1974:

            After World War II, significantly more Americans sought college educations.  Schools such as Boston University expanded considerably, while new educational institutions including Boston’s Grahm Junior College were founded.  This trend was extremely noticeable in Kenmore Square and is obvious in the Sanborn map from 1974.⁷  By 1974, the only remnant of the automobile industry which previously inhabited several important buildings along Beacon Street was the Citgo sign, which was placed on top of the Peerless Auto Sales building in the 1940s.  Although the sign remained in the same place, the structure was now occupied by a Theater and a large bank.  A night club was located just west of the Theater which truly symbolizes the new youthful theme.  Across the street on Commonwealth Avenue between Kenmore Streets and Brookline Avenue, several of the old doctors’ offices had converted to stores and restaurants.  It is possible that these medical facilities relocated to the Kenmore Medical Building across the square in the building that was previously occupied by the Belvoir apartments.  In addition, the hotels that were once present on the site were all converted into dormitories and apartment buildings.  The former Hotel Kenmore was now part of Grahm Junior College and the Hotel Braemore was converted to the Braemore Apartments.  The Hotel Sheraton on Bay State Road was the BU Shelton Hall dormitory and multiple brownstones across the street were also occupied by university students.  The Myles Standish apartments between Beacon Street and Bay State Road were transformed to a BU dorm as well, and the store fronts that used to be present on the ground floor were removed to make room for a dining hall.  Finally, by 1974, a bus terminal was built at the center of Kenmore Square above the Kenmore Square T Stop.

            The changes that took place over this thirty-seven year period seem to be much more rapid than those that occurred before.  Institutional land use was becoming much more common, and since there was no new construction in the site, the expansion of these colleges was accompanied by the loss of long-term residents.  The growth of the local colleges precipitated new commercial land use that was increasingly tailored to students, including night clubs and small restaurants.  There were no longer railroads that brought distant travelers into the square, so there was no longer a need for multiple hotels.  Instead, there was now a bus terminal and a subway stop which provided an inexpensive and quick means of transportation for students traveling between Kenmore Square and downtown Boston.


1981:

             A 1981 Sanborn Map⁸ depicts that over the next seven years, the constitution of Kenmore Square remained relatively constant.  Among the few changes was the establishment of a United States Post Office on the first floor of the Loyal Protective Life Building along Deerfield Street.  In addition, Grahm Junior College closed in 1979, so its buildings were now vacant and later purchased by Boston University.

Assignment #2 Continued
Part V:  1981-2003 & Conclusion