Robert McCloskey, may recognize the name of Louisburg Square Apartments as the site where Mrs. Mallard and her family did some home shopping before settling within the Boston Public Garden. A popular sculpture commemorating the book resides in this garden.

It may be best that Mrs. Mallard decided to relocate to the Public Garden because it likely saved her substantial living expenses. Louisburg Square was the first neighborhood to create a home owners association within the United States to help pay for its upkeep. On the other hand, having decided not to relocate here Mrs. Mallard and her family would not have been able to partake in the first Christmas caroling in the United States which also occurred here in the late 19th century.

Louisburg Square 

Situated in the center of Louisburg Square Apartments is a fenced in green space. This fence was erected in 1929, approximately one-hundred years after the square was initially developer. Located within the fenced off area are two statues. On the south side is a statue of Aristides the Just (530 B.C. – 486 B.C.). Aristides was known to always do the right thing for Athens even at his own expense. On the north side is a statue of Christopher Columbus. Both statues were presented as gifts in 1850 by a former Turkish consul member who used to reside at 3 Louisburg Square.

Gazing around the home surrounding the square you will notice near perfect symmetry in the architectural styles of the buildings. On the side with even numbered addresses all of the buildings have flat facades. While the odd numbered addresses are a bit more elaborate with bow front, cast-iron balconies and flagpole holders with serpents.

The address at 10 Louisburg Square Apartments was the final home of Louisa May Alcott, author of Little Women. Louisa passed away here at the age of 55 of what was guessed to be mercury poisoning. Louisa likely contracted the poisoning while working as a nurse during the Civil War. Mercury was used often as a treatment for many ailments. Mercury was typically combined with honey and chalk into a mixture called calomel and this, in turn, was used to kill bacteria. The substance’s ill effects of teeth loss and brain damage were not yet recognized.

• Website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisburg_Square
• Address: Louisburg Square, Boston, MA

I Walked Boston's Common Parkman Plaza

Parkman Plaza is a second dedication to Dr. George Parkman within the Boston Common (the Parkman Bandstand being the first). Parkman Plaza was officially dedicated in 1960. The plaza consists of a cement semi-circular space that contains three statues and is also the home to the Visitor Center where the Boston Freedom Trail begins.

You may read more about the Boston Freedom Trail and the Visitor Center which provides free maps for the trail here. In regards to the statues which surround the plaza, each was dedicated in 1961. Each statue is said to celebrate a different aspect of Boston.

Parkman Plaza

The statue on the south side of the plaza is said to celebrate Boston’s Religious energy. The statue consists of a boy kneeling with outstretched arms, palms up and looking up to the sky as if in prayer or in search of spiritual guidance.

The statue on the west side of the plaza (and nearest the Visitor Center) is a figure celebrating Industry. Here there appears to be a man drilling into some object which he has straddled between his legs.

The statue on the north side of the plaza has the name of Learning across the bottom of it. Here we see another young man sitting atop a globe while reading a book.

• Website: http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM3MT2_Parkman_Plaza_Boston_MA
• Address: Boston Common, Boston, MA. Near the intersection of Tremont Street and West Street.
• Cost: Free.

Boston’s King’s Chapel Burying Ground

King’s Chapel Burying Ground is the oldest cemetery in the city of Boston. It was established in 1630 when Sir Isaac Johnson sold the land on which he formerly maintained his vegetable garden to create the city’s first burial ground. It is said that Mr. Johnson was the first individual buried here. For almost thirty years, it remained the only burial ground in Boston until 1659 when Copp’s Hill Burying Ground was established in the North End. It is not known exactly how many individuals were buried here between the years 1630 and 1896, however, it is known to be well over a thousand. It’s estimated that for every one of the 500-600 headstones still in existence that ten to twenty burials occurred.

King’s Chapel Burying Ground

King’s Chapel is reported to be one of the most haunted locales in all of Boston. Legends tell of an individual once buried alive here. By the time suspicions were raised and the body dug up, the person was already dead—whether before or after having been buried it is uncertain. Another ghastly tale speaks of a person whose head had to be chopped off in order to fit within their undersized coffin. And last but not least, Captain Kidd has even been rumored to be buried within this graveyard. This would appear highly unlikely, though, as he was hung in London after being convicted of piracy.

While taking a stroll throughout King’s Chapel Burying Ground, you may find:

1. The ornately carved gravestone of one Joseph Tapping.


2. The grave marker which supposedly was the inspiration for The Scarlet Letter.


3. A grave belongs to “the other” Midnight Rider.


4. The oldest extant grave within the cemetery.


5. The final resting place for the 1st woman to step off the Mayflower.


6. The grave for the 1st governor of Massachusetts.

During your explorations if you really wish to experience what death may smell like, we encourage you to stick your nose up close to the wrought iron structure situated in the southwest corner of the yard. This is a structure which seems to attract and puzzle many visitors in the graveyard. This is actually a ventilation shaft for the nearby Park Street Station, which was erected in 1896.

• Website: http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/visitor/kings-burying.html
• Address: 58 Tremont Street, Boston, MA (Address is approximate)
• Cost: Free

Iwalked Boston’S Howard Athenaeum

I Walked Boston’S Howard Athenaeum - Within the brick plaza space atop the stairs of 1 Center Plaza is a plaque honoring Boston’s former favorite sailor haunts, “The Old Howard.” The Howard Athenaeum, or more commonly referred to as just the Old Howard, was known for its slogan of “Always something doing at the Old Howard.” In addition to its infamous burlesque shows, the Old Howard also showcased the top talent of the day including Abbott and Costello, The Marx Brothers and Rocky Marciano (who fought a series sparring matches here over a 1 week period in 1951).

During these popular shows one common staple which could be found was the bald-headed section in front. Thomas Edison reportedly commented as such in his diary when he was quoted as, “our seats were in the bald-headed section.”

Howard Athenaeum

The downfall of the Old Howard occurred in 1953 when the Boston Vice Squad captured a dancer by the name of Mary Good Neighbor stripping on 16mm film. The theatre was forced to close and the numerous efforts to re-open the theatre were finally exhausted when the building burnt down in 1961.


The plaque here to commemorate and remember the Old Howard was dedicated in 1968 by a group which included a songwriter by the name of Francis W. Hatch, who also wrote a song regarding the former burlesque called, “Some Coward Closed the Old Howard.”

• Website: http://www.bambinomusical.com/Scollay/Howard.html
• Address: 1 Center Plaza, Boston, MA (Address is approximate)
• Cost: Free

Iwalked Boston’S Public Garden Good Will Hunting Bench

I Walked Boston’S Public Garden Good Will Hunting Bench - Thousands of people come to Boston’s Public Garden every year attempting to relive or recreate the infamous “bench” scene from the 1997 movie starring Robin Williams and Matt Damon, Good Will Hunting. If YOU wish to sit upon a former movie proper what you need to do descends down the stairs from the lagoon bridge before crossing over it (on the south side of the lagoon). Walk along the path beside the water and look for the third backless bench on the left.

Public Garden Good Will Hunting Bench

In the movie scene Robin Williams character, Sean, provides Matt Damon (I. e. -Will) with some sound advice on love. This part you may already know. What you may NOT have noticed is that just prior to the 2 characters venturing to this particular point, Will invites Sean to take a “quick” walk from the classroom. Now, the classroom where Will instructs is portrayed at Bunker Hill Community College. While for some people a 45 minute walk from Bunker Hill Community College in Charlestown in the Boston Public Garden may be a short leisurely stroll, I’m not certain that this is quite what the directors had in mind.

• Website: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBjWHfBHKos
• Address: Boston Public Garden, Boston, MA
• Cost: Free

Winter Hill Gang Headquarters, Boston

I Walked Boston’S Winter Hill Gang Headquarters - Situated in a parking garage along Lancaster Street in Boston resides what was once the headquarters of Irish organized crime syndicate, the Winter Hill Gang and their former leader James “Whitey” Bulger. The Winter Hill Gang is said to be the basis for the 2006 Martin Scorsese film, The Departed.

The Winter Hill Gang was most noted for having fixed horse races along the East Coast. That is until 1979 when an Atlantic City jockey provided police with evidence necessary to indict members of the Irish crime syndicate. This indictment included Howie Winter himself, and left a vacancy at the top. Not arrested for the crime due to his existing relationship as an informant within the FBI and paving the way for his claim at the top was “Whitey” Bulger.

Bulger obtained his early “career” experience at the age of 14 through larceny and robbing banks for which he spent a number of years in various jails, including the infamous Alcatraz. Known for his platinum blond hair in his younger years it led to him earning the nickname “Whitey.”

When Bulger took over the reigns of the Winter Hill Gang he moved their headquarters to the Lancaster Foreign Car Service parking garage at 131 Lancaster Street. Almost every day around 1:30pm Bulger arrived at this location in his 1979 Chevy Caprice and got down to business.

Winter Hill Gang Headquarters

Under Bulger’s leadership, the Winter Hill Gang re-focused their business model to stay out of activities like race fixing which could be directly traced back to them. Instead they instituted a pyramid scheme of sorts whereby they charged local criminals a “fee” to stay in business. Fail to pay once, it’s a broken bone. Fail twice, well you didn’t. Per the FBI, 18-19 murders have been directly linked to Bulger although for much of this time they turned the other way.

The reason for this was that, as mentioned earlier, Bulger had a “working” relationship with some members of the FBI where he acted as an informant, primarily versus his arch enemies the Italian Mafia. FBI supporters who often tipped off Whitey of any ongoing investigations claimed that information from Bulger helped lead to the eventual arrest of Jerry Angiulo, the head of the Italian Mafia at nearby 99 Prince Street in Boston’s North End. Others in the FBI were less optimistic as to the quality of information provided.

Bulger’s biggest supporter in the FBI was a childhood friend by the name of John Connolly. The tale of how these 2 individuals met is now one of lore. It seems that when Whitey was 19 years old he walked into an ice-cream shop and offered to buy ice cream for three 8-year-old boys in the shop. Only one boy refused stating that his parents had taught him not to accept gifts from strangers. Whitey supposedly looked the kid in the eye and told him, “Hey kid, I’m not stranger. Your mother and father are from Ireland. My mother and father are from Ireland. What kind of ice cream do you want?” The kid grinned and responded, “Vanilla.” That kid was, of course, John Connolly.

Connolly’s relationship with Bulger, long in question, finally came to a head in 1995 when an indictment for Bulger was released. However, when police went to go arrest Whitey he had disappeared with his long-time girlfriend Teresa Stanley. It was figured that Connolly was likely the one who tipped him off. In 1999 Connolly was arrested for obstruction of justice amongst other things and was sentenced to 8-10 years.

In regards to our man on the run, Bulger returned to Boston only one time just a month after eluding police. This stop was supposedly to drop off his girlfriend Teresa Stanley, who had determined that she wasn’t made for life on the run. Whitey, in exchange, dropped her off and picked up another long-term girlfriend Catherine Greig and this time did not return.

Since his disappearance in 1995, Bulger has reported been seen in New York, California, Wyoming, Louisiana, Mississippi and Europe. It’s said while on the run he had used such aliases as Tom Harris, Tom Marshall, Thomas F. Baxter, Mark Shapeton, Jimmy Bulger, James Joseph Bulger, James J. Bulger Jr., James Joseph Bulger, Jr., and “Whitey.” In reference to some of the latter aliases, one has to question how some of these aliases have gone undetected.

Whitey has been on the FBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted List since 1999 and is second only to Osama Bin Laden. His tale had been told on America’s Most Wanted 14 times from 1995 to present and the FBI is currently offering a $2 million award leading to his arrest.

Update: Whitey Bulger was arrested on June 22, 2011 in Santa Monica, CA after having been on the run for approximately 16 years.

• Website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_J._Bulger
• Address: 31 Lancaster Street, Boston, MA
• Cost: Free