Self-guided tour: The history of candy making
With the high-tech firms and pharmaceutical companies that now dominate the landscape in Kendall Square and other parts of Cambridge, it’s hard to image that 50 years ago candy was king here.
Don’t allocate public funds before investigating whether repairs should be paid for by a business
Before the CPA approves a request for $200,000 for repairs to a section of retaining wall that may have been caused by construction work by a business owner, a thorough evaluation of the cause of the collapse should be completed.
There was a sylvan reservoir stocked for fishers as space went from a bleachery to a playground
A look today at Sacramento Field in the Baldwin neighborhood would show no hint of a pool – let alone of the grape-arbored reservoir for the Middlesex Bleachery, stocked with fish for anglers, that occupied the site some 70 years ago
The mystery of Huron Avenue is more basic than you might guess
Cambridge’s streets have histories and stories, just as the city itself does. Among those stories, Huron Avenue is one of the richest – but one with a bit of mystery.
Attend meetings on long-brewing proposals; school district vaccine mandates; a pet project
Public meetings this week look at a school district vaccine mandate; condominium conversion law; landmarkings; and a number of long-simmering projects that could add residences in Harvard Square, Wellington-Harrington and Central Square and hotels in Kendall and Central squares.
Live Poultry Fresh Killed: A sign of Cambridge history that should be landmarked, not sold
The Mayflower Poultry shop is closing its doors after 89 years of business and moving to Boston to open as an online business. The company’s “Live Poultry Fresh Killed” sign is up for auction Thursday but instead should be preserved and protected.
‘Incidents’ author Harriet Jacobs crossed paths with Imogen Eddy, an early Harvard astronomer
The boardinghouse that Harriet Jacobs ran in the 1870s is now an apartment building at Mount Auburn and Story streets. (Photo: History Cambridge) Harriet Jacobs, author of “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl,” lived in Cambridge in the 1870s. As his …
Mount Auburn Hospital grew from the dedication of a single woman: Civil War nurse Emily Parsons
After returning in 1864 from work as an army nurse, Emily Parsons’ attention turned to the absence of a hospital in the city. To create one, she relied on a spirit of volunteerism and cooperation she had encountered throughout the Civil War.
Attend meetings on losing Mayflower Poultry, getting back ManRay and zoning for one dog
Public meetings this week look at a potentially returned ManRay nightclub seeking a liquor license, and maybe more Harvard Square ramen; some legislative overkill in crafting zoning so one dog can recuperate at someone’s home; and the loss of the famous Mayflower Poultry.
There are hidden surprises in Harvard Square
Think you know Harvard Square? Now you can see it in a whole new light with this self-guided tour. Brush up on local history by stopping by all the spots on this loop.
