I have spent a significant amount of time looking through old maps of my site in order to determine how the land use in the site has changed over time. My process for analyzing these maps is to look at how each block changes individually and then compile those findings in order to determine patterns of how the site has changed as a whole. This week, I looked through Sanborn maps of the two westernmost blocks of the Bulfinch Triangle in 1867, 1885 and 1895.
First, we will look at the westernmost block, bounded by Causeway, Lancaster, and Merrimack Streets. In 1867, one of the most significant buildings here is a planning mill bordering Lowell Square. The land use is primarily composed of craftsmen, mainly carpenters and one smith. There is one stable bordering Merrimack St. The rest of the buildings are unlabeled. In 1885, we see the planing mill is still present, and a second planing mill has been built behind it, facing Lancaster St. Both of these are also labeled as woodworking factories, which nicely complements all of the nearby carpenters. A few more smiths and a plumber have set up their businesses in the area. Finally, a carriage shop was established right next to the horseshoe smith. Here we see that the land use remains primarily dominated by small businesses and craftsmen. Furthermore, it is clear that the new businesses that are set up have been greatly influenced by the businesses that are already present. In 1895, we see a large shift in the types of businesses in the area. Several buildings have been joined together, including the stables. Both planing mills have been replaced with a coffin warehouse and a cigar factory. Additionally, most of the carpenters seemed to have disappeared, being replaced with things such as a liquor factory. It seems that the land use in this block has begun to shift towards becoming more industrial.
We will now look at the block bounded by Lancaster, Causeway, Portland, and Merrimack Streets. In 1867, there were a few small businesses here. Mainly craftsmen such as carpenters and smiths, much like the previously discussed block. Additionally, there was a single large school house. These, however, made up the minority of the land usage. The overwhelming majority of the buildings in this section of the Triangle were stables. Seeing as how the adjacent blocks have very few stables, it seems that this block housed the stables for the surrounding area of the city. In 1885, we see that the school house has been named St. Mary’s School. The northern half of the block remains dominated by stables. However, several machine shops and factories (jewelry, roller skates, carriages) have been established on the southern end of the block. In 1895, we see the land use shift more towards small businesses and factories. The school and most of the stables have been replaced with a very large furniture warehouse and a hardwood lumber and brass finishing business, along with a brass working shop and a foundry. A few restaurants and bakeries have also been established along Causeway St. On the southern end of the site we still see a few pattern shops, along with several buildings labeled “Various Manufacturers”. We see that the land use in this site has shifted from being primarily transportation-based to a mix of industrial and commercial.