Dorchester history preserved in the new Museum of Fine Arts wing

Roswell Gleason's (1799-1879) House: click on this link to see two lovely rooms originally from Dorchester that the Museum of Fine Arts has preserved and installed as part of its new wing. Roswell Gleason was a successful silversmith in the 19th century and his 1837 house, called "Lilacs", and adjacent factory complex were originally situated on Washington Street near Park Street. In the 1890s the 25-acre Gleason estate was subdivided for development and the house moved to face east on Claybourne Street. Preserved by the MFA in the 1970s at the request of a descendant of Gleason, the dining room and parlor have been reconstructed to give a sense of living in an architectural showplace.  The image above is a painting on brick of "Lilacs" in the Edward A. Huebener Brick Collection at the Dorchester Historical Society. The house was destroyed in 1982. For more information on Roswell Gleason, photographs of the house and his work, please see the Dorchester Atheneum website, and definitely visit the MFA to see this new exhibit!

Anna Clapp Harris Smith's house saved

New Life for Old House in Dorchester from Chris Lovett on Vimeo.

Historic house preserved: behind the scenes peek

Jones Hill in Dorchester is just one of Dorchester's wonderful historic neighborhoods and this house is an example of one of our until-now over-looked gems. At 6:30 PM on June 23d Historic Boston Inc. and the North Bennet Street School will host an open house at the Anna Clapp Harris Smith home at 65 Pleasant Street "to present the history of the site, preservation plans underway, and a sneak peek inside the house to see building elements that mark the earliest period of house (1804)."

even plants get recycled

If you see folks digging up some trees or plants in Peabody Square, they are saving them in advance of a major overhaul. We hear gardeners in the neighborhoods around the Square are pitching in to recycle worthy perennials and shrubs.

Dorchester's history is the focus this weekend, May 2 & 3

It's going to be Preservation Weekend in Dorchester!
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St. Peter's Church, 309 Bowdoin St. Dorchester MA, 02122
PARTNERS IN PRESERVATION Open House, Free Admission
Saturday, May 2, 9-5 and Sunday, May 3, 9:30-5
Special guided tours, concerts and activities to raise awareness and votes for preserving this beautiful 1872 puddingstone church on Dorchester's historic Meetinghouse Hill. The church sits on the corner of Percival Street, next door to (little-known fact alert!) the Lydia Clapp house, the first property rehabbed on the TV program This Old House in 1979.
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First Parish Church, 10 Parish St., Dorchester MA 02122
Annual Gala
May 2, 6:30 PM, call 617-436-0527
This event is dedicated to matching a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation to hire a preservation architect. The architect will do a comprehensive building condition assessment in preparation for extensive restoration project. Tickets $50.
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The Dorchester Historical Society's Wine-Tasting @ the Boston Winery, 26 Ericsson Street, Port Norfolk, Dorchester MA 02122
Sunday, May 3, 2-5 pm. $50 per ticket.
Appetizers, tasting of 3 wines created by The Boston Winery, tour of the facility and description of the wine-making process, display of historic memorabilia of Port Norfolk. Make it a party -- get your friends & neighbors to come along.
Every $2 raised at this event will be matched by $1.
To reserve a spot, contact Earl Taylor 781 272-6700 or by e-mail ERMMWWT@aol.com
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Mather School Fundraiser @ dbar, 1236 Dorchester Ave, Dorchester, MA 02125
May 3, 2:30-4 pm. Suggested donation $20 at the door.
The first public elementary school in America needs your help. Join them at the dbar for an afternoon of friends, food, live music and a silent auction...all while supporting the students at the Mather. The recent budget cuts have been devastating for them. More info: 617-635-8757
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