Guide to Metropolitan Boston (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1899 Excerpt: ...BOSTON. Under the Supervision of Boston Park Commissioners. Charlesbank, along Charles River front, between Craigie and West Boston bridges. Broad promenade and playground, six hundred feet long, planted with hardy tries and shrubs. Commenced 1883; area, ten acres; cost S67-,430.12. Commonwealth Avenue, Back Bay, taken 1894. Area thirty acres; cost S100.74.'i.77. The Fens, Back Bay. I.and taken 1879; area one hundred and fifteen acres, twenty-eight acres being water surface. Land and construction cost $2,638,8 oOo Riverway, from The Fens to Leverett Park. Land taken 1890; area forty acres, eight acres of river surface. Land and construction cost $1,042,687.89. Leverett Park, Roxbury. Land taken 1890-92; area seventy-five acres. Land and construction cost $631,570.75. A section of the parkway is between Tremont and Perkins Streets, sixty acres of the park are in Boston, fifteen acres in Brookline, Leverett Pond has twelve acres, Ward's Pond two and seven-tenths acres, Willow Pond and numerous small ponds, bridges and driveways. Jamaica Park, taken 1S92. Land and construction cost $998,784.11; area one hundred and twenty acres, sixty-four and five-tenths acres of water. Arborway, West Roxbury. Land taken 1892. Land and construction cost $597,153,62; area thirty-six acres. Arnold Arboretum, West Roxbury. The largest and finest collection of trees in the world; occupies the land formerly the Bussey estate, bequeathed to Harvard College by the late Benjamin Bussey. Land taken by the city 1882-95. Total cost of land and construction $349,089.86. Area two hundred and twentythree acres. The Bussey Institute, a branch of Harvard College, was opened 1870, and two years later the Arboretum was established. It received its name from James Arnold of New Bedford, wh...