Franklin and Blackstone Squares

Blackstone Square, Boston, 1850s

Blackstone and Franklin Squares are located in the South End of Boston, Massachusetts. Charles Bullfinch, who created the plan for the South End, originally intended the two squares to be one, calling it Columbia Square.^[1] Franklin Square opened in 1849 and Blackstone Square subsequently opened in 1855. The two squares are bisected by Washington Street and bound on the north by Brookline Street, to the east by St George Street, to the south by Newton Street, and to the west by Shawmut Avenue. An iron fence surrounds the perimeter of each square with entrances at the corners. There is also an entrance to Blackstone Square at the intersection of Pembroke Street and Shawmut Avenue and a fifth entrance to Franklin Square along Newton Street. The historic St. James Hotel, now the Franklin Square House Apartments, served as the exterior backdrop of the popular 1980’s NBC hospital drama series, St. Elsewhere.^[2]

St. James Hotel, Franklin Square, Boston, 19th century; photo by John P. Soule

Operation

The squares operate under Article 97 of the Massachusetts State Constitution, which states:

...The people shall have the right to clean air and water, freedom from excessive and unnecessary noise, and the natural, scenic, historic, and esthetic qualities of their environment; and the protection of the people in their right to the conservation, development and utilization of the agricultural, mineral, forest, water, air and other natural resources is hereby declared to be a public purpose.

In the furtherance of the foregoing powers, the general court shall have the power to provide for the taking, upon payment of just compensation therefor, or for the acquisition by purchase or otherwise, of lands and easements or such other interests therein as may be deemed necessary to accomplish these purposes.

Lands and easements taken or acquired for such purposes shall not be used for other purposes or otherwise disposed of except by laws enacted by a two thirds vote, taken by yeas and nays, of each branch of the general court. The general court shall have the power to enact legislation necessary or expedient to protect such rights.^[3]

New England Conservatory, Franklin Square, Boston, 1880s

Blackstone Square is 2.44 acres (0.99 ha) and Franklin Square is 2.48 acres (1.00 ha). Both are maintained under Land and Water Conservation Fund of the National Park Service.^[4]

In 1979, after years of neglect, local resident Brian Davidson began an effort to clean up the squares. He personally picked up trash and after several years the city of Boston began a revitalization project that included new fences, fountains, benches, and trees.

Blackstone and Franklin Square can be reached by the Silver Line 4 and 5, and bus routes 8 and 10.^[5]

Features

Foliage

A variety of trees are planted in and around the parks. Surrounding the exterior perimeter of the park are Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum). Inside the park and lining the walkways are Silver Linden (Tilia tomentosa). There is a large White Oak (Quercus alba) in Franklin Square as well.

Fountains

There are two identical fountains, one in each square, located at the intersection of the walkways. At the base of the fountain are four dolphins surrounding an ornate pedestal that holds a large bowl in the shape of a seashell.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Franklin Square, Boston.

References

Streets and squares in Boston Streets Arborway Atlantic Avenue Beacon Street Bennington Street Blue Hills Parkway Bowdoin Street Boylston Street Brattle Street Brookline Avenue Charles Street Columbus Avenue Commonwealth Avenue Congress Street Court Street Day Boulevard Dorchester Avenue Federal Street Fenway Franklin Street Gallivan Boulevard Hanover Street Huntington Avenue Jamaicaway Massachusetts Avenue Melnea Cass Boulevard Memorial Drive Milk Street Morrissey Boulevard Morton Street New Chardon Street Newbury Street North Street Park Street Park Drive Riverway School Street Soldiers Field Road State Street Stony Brook Reservation Parkways Storrow Drive Summer Street Tremont Street Truman Parkway Union Street Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway Washington Street West Roxbury Parkway Winter Street Yawkey Way Squares, circles, crossings and corners Andrew Square Blackstone Square Brigham Circle Central Square Chester Square City Square Cleveland Circle Codman Square Copley Square Day Square Dewey Square Dock Square Downtown Crossing Dudley Square Egleston Square Fields Corner Franklin Square Haymarket Square Hyde Square Jackson Square Kenmore Square Louisburg Square Maverick Square Packard's Corner Park Square Peabody Square Post Office Square Roxbury Crossing Sullivan Square Thompson Square Union Square Uphams Corner Italics denote streets that no longer exist. See also Neighborhoods in Boston Transportation in Boston

Coordinates: 42°20′21″N 71°04′23″W / 42.3393°N 71.0731°W / 42.3393; -71.0731