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Dock Square

January 01, 1970

For the square in Kennebunkport, Maine, see Dock Square (Kennebunkport).

Dock Square in downtown Boston, Massachusetts, is a public square adjacent to Faneuil Hall, bounded by Congress Street, North Street, and the steps of the 60 State Street office tower.[1] Its name derives from its original (17th-century) location at the waterfront. From the 1630s through the early 19th century, it served boats in the Boston Harbor as "the common landing place, at Bendell's Cove," later called Town Dock.[2] "Around the dock was transacted the chief mercantile business of the town."[3] After the waterfront was filled in during the early 19th century, Dock Square continued as a center of commerce for some years. The addition in the 1960s of Government Center changed the scale and character of the square from a hub of city life, to a place one merely passes through.[4] As of the 1950s the square has become largely a tourist spot, with the Freedom Trail running through it. John Winthrop, coming from Salem where he landed as a Puritan from England, ended up "setting up a dock at the head of the cove (now Dock Square), and here began the town of Boston, which soon was recognized as the political and economic center of the [Massachusetts Bay] colony (Morgan 61).

Dock Square, Boston, c. 1840s; Old Feather Store (at left) and Faneuil Hall (in middle)

History edit

17th-19th centuries edit

For much of its long history, Dock Square has been a center of commerce in Boston. In the 17th and 18th centuries vendors would sell their wares (butter, fish, etc.) in the open, or from stalls. In 1733 a public market building opened, to some controversy (opponents disliked regulation). A few years later, anti-market sentiment had reached a boiling point: "in 1737 a mob disguised as clergymen turned out one wintry night ... and completely demolished the market house in Dock Square."[5] In 1742 Faneuil Hall opened, again with mixed support. "Town records abound with complaints that Dock Square and other areas near Faneuil Hall were cluttered with carts and market paraphernalia, the market people apparently preferring standing outside the market to paying for a stall inside it and submitting to its other regulations." By 1764, it was illegal for vendors to place "'any horse, cart, carriage, stall, stand, bench, block, provisions or incumbrance in or upon ... Dock Square'" and "townspeople were urged not to buy from persons selling in Dock Square or nearby streets."[6]

Buying and selling of slaves also took place in Dock Square (and elsewhere in town), for instance by "Capt. Thomas Smith, Dock Square, slave boy at 14" in 1717;[7] and in the Sun Tavern in 1727: "On Thursday ... will be sold by publick vendue at the Sun Tavern on Dock Square at five a clock p.m. Four likely negros, and sundry sort of merchandize, all to be seen at the place of sale from two of the clock till the sale begins."[8]

One typical 1723 newspaper advertisement declares of a store in Dock Square: "Just arrived from London and to be sold by Mr. John Williams at his ware-house, next door to the Golden-Ball, on Dock Square, Boston, choice Bohea tea, at twenty shilling per pound, and very good Cheshire cheese; as also sundry other sorts of European goods."[9] In 1789, tenants in the square included innholder Mrs. Baker (at the "sign of the Punch-bowl"); dry-goods dealer John Brazer; grocer William Saxton. In 1805: E. Bonnemort's snuff shop; ship chandler Samuel Browning; innkeeper Elijah Dagget; druggist Eliakim Morse; hardware dealers John Odin and William Whitwell; Aaron Richardson's feather-store; auctioneer Benjamin Tucker; cardmakers William Whittemore & Co.[10] In the early 19th century, Samuel Eliot, (father of future mayor Samuel Eliot) ran "what might today be called a department store in Dock Square. He dealt in everything from diapers to tombstones."[11]

20th-21st centuries edit

 
Dock Square, with view of Faneuil Hall, Boston, 1987

In the middle of the 20th century the square and environs became increasingly surrounded by automotive traffic and tall buildings.[4] Interstate 93 was constructed nearby. In the 1960s some of the smaller streets and pedestrian passageways were demolished — including Brattle Street and Cornhill, abutting Dock Square — to make way for the construction of the large-scale, brutalist Boston City Hall and similar structures in the Government Center complex.[12]

Image gallery edit

  •  
    Detail of map of Boston showing Bendell's Cove in 1635 (which later became Town Dock and Dock Square, c. 1708)[13]
  •  
    Savage house, 30 Dock Sq., built early 18th century, demolished 1926
  •  
    Dock Sq. and Town Dock, 1738
  •  
    Advertisement for William Whitwell's hardware shop, c. 1803
  •  
    Dock Sq. and Washington St., c. 1860s
  •  
    Advertisement for Lovell's gun shop, 1861
  •  
    View of Dock Sq., Faneuil Hall (at right), 19th century
  •  
    Dock Square, including Sun Tavern, c. 1898
  •  
    Dock Square, 1920
  •  
    Dock Square and Congress St., 2010, with view of Anne Whitney's statue of Samuel Adams
  •  
    Dock Square in 1957

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ City of Boston. Street book
  2. ^ Walter Kendall Watkins. The great street to Roxbury Gate, 1630-1830. Bostonian Society Publications, 1919.
  3. ^ Boston Street Laying-Out Dept. A record of the streets, alleys, places, etc. in the city of Boston. Boston: City Printing Dept., 1910.
  4. ^ a b Robert Campbell and Peter Vanderwarker. Dock Square. Boston Globe, Oct 5, 1997. pg. 18.
  5. ^ G. B. Warden. The Caucus and Democracy in Colonial Boston. New England Quarterly, Vol. 43, No. 1 (Mar., 1970); p.31.
  6. ^ Karen J. Friedmann. Victualling Colonial Boston. Agricultural History, Vol. 47, No. 3 (Jul., 1973); p.203-204.
  7. ^ Boston News-Letter, Dec. 23, 1717; quoted in: Nian-Sheng Huang. Franklin's Father Josiah: Life of a Colonial Boston Tallow Chandler, 1657-1745. Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, New Series, Vol. 90, No. 3 (2000); p.61.
  8. ^ Boston Gazette, Nov. 20-27, 1727; quoted in: Robert E. Desrochers, Jr. Slave-for-Sale Advertisements and Slavery in Massachusetts, 1704-1781. William and Mary Quarterly, Third Series, Vol. 59, No. 3, Slaveries in the Atlantic World (Jul., 2002); p.627.
  9. ^ Boston News-Letter, May 23–30, 1723.
  10. ^ Boston Directory. 1789, 1805.
  11. ^ Samuel A. Eliot. Being Mayor of Boston a Hundred Years Ago. Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Third Series, Vol. 66 (Oct., 1936 -May, 1941), pp. 154-173.
  12. ^ Whitehill and Kennedy. Boston: A Topographical History, 3rd ed. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Belknap Press, 2000.
  13. ^ A record of the streets, alleys, places, etc. in the city of Boston. 1910

Morgan, Edmund S., The Puritan Dilemma The STory of John Winthrop, Harper Collins, 1958.

Further reading edit

  • Thomas Tileston Waterman, "The Savage House, Dock Square, Boston, Mass.," Old Time New England 17, no. 3 (January 1927).

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dock Square, Boston.
  • has materials related to the square.
  • Boston Public Library. A draught of Boston Harbor by Capt. Cyprian Southake. 1694 map, showing "Dock."
  • City of Boston Archives. Dock Square and Faneuil Hall, c. 1960s
  • Google News Archive. Articles related to Dock Sq., Boston

42°21′36.52″N 71°3′24.64″W / 42.3601444°N 71.0568444°W / 42.3601444; -71.0568444

January 01, 1970
dock, square, square, kennebunkport, maine, kennebunkport, downtown, boston, massachusetts, public, square, adjacent, faneuil, hall, bounded, congress, street, north, street, steps, state, street, office, tower, name, derives, from, original, 17th, century, lo. For the square in Kennebunkport Maine see Dock Square Kennebunkport Dock Square in downtown Boston Massachusetts is a public square adjacent to Faneuil Hall bounded by Congress Street North Street and the steps of the 60 State Street office tower 1 Its name derives from its original 17th century location at the waterfront From the 1630s through the early 19th century it served boats in the Boston Harbor as the common landing place at Bendell s Cove later called Town Dock 2 Around the dock was transacted the chief mercantile business of the town 3 After the waterfront was filled in during the early 19th century Dock Square continued as a center of commerce for some years The addition in the 1960s of Government Center changed the scale and character of the square from a hub of city life to a place one merely passes through 4 As of the 1950s the square has become largely a tourist spot with the Freedom Trail running through it John Winthrop coming from Salem where he landed as a Puritan from England ended up setting up a dock at the head of the cove now Dock Square and here began the town of Boston which soon was recognized as the political and economic center of the Massachusetts Bay colony Morgan 61 Dock Square Boston c 1840s Old Feather Store at left and Faneuil Hall in middle Contents 1 History 1 1 17th 19th centuries 1 2 20th 21st centuries 2 Image gallery 3 See also 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksHistory edit17th 19th centuries edit For much of its long history Dock Square has been a center of commerce in Boston In the 17th and 18th centuries vendors would sell their wares butter fish etc in the open or from stalls In 1733 a public market building opened to some controversy opponents disliked regulation A few years later anti market sentiment had reached a boiling point in 1737 a mob disguised as clergymen turned out one wintry night and completely demolished the market house in Dock Square 5 In 1742 Faneuil Hall opened again with mixed support Town records abound with complaints that Dock Square and other areas near Faneuil Hall were cluttered with carts and market paraphernalia the market people apparently preferring standing outside the market to paying for a stall inside it and submitting to its other regulations By 1764 it was illegal for vendors to place any horse cart carriage stall stand bench block provisions or incumbrance in or upon Dock Square and townspeople were urged not to buy from persons selling in Dock Square or nearby streets 6 Buying and selling of slaves also took place in Dock Square and elsewhere in town for instance by Capt Thomas Smith Dock Square slave boy at 14 in 1717 7 and in the Sun Tavern in 1727 On Thursday will be sold by publick vendue at the Sun Tavern on Dock Square at five a clock p m Four likely negros and sundry sort of merchandize all to be seen at the place of sale from two of the clock till the sale begins 8 One typical 1723 newspaper advertisement declares of a store in Dock Square Just arrived from London and to be sold by Mr John Williams at his ware house next door to the Golden Ball on Dock Square Boston choice Bohea tea at twenty shilling per pound and very good Cheshire cheese as also sundry other sorts of European goods 9 In 1789 tenants in the square included innholder Mrs Baker at the sign of the Punch bowl dry goods dealer John Brazer grocer William Saxton In 1805 E Bonnemort s snuff shop ship chandler Samuel Browning innkeeper Elijah Dagget druggist Eliakim Morse hardware dealers John Odin and William Whitwell Aaron Richardson s feather store auctioneer Benjamin Tucker cardmakers William Whittemore amp Co 10 In the early 19th century Samuel Eliot father of future mayor Samuel Eliot ran what might today be called a department store in Dock Square He dealt in everything from diapers to tombstones 11 20th 21st centuries edit nbsp Dock Square with view of Faneuil Hall Boston 1987 In the middle of the 20th century the square and environs became increasingly surrounded by automotive traffic and tall buildings 4 Interstate 93 was constructed nearby In the 1960s some of the smaller streets and pedestrian passageways were demolished including Brattle Street and Cornhill abutting Dock Square to make way for the construction of the large scale brutalist Boston City Hall and similar structures in the Government Center complex 12 Image gallery edit nbsp Detail of map of Boston showing Bendell s Cove in 1635 which later became Town Dock and Dock Square c 1708 13 nbsp Savage house 30 Dock Sq built early 18th century demolished 1926 nbsp Dock Sq and Town Dock 1738 nbsp Advertisement for William Whitwell s hardware shop c 1803 nbsp Dock Sq and Washington St c 1860s nbsp Advertisement for Lovell s gun shop 1861 nbsp View of Dock Sq Faneuil Hall at right 19th century nbsp Dock Square including Sun Tavern c 1898 nbsp Dock Square 1920 nbsp Dock Square and Congress St 2010 with view of Anne Whitney s statue of Samuel Adams nbsp Dock Square in 1957See also editFaneuil Hall built 1742 Old Feather Store 1680 1860 Anne Whitney sculptor of Sam Adams statue 1880 in Dock Sq References edit City of Boston Street book Walter Kendall Watkins The great street to Roxbury Gate 1630 1830 Bostonian Society Publications 1919 Boston Street Laying Out Dept A record of the streets alleys places etc in the city of Boston Boston City Printing Dept 1910 a b Robert Campbell and Peter Vanderwarker Dock Square Boston Globe Oct 5 1997 pg 18 G B Warden The Caucus and Democracy in Colonial Boston New England Quarterly Vol 43 No 1 Mar 1970 p 31 Karen J Friedmann Victualling Colonial Boston Agricultural History Vol 47 No 3 Jul 1973 p 203 204 Boston News Letter Dec 23 1717 quoted in Nian Sheng Huang Franklin s Father Josiah Life of a Colonial Boston Tallow Chandler 1657 1745 Transactions of the American Philosophical Society New Series Vol 90 No 3 2000 p 61 Boston Gazette Nov 20 27 1727 quoted in Robert E Desrochers Jr Slave for Sale Advertisements and Slavery in Massachusetts 1704 1781 William and Mary Quarterly Third Series Vol 59 No 3 Slaveries in the Atlantic World Jul 2002 p 627 Boston News Letter May 23 30 1723 Boston Directory 1789 1805 Samuel A Eliot Being Mayor of Boston a Hundred Years Ago Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society Third Series Vol 66 Oct 1936 May 1941 pp 154 173 Whitehill and Kennedy Boston A Topographical History 3rd ed Cambridge Massachusetts Belknap Press 2000 A record of the streets alleys places etc in the city of Boston 1910 Morgan Edmund S The Puritan Dilemma The STory of John Winthrop Harper Collins 1958 Further reading editThomas Tileston Waterman The Savage House Dock Square Boston Mass Old Time New England 17 no 3 January 1927 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dock Square Boston Bostonian Society has materials related to the square Boston Public Library A draught of Boston Harbor by Capt Cyprian Southake 1694 map showing Dock City of Boston Archives Dock Square and Faneuil Hall c 1960s Google News Archive Articles related to Dock Sq Boston 42 21 36 52 N 71 3 24 64 W 42 3601444 N 71 0568444 W 42 3601444 71 0568444 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dock Square amp oldid 1188152401, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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