Completed July 2009 4 [c. 2008] Harvard University Expansion & Francis R. Appleton Ronald H. Epp, Ph.D. The pull of cosmopolitan Cambridge on Francis R. Appleton Sr. is largely unresearched. As a Harvard College graduate he not only became a formidable force over many decades in alumnae fundraising, but he allied himself with a Harvard chum named George B. Dorr to bring about a highly fortuitous expansion of the campus. The recent centennial of this achievement went largely unnoticed but TOR members should be aware that Appleton not only continued the family tradition of America's oldest farm applied as well the property preservation lessons of Ipswich to his alma mater-with help from a friend. Growth of the Harvard curriculum, student body, and faculty since the 1870's when Appleton and Dorr were students required enlarging the campus footprint. In the early years of the twentieth- century, Dorr was a horticulturist who served on the college visiting committee to the philosophy department, an outgrowth of his friendships with philosophers William James and Josiah Royce. He recently agreed to serve as treasurer of an alumni committee that aimed to raise sufficient funds to secure properties-that when gifted to Harvard-would enable the construction of an impressive Harvard Yard boulevard to the Charles River. The muddy banks of the Charles were to be transformed into an academic landscape that conformed to the urban vision of the City Beautiful Movement. 1 The Harvard Board of Overseers had resolved in 1894 to develop plans for the university's growth onto the unattractive Charles River waterfront. 2 Since Harvard had been slow to take an interest in this blighted area, an alumni committee letter bearing Dorr's signature was sent to Harvard graduates. It called their attention to the merits of constructing "a wide, park-like street connecting TOR_Appleton_9_15 Page 1 of 4 2, [Charles River] parkway with Quincy Square," providing a "dignified and suitable approach" from the Harvard Bridge to Harvard Yard. 3 Harvard President Charles W. Eliot insisted that external funds needed to be secured to cover the cost of property acquisition. Alumni contributions quickly reached $50,000 for redesign of DeWolfe Street into an eighty-foot-wide boulevard to the Charles River; supplemental funding would still be needed from the city, state, and the park commission. Dorr aroused the interest of Ralph Waldo Emerson's grandson, Edward Waldo Forbes (1873-1969), who rallied others to envision a more comprehensive plan that included all properties between DeWolfe and Boylston Street. 4 For more than a decade, Harvard overseer Francis R. Appleton Sr. partnered with Dorr, Forbes, and his elder brother, banker W. Cameron Forbes (1870-1959), to raise sufficient funds to justify Harvard's acquisition of scores of properties that separated the Yard from the Charles River. In February 1907, Dorr opened his Commonwealth Avenue home in Boston to Governor Curtis Guild, Cambridge Mayor Walter Wardell, and other prominent individuals who were receptive to discussion of the Boulevard Plan. 5 Catholic school officials objected to the plan but it was Cambridge politicians who balked at the expenses that would be borne by the city despite the $40,000 offered by Dorr's alumni associates. Appleton reported that Mr. Dorr "and I did everything we could think of to push the matter along and we guaranteed the $50,000 [but as a result of opposition at the various hearings before the City of Cambridge Council the project became politically impossible." 6 Appleton then headed a new alumni group, the Harvard Riverside Associates (HRA), which succeeded in raising more than $400,000. Yet a decade would pass before the HRA acquired all but TOR_Appleton_9_15 Page 2 of 4 3. 22 of the 115 properties needed for the creation of the new Yard. 7 In 1913, the Associates would turn over their land holdings to the University, and construction of freshman dormitories would begin shortly thereafter. A second Harvard Yard eventually emerged after Dorr's De Wolfe Boulevard model was altered by the new Harvard administration of President A. Lawrence Lowell (1856-1943), who would succeeded Eliot in 1909. Francis Appleton would move forward with an array of projects unrelated to Harvard. But his experience as Harvard Overseer and the champion of all manner of Harvard alumni endeavors continued. Their shared interest in the quality of student accommodations, the aesthetics of Charles River waterfront property, the most successful strategies for alumnae philanthropy and the political skills required was shortly thereafter applied by Dorr in partnership with Charles W. Eliot. These institutional advancement skills honed in Massachusetts were realized in 1916 with the establishment in Maine of Acadia National Park. Closer to home, Dr. Eliot's presidency of the TOR for nearly a quarter-of-a-century would extend the vision of his son, landscape architect Charles Eliot. 8 Cambridge had been a useful hothouse for Appleton, Dorr, and Eliot. ENDNOTES 1 "The City Beautiful Movement," xroads.virginia./edu/~cap/citybeautiful/city.html 2 B. Bunting, Harvard: an Architectural History (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1985), 179. See also George Santayana's illuminating "The Harvard Yard," Persons and Places: the . Background of My Life (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1944): 186-202. TOR_Appleton_9_15 Page 3 of 4 4. 3 Harvard University 1960: An Inventory for Planning (Cambridge: President and Fellows of Harvard College, 1960), 4-4-B. See Dorr to Eliot, November 18 and December 27, 1902. Records of the President of Harvard University. Charles W. Eliot. B.36. Harvard University Archives. See Karl Haglund, Inventing the Charles River (Cambridge: MIT Press, 2003), 194-205. 4 Edward Waldo Forbes, Yankee Visionary (Cambridge: Fogg Art Museum, 1971), 48-81. The Forbes memoir and commentary is available online. Charles U. Lowe, "The Forbes Story of the Harvard Riverside Associates, "Lowell.harvard.edu/house/Forbes/new forbes.html 5 A list of Dorr's alumni associates was published in the Cambridge Tribune, V. 29 (February 2, 1907): 1. 6 Appleton to George F. Peabody, June 5, 1914. Appleton Papers. The Trustees of Reservations, Archives and Research Center. B.6.f.19. These Papers contain richly detailed records of Appleton's Harvard College years (1871-75), which mirror the academic environment of George Dorr who was one year ahead of Mr. Appleton. Additional information is included regarding his alumni leadership in raising alumni funds (B.5.f.10; B.6.f.18,19,40; B.7.f.6). 7 "To Bring Harvard Yard to Charles," New York Times (September 6, 1903), 28; the definitive study of this process is Sharon Cooney's The Harvard Riverside Associates: Land Acquisition South of the Harvard Yard, 1903-1918. Harvard University Archives. 8 Dorr to Eliot, May 10, 12, and 16; June 15; and October 28, 1907. Records of the President of Harvard University, Charles W. Eliot. B.83. TOR_Appleton_9_15 Page 4 of 4 8/10/2018 The Land on Which Lowell was Built I Lowell House M.D. Charles U. Lowe '42 Written 1002 HOME / HOME / HISTORY / The Land on Which Lowell was Built Introduction Because of the foresight shown by Edward Waldo Forbes, grand son of Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Class of 1895 at Harvard, the University eventually owned all the land between Mt. Auburn Street and the Charles River. [See Sidebars 1-6 at right.] Even before entering Harvard as a student Forbes had shown a keen interest in land conservation in the environs of Boston and was a member of Trustees of Public Reservations in 1902. After college he spent two years at Oxford, traveled in Europe and began collecting fine arts. Upon returning to the United States, he formed, in 1903, the Harvard Riverside Associates later to become the Harvard Riverside Trustees. These were his vehicles for land acquisition. He assembled all the land not already owned by Harvard or private clubs between Mount Auburn Street and the River north to south and Bow Street and Boylston Street [now Kennedy Street] east to west. He gave part of the assembled land to Harvard in 1912 and the remainder in 1918. Lowell House stands on land conveyed partly in 1912 and partly in 1918. In 1909 President Eliot appointed Forbes Director of the Fogg Museum, a title he retained until 1944. [Sidebar 7] Forbes wrote this memoir in 1960, at the time, 87 years of age. / remember fairly distinctly that about the year 1945-6-or 7, / happened to be asked about it [the history of the Harvard Riverside Associates either] by Charles Coolidge of the Corporation [or by] Bill Claflin, Treasurer of Harvard. / told them the story, / think; and / have thought that at that time / wrote a careful account of what happened. The facts were pretty well burnt into my mind. So / think that even now nearly sixty years later / think / can give a fairly accurate account of the main facts Of course / have forgotten a great many details. [This is] my story of the Harvard River[side] Associates. / will begin by two facts that really did not have much to do with the story. One year Mr. [.Dudly Pickman ] happened to tell me that when he was an undergraduate, Longfellow, the poet, entered the room in which he and his companions were sitting and said to these college boys that Harvard and its land ought to extend down to the river. This was told to me, / am pretty sure, after / had begun my work [assembling the land], but it has stuck in my mind that Longfellow was the first, so far as / know, to have this idea. When / was an undergraduate at Harvard, / used to belong to a group of 12 who had all their meals together at a boarding house. The mass of students had their meals in Memorial Hall, as / remember it, for about $4.50 a week. We, more fortunate fellows, had our meals in these boarding houses. In my freshman year the house where we had our meals was on Mt. Auburn 8/10/2018 The Land on Which Lowell was Built I Lowell House Street near where Longfellow's "Spreading Chestnut Tree" where the blacksmith worked that was near Church St [Site now marked by a plaque and a tree at # 40 Brattle Street] In the senior year we had our meals on Mt. Auburn St. It was a superior place; / think the best of them all, it only took seniors and was a little more expensive, / think $7 instead of $6 [a week]. It was in one of those years when / daily walked towards the river that Cam [Cameron Forbes, brother of Edward Forbes] who was a graduate, said to me "Harvard ought to own all the land toward the river." while / was still an Oxford student in the years 1900-1902, my brother wrote to me That a group of Harvard men thought that Harvard ought to have a dignified boulevard as [an] approach to the college. So this group had banded together and started to buy a strip of land beside DeWolf St. to make a dignified boulevard as an entrance to Harvard. He asked me to join and give some money; and / think that / promised something between $1,000 ad $5,000, probably not more than $1,000. [Sidebars 8,9] When a year or so later / started the [Harvard] Riverside Associates [H.R.A.] as / remember it, this "approach plan", was abandoned in favor of my large plan, and gave the H.RA. the money that they had raised. / am not sure of this---[The funds were in fact transferred at a later date] / think that Mr. George Dorr, [treasurer of Harvard] and Cam were the leaders in this movement. [When] / was an Oxford student from 1900 -1902 / enjoyed greatly the river, and the little canals running off the river, where occasionally we students used to get a boat and pole along through these shallow little canals. Once / remember hiring a small sailboat, and taking her up the Thames for a mile or two and then sailing back before the wind. / know also of the use that Cambridge University made of its river. / think that my friend, Harry Fletcher, took me up to spend one Sunday at Cambridge. / had studied in Oxford-English literature. / was at that time more interested in literature than in art and / wanted to begin as a school teacher of English. However, in the autumn of 1901 while playing full back on the New College rugby football against the Bristol School---/ received a serious concussion- That had greatly injured my second year studies.-- was put into a nursing home for six weeks ---and was unable to return to Oxford for the last few weeks of the college year. [After recuperating in Florence, Forbes returned to the United States.] After a summer at Naushon [Where the Forbes family compound was located] / came up [to Milton] but it was too late to get a job in school. / became convinced that it was an important and valuable thing to buy up that land and have it available for Harvard. / felt keenly the difference between the splendid use that the English universities made of their rivers and the pitiful use that Harvard made of the Charles River. Of course at that time the Charles River had tidal water.[Sidebar 10] / believe that the drainage in those days of Waltham and Watertown went into the Charles River and was carried down to Cambridge--[L]et us say at low tide when the narrow stream came down between ugly mud banks which / well remember. Then the tide would come running in and bring this undesirable cargo refuse including typhoid, scarlet fever, and diphtheria germs up over the mud banks and over the marshes on the south side of the river. [Sidebars 11-15] When the tide would recede and the southwest wind, / suppose, would blow those undesirable disease germs up into[the] Mt Auburn St. region. / remember that my older brother, Ralph, who had delicate health as a freshman, started to live in boarding house near Mt. Auburn St. so / was told, and [he] became sick. He was moved up oThayer Hall, No.34, where he lived through his college and law school course. His brother, Cameron, joined him as a freshman, and three years later, after Ralph had graduated, / joined Cam when he was a senior and / was freshman. So in those days the Mt. Auburn St. region was thought to be a very undesirable part of Cambridge. Now / think it was rather a slum like place yet the land in that part of Cambridge nearer Somerville was cheaper and more healthy and the Corporation of those days was definitely spreading out there. The Divinity school, the Agassiz Museums and the Hemenway and the Law School and other buildings were examples. / think my memory is correct in saying that when / began to think of getting the land near the River- was told that a dam was to be built and that the whole River basin could be improved. / believe 8/10/2018 The Land on Which Lowell was Built I Lowell House the actual dam was not built till a few years later [Planning for the dam was begun 1902 and construction, starting soon there after, was completed in 1910.] [President Eliot had written about the River in 1892] "In the first place the so called "River" was not a river. It was a tidal estuary, shallow and muddy trough, broad in its seaward part, narrow and torturous in it's inward extension and filled and almost emptied by the tide twice a day. Except at the extreme inland part of its course the natural rim of this tidal trough is the ragged edge of a salt marsh. The marshes are planes of mud overlying gravel or clay covered with salt grasses and penetrated by numerous crooked and narrow creeks" [Sidebar 16] [It is clear that Edward knew about the scheme Cam had developed for he wrote to Cam while still at Oxford, on May 6, 1902] "I am much interested in the Harvard approach scheme. If / were at home / believe / would try to push it through. But / hardly like to come early for it as / have such a futile winter's work here.' [And again he wrote on May 9,] "I have just written to Dorr [George B. Dorr, treasurer of the Corporation telling him / might be able to give a small contribution and asking him if he wants me to give Harvard men in London a poke." [As early as September 27, 1902 Forbes had written to his brother Cameron,] "I have talked over the matter of Harvard land with various people and / hope to get to work at it some time this winter." Here begins the real story. / knew nothing about business affairs / went either to my brother, Cam, or to Mr. Augustus Hemenway for help and advice. / think it was Mr. Hemenway who told me that / ought to form a company with a title and trustees. He told me that the firm of Loring and Coolidge had done an excellent job in buying land for the South Station a few years before. They had hired several different real estate men separately and privately to buy the houses one after the SO that the owners of those houses would not know or suspect other that [it] was all one concern and jump the prices way up. So / went to Messers Loring and Coolidge and asked if they would do the same for us. / do not remember in exactly what order the events took place, but we formed ourselves into the Harvard Riverside Associates. [It is not clear when the Harvard Riverside Associates was formed, but in the fall of 1902 Forbes began to raise money and acquire land Formal incorporation did not take place until July, 1903.] / do not know at what stage / approached the Corporation but / did write to President Eliot and asked if he would join us. In any case / remember well that he sent a courteous reply saying, "No." [In 1943 Cameron, recalling the events of 1902-03 wrote as follows:] He [Edward] presented his plan of doing this to the members of the Corporation and then included President Eliot and Mr. Henry Walcott, secretary of the Corporation, among others. All Edward got was a rebuff. He was told to forget it and that the Corporation had enough difficulties with the City of Cambridge due to removing areas from regions capable of paying taxes. Thereupon / wrote him [President Eliot] another letter asking if he minded having us go and do it on our own. To that he replied "yes." [Sidebar 17] [Forbes also wrote to LeBaron Briggs, Dean of Harvard College, who replied on November 26, 1902,] "I have been talking to the President this morning about your suggestion in regard to the land between the University property and the river. The President knows of no one who has had in mind forming such a syndicate but he does know that there are persons or sets of persons, who have their eyes on the land. " [By early December of 1902 Forbes had recruited the assistance of Thomas Perkins, H'91 & L'94 a senior 8/10/2018 The Land on Which Lowell was Built I Lowell House Corporation.] 4. So we started in and / think that Mr. Hemenway and Cameron and / and other members of our family subscribed. / forget what we raised at the start, perhaps $30,000 or less. We set [the real estate firm of] Loring and Coolidge to work[probably early in December-Coolidge H '92 L '96] to begin to buy the land but / understood that the neighborhood were all SO near to each other that the word got around quickly that Harvard was at the bottom of this, and the prices began to rise quickly which increased our difficulties but we kept on and / started going around to other people to give or to join us. [Inquiries about the availability of land must have started as early as December of 1902, for Perkins wrote to Forbes on December 18, 1902 that two lots, the Bocher estate and the Harris estates, roughly the area comprising of the present day Lowell House, were available only by purchase and cautioned Forbes against buying them until] "you have made sure that the whole scheme is going through." [On January 17, 1903, Loring and Coolidge provided the first specific details of the project. The land between Mt. Auburn Street and the River not owned by Harvard or Harvard Clubs amounted to 468,114 sq. ft., had an assessed value of $413,100 and could probably be purchased for $655,050,] "provided all the owners were willing to sell" [Some time later it developed that there were 81 individual owners of 93 parcels in the section of Cambridge under consideration.] [On March 3d Forbes wrote again to his brother, now in the Philippines, where he was Governor General:] "Things are moving slowly in the right direction with me. / am getting letters from Pres. Eliot +Prof. Norton. Nelson [Perkins] has got a good letter from Mr. Higginson. The prospectus is written, but one or two changes may be made. / will send you word of the progress when things get definite. We talked the plan matter out to a finish in Nelson's office (he, J. Burden, Wetmore and I). We fixed it as necessary to show Wetmore's plan. He is having it made, and / have just had a large new plan of the region as it now is and sent to him." [Wetmore was a real estate speculator and builder from New York. Forbes had met with him in New York and got the feeling that Wetmore wanted to take over the project. Wetmore owned two dormitory buildings on Cambridge and had drawn up plans to develop the area between Massachusetts Avenue and the River. Perkins tried to reassure Forbes on the matter and had written to him as early as February 12:] "If you get Frank Appleton and some other men in New York who are leaders both socially and financially, they can make Wetmore come into camp without any possible doubt. Wetmore would not at all care to put himself in the position of working against the wishes of such men, especially when they are working for the best interests of the College." [Forbes letter to Cameron of March 3, continues:]"It seems that Wetmore for some reason told --the whole story. / suppose because he [Perkins] trusts him. You know [he] is a skunk. / find that he has been spreading the report among. people that boundless millions are behind the scheme and that another Yard is to be put there to make the place like Oxford. W--F. E's-land lady told him this. We are looking about for the best metaphorical axe to hit [Wetmore] ---over the head with He has been getting our options at 3+ [or] four time the assessed value. spite of[Wetmore] every thing is going pretty well. We have got options on about 270,000 sq. ft. Several more pieces are in line. It is just a matter of bargaining." [Wetmore succeeded in publishing hi development plan in the Atlantic Monthly, January 15, 1910.] [On March 12,1903 he wrote again to Cameron,] "All goes well. / have got about $100,00. / have only been at it since Monday actively. President Eliot you know has written a strong letter expressing the views of the Corporation. He told me today that the reason the Corporation threw it down at first was that they thought it impossible We have got a large part of the Cambridge land now; and hope for more soon." / remember that / asked Mr. Henry Higginson [an overseer, donor of $100,000 toward the purchase of Soldiers' Field and major patron of the Boston Symphony Orchestra] of the Corporation, and / think President Eliot himself if they would write short letters of approval for our pamphlet which / think that they did. [Sidebars 17-18] [On March 30 Forbes wrote to Eliot thanking him for his strong letter of support. He went on to say:] "I sent you a prospectus and a plan of the region which / have colored roughly. The red represents what is owned by the College and Clubs. The blue represents what we have secured options on or bought We are practically of getting many of the that are not colored in blue. In some cases it is merely a 8/10/2018 The Land on Which Lowell was Built I Lowell House question of price. / have made no progress lately in raising money for / have been obliged to stay home with a cold. "[Sidebar 19] 5 At times things went smoothly [but] in the winter, February-March / had a bad case of the grippe that the doctors thought that my lungs might have been infected. In the meanwhile. / have just found a letter which / wrote to my brother, Cameron, / think about the year 1945. That has a number of facts which / have forgotten and tells the story on the whole well. / read it several days ago and now cannot remember all the exact statements in it. But / will continue my story as / remember it now putting some facts that / have relearned from that letter, and adding a few stories that were not recorded in that letter. [In early February, Perkins had advised Forbes to appoint trustees of The Harvard Riverside Associates Trust which he did in early April. In addition to him self and Perkins, his board included Robert Bacon of New York (H '80 and the Secretary of State in the administration of Theodore Roosevelt), James Abercrombie Burden (H '93 and a man with access to the capitol markets of New York), and Agustus Hemenway (H '75, an Overseer, and donor of the Gymnasium in 1875). Although formed early in the year, the Declaration of Trust was filed only on June 30, 1903. The trust was designed to secure $400,000 from subscriber and authorized to secure mortgages up to $600,000. The plan for the subscription was to raise $200,000 from New York and a similar sum from Boston. The trust was to buy land, hold it for five years at which time further plans for the land would be developed. When plans developed, the College could buy the land from the Trust at cost plus interest.] [By publishing a memorial volume in 1971 the Fogg Art Museum chose to celebrate the contribution Edward Forbes had made to fine arts, to Harvard and to city planning. This volume made clear that in the years 1903- 04, Forbes, though consumed by fund raising, was also concerned with the utilization of the land that might be acquired by the Harvard Riverside Associates. Forbes had obtained "a large detailed map of Oxford, England showing the layout of the buildings, parks and fields in relation to the river as they existed in 1902 Forbes.. had obtained it from his friend Apthorp Fuller of Christ Church College, Oxford. His motivation (Forbes' was> that someday Harvard would enjoy a new yard which would be at least reminiscent of the charms of Oxford and Cambridge. Forbes had (also) requested information about the population of the different colleges at Oxford as well as the acreage of the meadows, fields, and parks associated with these colleges".] / remember well Jay Burden of New York, (H '93) who had once been Nelson Perkins' room mate in college, joined us and became a trustee. He made two important successes which went a long way towards making the plan succeed. As / remember it He had raised some [$]200,000 or [$]300,000 largely in small gifts of [$]5,000,[$]10,000 or so as / remember it. Jay boldly went to ten rich New Yorkers and got one of them [each of them] to put in $20,000 making $200,000 an enormous addition. For this money they each had shares of the H.R.Association. / have always remembered one morning in New York while Jay Burden was rounding up the 10-$20,000 men, that there was a meeting. in the office of Mr.(I have forgotten the name). Cam and / were both invited to be present. / was so amused at seeing 12 accomplished magnates and my poor little country boy self seated among them that / was very nervous. My nervousness on some occasions caused me to have "the giggling" as my brothers called it. But though / was nervous as a witch at finding my self sitting is such company yet, fortunately / did not disgrace myself and wreck my plans by a fit of the giggles. [Forbes had asked Perkins to develop the Prospectus for the fund raising and draft the Deed of Trust. Probably unbeknownst to Forbes, Perkins was in correspondence with President Eliot as regards statements in both documents. On February 28, he wrote to Eliot, "I hand you a new draft of the prospectus / have changed [it] to meet your views," and on March 5th, said in another letter to Eliot: "I note the suggestion you made on the second page [of the draft Prospectus] and will incorporate it." [In the meanwhile, Forbes was experiencing difficulties in raising his portion of the subscription. He was asking donors for small sums, $1,00 to $5,000. Perkins wrote to him at the end of March, "You can get the Boston in small amounts. / must confess it seems to me necessary that we shall get some big 8/10/2018 The Land on Which Lowell was Built I Lowell House succeeded in getting options on nearly all the really important land and now the question of getting money has become immediately pressing. It has become evident that someone with more experience than Edward Forbes is needed. Men who should be subscribing at least $10,000 are giving only $1,000." He then suggested that Lawrence Lowell should not only subscribe but get money as well and wrote, "what is needed is a man of property and sufficient age to be on intimate terms with other rich men." It is ironic that Eliot rejected the idea of engaging Lowell to assist in raising funds in the Boston area. Lowell, as President of Harvard was eventually the principal beneficiary of the land acquired by the Riverside Associates.] [Perkins, still concerned, wrote again to Eliot: "I think Edward Forbes can be a great deal of use as he has time and is very zealous, but with $500,000 to raise at a time when money is so hard to get as it is now we have to get men who will give more than $1,000."] [The plan was to raise money by selling shares in the Harvard Riverside Associates to subscribers. The largest subscribers were the ten men "on Wall Street" each of whom came in for $20,000. Forbes considered shares in H.R.A. an investment paying 3% per year. Eventually the capitol was to be returned to subscribers when the land was sold to Harvard at the original cost to H.R.A. A number of the New York subscribers did not really expect repayment on their $20,000, and many waived their interest payments. On the other hand, J.P.Morgan, among others, writing in 1908 felt that the Associates had been rather high handed in this matter and caused both Forbes and Perkins to scramble.] [Jay Burden took charge of fund raising in New York and since he needed only ten subscribers, action moved with expedition and was probably complete by the end of March. Before he left to assume his responsibilities in the Philippines, Cameron Forbes had collected $40,000, to implement his proposal to build a park and boulevard along De Wolf Street from Quincy Square to the River. The plan had been held in abeyance in favor of the more extensive proposal of the Harvard Riverside Associates. Edward succeeded in getting the trustees of the De Wolf funds to divert them to his plan through the intervention of Dorr, Concomitantly, Dorr obtained a release for Harvard from the obligation to construct the boulevard which had previously been approved by the Cambridge City Council. Though negotiations for the transfer of these funds to the H.R.A had begun early on, but the actual transfer, now $50,000 was not executed until 1908. At the same time, Eliot promised the City of Cambridge that the land assembled by the Associates would not be takes off the tax roles. This proved to be true only during his presidency since no land title was transferred to Harvard until 1912 when Lowell was in charge.] We had to borrow a large sum of money from some anks.[Sidebars 20-22] [To assemble the parcels, Loring and Coolidge had used both purchase and options with considerable success. On March 16, Loring was able to tell Forbes that he had already bought 322,709 sq. ft leaving only 135,405 more to be secured.] [Arrangements were made to obtain additional cash. The Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York agreed to mortgage at four and a half percent the parcels as acquired for three fifths of the purchase price. Eventually, when land acquisition was reasonably complete these small mortgages would be combined under a single financial umbrella. This point was not reached until the summer of 1906.] [It became obvious by April that expenses were mounting; cash was needed to buy or renew short-term (three month) options, interest on the moirtgages for taxes, as well as for maintenance of property. Malignly, as the Associates improved their property, the City of Cambridge increased the assessed valuation and hence the taxes. The original plan had been to service the mortgages from rental income from the parcels that contained rentable housing. In the event, the income from rents failed to cover expenses.] We had to find money to pay interest on these loans. Jay Burden suggested that / should find a large number of guarantors, some promised 100 a year for 10 years, some 100 a year for 5 years and some 50 a year for ten years and some fifty a year 5 years. / spent a great deal of time principally in Boston and New York in finding a large number of guarantors. [On May 3, 1903 the Trustees initiated what was called the "Guarentee Fund" to be managed by the City Trust Company of Boston. The subscribers, eventually 100 in number, committed their sums as a maximum amount which could be called up annually by the Trustees to meet any deficiencies in the accounts of the H.R.A.. Apparently the guarantor program was successful. Account books of the H.R.A show substantial income from the guarantors.] [On the 29th of June, 1903, George Baker in a letter to Forbes, acknowledged that the subscription of $400,000 was complete. By the time that the Trustees registered the Harvard Riverside Associates Deed of 8/10/2018 The Land on Which Lowell was Built I Lowell House New York, and $465,000 from mortgages and acquired 78 parcels. While in letters and some documents Forbes speaks of stock to be issued to subscribers, neither the Forbes files nor the Harvard Archived contain 7. any paper that could be considered a stock certificate. It is questionable that such ever existed.] At times things would move along smoothly. / was able to get a job of school teacher at Middlesex School in the winter of 1903-04. During those lonely weeks / thought of my interests and decided that / did not like school teaching However, in the spring of 1904 / decided to go from literature to art. / had for nine years or SO felt that English literature would be my field and / had gone to Oxford to study that. However during the lonely years of the spring of 1904 / decided to change and go from literature to art. / went abroad that summer with my mother and aunt and [then] spent November again at Naushon on account of my health. In the next two years / went abroad to study art from February to June, all that my health would stand. And worked on Harvard R.A. while at home. In the summer of 1908 [it was actually 1906] my mother invited me to go with her and four girls to visit my brother in the Philippines. Before setting out, / got engaged to one of them, Margaret [Laighton of Boston] We were all to start in November but a crisis came in the affairs of the H.R.A. so / could not go with them, and stayed and begged money until well into September. [It turned out that he continued fund raising until December 7] We were all to start [on our trip to the Philippines] in November, but a crisis came in the affairs of the H.R.A., so / could not go with them, and stayed and begged money until well into December when / had got enough to make Nelson Perkins and Harold Coolidge allow me to go to join the others and get married in my brother's house in Manila. [The record here is not clear and several versions of the events are available. In 1990 the Cambridge Historical Commission contracted with Sharon Cooney to write a detailed history of the Harvard Riverside Associates. Her excellent rendering when read in conjunction with details found in the Forbes Memorial published by the Fogg Museum in 1971 are helpful in gaining a useful picture of a very complex series of events .Both documents agree that in the fall of 1906 there was what Forbes saw as a crisis in the affairs of the H.R.A. demanding immediate and protracted fund raising. Income was insufficient to carry the large mortgage. Forbes' letters to Cameron and to his fiance written during the fall of 1906 give a perspective of events that no historian has been able to capture.] / have told in the 1945 version of my story how dismayed / was that J. Burden disregarded our appeals to notify the ten New Yorkers that we were about to give away their shares to Harvard. / begged Nelson and Harold to let me go down to tell the New York helpers what was happening as Jay did not do it. But for some reason they would not let me do it. [His letters indicate that he did finally go to New York.] [Records of that period indicate that the concern of Forbes was that there were insufficient resources to service the mortgage. The danger was that and the Mutual Life Insurance Company which held a mortgage of $485,000 might foreclose. The solution was to pay off the mortgage Coolidge had paid $865,000 for the property. New York and Boston had given a total of $400,000. If Harvard could be persuaded to provide a $300,000 mortgage, execution of this plan meant that the H.R.A. had to raise $185,000 That was where Forbes came in.] [This letter, appears to have been written in late summer, 1906, to Cameron, who presumably was awaiting his boat to carry him to Manila to take up his post as Governor General of the Philippians. "I am trying to get the DeWolf money. All the committee [men] that / have seen so far are in favor of the idea; but there is a complication in as much as Pres. Eliot has told the city authorities that the sum was ready and he will have to tell them that the plan is being withdrawn. We are not quite ready yet to have them know so much. But / think there will be no trouble eventually. / have been trying to get the University Associates to help us The best / have been able to get out of them at the present is that they will buy, if we like, such land as we cannot afford and verbally agree to let us have it at a reasonable price. An agreement that would not bind their successor. If that is the best they can do / think that we can only use them as a last resort, Give my 8/10/2018 The Land on Which Lowell was Built I Lowell House love to any San Francisco investor who want to come in on the ground floor of a hot stuff four percent investment".] [To Cameron, now in the Philippines, September 3, 1906. "But the Harvard Riverside Associates will probably keep me hard at work for the next three months or so this winter and / ought to have a good long spell in Germany working on their language and their galleries. The H.R.A. thing is a thing that has got to be done; and / may be kept at it till the time when / must dash straight to Europe. Then there is the art museums, and my work in general. So, / do not yet see much chance of a loop hole." [To Cameron. "Boston, Oct. 25th 1906 / do not remember just how much / told you. / have since sent you a telegram telling of my engagement to Margaret Laighton. / asked you not to reply by cable because / do not want it known for some weeks. Margaret goes off with Mama and / have got to take of my coat and work for some weeks on the Harvard Riverside matter. Also, / am going to beg for the Art Museum [presumably the Fogg Museum]. / hope / can catch one of these boats Nov. 20 Nov.30 or Dec 7th or at worst Dec. 14 or 21'] [Forbes had written this note: "Letters from E.W.F. to Margaret Laighton who had gone to Manila with his mother who was waiting for him to come so that they could be married."] [Pride's Crossing Nov., 1906 "Yesterday afternoon / came down here and spent an hour or two with your mother at Mrs. Swift's. Then she drove over with me to Harold Coolidge's where / spent the night"] [ "I started in to beg day before yesterday. / made a bad beginning by getting 4 refusals. But one of them telephoned that he had changed his mind after Harold Coolidge had got after him. So that / got $10,000 the first day. The second day / got 12,000 but 9000 came from our family / had rather an amusing time in the evening. / asked Harold and his wife whether there any people along the North shore who might give me money. Mrs. C. took to it like a duck to water and canvassed the whole shore in their minds telling me who had money."] ["As a result of my evening's entertainment / decided not to go to Boston in the morning. and went to Topsfield. So / planned a novel day of dashing about among these swell houses. It proved to be a delicious clear cold northwest day. / took the train to West Manchester and walked up to the house of Cam's friend. / ought to have phoned first. But it worked out well Wasn't home; but his mother came down. She offered me the automobile to take me to two other places which was just what / wanted. So, / gaily set forth talking French with the chauffeur. At one of the places / got 3,000 from a Philadelphian who would have been hard to catch elsewhere. At the other place / got nothing / telephoned Mrs. Proctor to tell her / planned to hired an automobile at Beverly Farms She said, "Oh no, / will send mine over" Of course / was duly surprised and humble, but again it was just what / wanted !!! You did not know what a horrible schemer you had accepted. So, / lightly leapt into the "bubble" and sped off through Wenham and Hamilton which / had never seen before, and stopped at two houses; alas- to find the victims out.. [ "He [Peter Proctor] took me out for a drive to the village of Topsfield and had just showed me the house of his great grand father, Emerson, the brother of my great great grandfather, Emerson, when the pair of horses took fright at something and got the jump on P and ran into the sidewalk throwing him out of the wagon. The horses started to run across an open common. / leaned way out forward over the dasher to try to catch the reins from the horses' backs; but just as / was almost touching them the horses wheeled at right angles, and of course / was off my balance so / was thrown out too. / landed on my hands and knees and bruised one knee. / ran to Peter who was lying on the ground semiconscious and dazed. But he was not badly hurt. A kindly man took us into his wagon and drove us towards the house and presently the automobile came out flying to the rescue."] [ "So, / did not have a very successful day as / missed several of the people / was trying for It must seem to you as if money was my only interest. / am thinking and talking money so much But / am like the person who is determined to get to a place and whose horse baulks and bucks and kicks and so perforce pay attention to the horse rather than to the distant city he sees ahead and longs to reach".] [Milton, November 2,1906 "I wrote yesterday about my expedition in automobiles etc. and my well deserved retribution for my sins. My knee is very much better today. It was lucky that / did not hurt my tongue, n'est-ce pas? / can get along without my knee much better than by tongue just now. Think what a sad plight / would be in if / had dislocated my tongue and sprained my outstretched hand with the hat in it / had a record day and got $19,000 which brings me to $44,000, 4 ahead of time (time consists of ten a day) / have now got up to $57,000 at the end of 5 day's work. It looks now as if / really might get off on the Dec 7th boat / go to New York on Wednesday night, and hope to have $100,000 before / start and to get $100,000 in three days there !!!. Nothing like having modest expectations."} [New York, November 8th, 1906. "I have just arrived in here in New York + waiting for J. Burden our New York trustee to come and talk with me. / hope pretty definitely in a few days how things are going. / have got about $70,000 so far in Boston and several are undecided, / have not seen. So, / expect to get $100,000 out of the guarantors with some foundation. If so, all should go well'] ["New York, November 9 th My first day in New York was not a great success. / found only a few and only got one to accept. So, $1500 was my pitiful little day's work / hope for better things today." [ "November 10, / have only got $2,500 definitely as the result of three days work. But many are thinking it over and / think my three days work is really more $20,000 when they all decide / shall have to stay here at least two or three days longer. / have got only about $75,000 definitely promised, but / think / know where about $40,000 more is coming from among the people / have seen and others who are pretty sure to say "yes". And / want at least $200,000. When shall be able to come still hope for Dec. 7th."] 8/10/2018 The Land on Which Lowell was Built I Lowell House [Also on November 13 to "Cam: I am at Mary Amorey's struggling away with my Harvard R.A. proposition. You know we are trying to put the thing on a sound basis. We have a $485,000 mortgage out, and if they 9. foreclose we are likely to lose everything."] ["Milton, Nov.20th, / am disgusted tonight. Nelson Perkins and Harold Coolidge say it will be out of the question for me to go on the seventh About $110,000 raised-- -$140 more to raise. Desperation. Where is it all going to come from ? How can / do it even before the 14th ?? / am beginning to feel blue about it."] [The money is coming in steadily and / am pretty sure / can succeed. But that is just the trouble. / foresee that by the 1st (when / should have to leave to sail on he 7th). / shall probably have about 130,000 or 150,000. On the 7th / shall probably have 180 or 200,000'] ["And then / fear it will drag on very slowly and if it proves that / must stay up to 250,000 it may take two or three weeks more to get that"] ["Concord, Nov. 20th, Despair? / don't think / can escape till the 14th."] ["Nov 30th, When will this end ? How long must / be sacrificed to this wretched great white elephant of a land ? It rides me like Sinbad's old man of the sea. If / could only meet it on a dark night ! But what is the use of bemoaning ? The only thing to do is to achieve, to accomplish, to arrive...' '] ["The situation is very complex now,+ big interests are involved. / am so tired of talking and thinking about it that / will not say much; but you and Cam may like to know the outlines. / will give you the more technical part of the facts for Cam's benefit.] [/ had expected great things from J. Burden in New York about 10 days ago; perhaps 50,000 in two or three days. At last, word came that Mr. Twombly, and some of the original subscribers objected to our prfound [? proposed ] organization. Thereupon Nelson said he would force J. to bring them into line when he saw them at the Yale game. But he didn't. J. Made a proposition for the Harvard corporation to help us.] [Nelson on the following day brought that to the Corporation and they refused and made another which we could not accept.. Then / went to New York to try to make J. Burden work. He said the situation was rather serious, that the rich men of Wall St. were rather hot with the Corporation. They have given very generously to the Teacher Endowment Fund and to this scheme, and they feel that the Corporation is small petty and narrow. They say that the Corporation must come forward and help us, and J. Burden says the Corporation must at least give us a mortgage of 300,000 at 3 1/2% to satisfy the New Yorkers." ["He talked over the phone to Nelson and said Nelson seemed to understand and favor his point of view. So, / returned + then came thanksgiving. To day / have seen Nelson + he got Charlie Adams, the treasurer to come in and / point[ed] out to them the danger they were in from a row with Wall St."] ["Charlie is SO very conservative that he saw all sorts of objections to the plan that didn't seem to me to have much force. Oh, if only they would brace up and do something or if the Wall St. people would not be insistent just at this point on small matters what a blessing it would be for me."] ["But here is a matter of some importance; in a way brought about by me and / have got to see it through. The principal thing that worries me and makes me mad about it is that it takes so much time. / am going to see the President (Eliot) to morrow and try to convince him and to make him hurry up."] ["The next Corporation meeting is not till Monday Dec. 10th so unless / can force them to have a special meeting before, / can not sail on the 14th. Damnation- And if the Corporation decides the wrong way / don't know when / can come. Hell Please excuse the above."] ["Of all pieces of miserable luck Nelson has just gone off an a vacation till Tuesday night. He says he will probably have to see the New Yorkers before the Corporation meeting. So, / don't see how we can have that meeting before Thursday in any case."] ["If the Corporation accepts the proposition however, / can go off flying for / have raised about 125,000 and can soon get some 20,000 more / think and J. Burden can easily get the remaining 20,000 or 30,000 that will be necessary."] ["Milton, Dec. 2nd / saw President Eliot yesterday + had an interesting talk. / hope / had some effect on him. / had the nerve to ask him to call a special Corporation meeting about this matter. He gave me leave to ask Charlie Adams to do it. If all goes well / may yet sail on the 14th / am now a little cheered up. / see by looking at the sailing list that even if / don't get off till Dec. 23 / can still get to Manila by [ At the end of this letter Forbes made the following notation "December 6: Corporation Meeting 7: $130,000 promised 8: RR train 14: Sailed in the S.S. China" ] [On the 6th of December 1906, the Corporation did indeed convene a special meeting and voted that the "the treasurer was at liberty to take a three and a half percent mortgage of $300,000 on the real estate held by the Harvard Riverside Associates" There is no record to indicate whether or not Forbes was privy to this information before he left for Manila. Certainly Perkins must have known. Two years had to pass before Harvard executed the mortgage and the Associated had to soldier on during that period .In 1908, the Income from rentals was $28,942 and guarantors paid $18,139, but fees, taxes and maintenance expenses continued to make foreclosure of the mortgage a threatening possibility.] [On January 29,1907 Forbes married Margaret in Manila and set off on a European honeymoon. From Florence, ever attentive to the H.R.A., he wrote to Cam in May of that year: "I have telegraphed home from Rome to ask if the H.R.A. needed me this June and the reply came to stay till July if / chose. So, / suppose 8/10/2018 The Land on Which Lowell was Built I Lowell House [Apparently, until the H.R.A had obtained all of the $185,000 in order to retire the New York mortgage Harvard was reluctant to proceed with its own mortgage of $300,000 When he left for Manila and for his wedding and European honeymoon, Forbes thought he had in hand $130,000 which he had so desperately collected along the North Shore of Boston and in New York. When he returned from abroad in early July, this sum had dwindled to $20,000, many of the promises of gifts apparently unfulfilled.] [One explanation for this apparent difference is that of the $130,000 only $20,000 was deemed as a gift and the remainder was merely a pledge. In a letter, January 26,1907, which must have reached Forbes in Manila, or perhaps chased him as he traveled toward Europe with his new bride Perkins says "when you get home [you must] see whether you can turn about $100,000 of the $130,000 that you raised into an absolute gift".] [Soon after he was back in the United States, Forbes began to consider his responsibility for "begging" for contributions. One of his first acts was to write to all the guarantors, asking that they fulfill their pledges immediately rather than waiting for five or ten years as originally intended.] [In a letter to Cam, Forbes now in Milton, summarized the situation as he visualized in early March 1908: "I am going to telegraph you about the Harvard Riverside Associates, today probably. Nelson tells me / must be back to beg in spite of bad times; because an opera house is being started, and / must get ahead of it. / wish the opera house subscription would wait for another year because / can't wait." ] ["Our scheme is this. Last year you remember / worked on a scheme for keeping the thing going indefinitely by issuing preferred stock for new money and getting the University to take the mortgage. Twombly and others killed that just on the verge of success., Now. We propose once and for all to get rid of the land and have the College take it.] ["The mortgage is $485,000. The college will take 300,000. We have on hand $20,000. / must raise $165,000. Mr. Hemenway and / decided to start by trying to get 20 men at $5,000. So far / have only been at it a few days. / have begun with people / felt pretty sure of, so as to have an amount to start with that will encourage the others. / have got so far $30,000. / feel pretty sure / can get sixty or seventy thousand fairly quickly. Then will come the tug."] [Perkins and Forbes considered letting the mortgage be foreclosed and then buying back the land at "fire sale" prices. They had paid $865,000 for the properties which in 1906 were worth only $515,000.Th approach was rejected on several scores.] [March 19,1908: Perkins decided that it was in the interest of Harvard to get the subscribers to assign their stock over to the trustees of the H.R.A because reorganization was about to occur when the Trust would expire in coming summer. have just gotten the paper which Nelson prepared. It was sent to Washington and New York for Bacon's (now Secretary of State) and Burden's signature. / am expecting it back from Amory Gardner today with signatures Then / can really take my coat off and start in."] [March 19,1908 "We have at present $85,500"] ["We have got only 99,000 to raise. / feel sure the College will pay 25,000 more than their 300,000 though they have not committed themselves. / am trying to get 20 men at 5,000 but / doubt that / can. / think it will probably come in smaller units. We have decided that it is best to have the Trustees hold the land and the University the mortgage."] [Letting the trustees hold the land reflected the desire on the part of the University to avoid exacerbating the tussle with the City of Cambridge whenever land was takes off the tax roles. At this time the H.R.A welcomed receiving the $50,000 remaining from Cameron's DeWolf project.] Concomitantly Coolidge had written to Forbes that the Associate controlled all but 17,500 sq. ft. of the original plan to acquire 8,114sq. ft.] [On Independence Day, 1908, Forbes wrote to Cam: "The Harvard River Associates is practically finished. / had hoped to be able to telegraph you that all the money was raised but owing to J. Burden's failure to do anything we have not got all yet. / have raised about $154,000 and J. Burden 1,000. On Class Day J. told Nelson that he thought he could get ten thousand more. But / have not heard from him since. Though / have written to him begging him to let me know what he had got.' [In the summer of 1908, the Harvard River Associates expired, and on July 11, the trustees turned their holdings over to a new entity, the Harvard Riverside Trustees. Bacon resigned as a trustee and three new trustees were added: Harold Coolidge (of Loring & Coolidge,) Frank Appleton of New York and Samuel Vaughn. The purposes of the H.R.A. Trust continued: "to ensure the management and development of the Trust estate in such a manner as the trustees believe to be for the best interests of Harvard University; but the authorities of the said University shall have no right to direct the trustees or control their actions except as herein expressly provided." The Harvard River Trustees now controlled the parcels assembled by the Harvard River associates.] [Perkins wrote to Forbes in early August 1908 that approximately $165,000 was in the till. In the fall, Coolidge had reduced the New York mortgage to $345,000 a debt which Harvard had assumed at a rate of 4%. The Harvard mortgage was later reduced to $300,000. At this point, the debt in New York was cleared.] [In early November, 1908, President Eliot announced his retirement and six months later, Lowell became acting President. His accession to the "throne" on, October 9, 1909, marked a new and helpful attitude in University Hall. Lowell had building plans.] 8/10/2018 The Land on Which Lowell was Built I Lowell House / cannot remember why, but / do remember that occasionally we had meetings and Lowell was with us. Speaking of President Lowell, the first time that / met him was while President Eliot was still at the helm. / had not known Mr. Lowell, but somebody told me that he was rich and generous. So, / called on him and begged for money. He immediately promised $5,000 ( or is it $8,000 ). Then we fell to talking. He had even then the idea of Freshmen Dormitories / am quite sure. That was surprise to me; for / had thought in terms of the Oxford Cambridge Colleges. But we both agreed that we ought to have the land. [Sidebar 23] [The new Trustees made arrangements to convey part of their holdings to Harvard on January 5,1911 This first trench covered the property from Mill Street east to west from Boylston Street ( now J.F. Kennedy Street ) to De Wolf Street and south to the River This is the current northern boundary of Lowell House. This portion of the Trustees' holdings provided the land upon which President Lowell could build his long sought after Freshmen Dormitories.] [By deed in 1912, the Trustees turned the remainder of their holdings to the College and this property included the land upon which Lowell house was built.] [Sidebar 24-25] Cambridge, MA February 20, 2002 Dr. Charles U. Lowe '42 CharlesULowe@aol.com The following photographs are Courtesy of the Cambridge Historical Commission: [4] Bainbridge Bunting and Robert H. Nylander, Survey of Architectural History in Cambridge: Old Cambridge.(Cambridge, Mass., 1973) [5] Cambridge Planning Board Collection, Cambridge Historical Commission [6] Cambridge Historical Commission [10] Cambridge Historical Commission [14] Cambridge Historical Commission [15] Cambridge Historical Commission The following photographs are courtesy of Harvard University Archives: [1], [7], [13], [16] The following photographs are courtesy of the Cambridge Historical Society: [2], [3], [9], [12], [13], [19], [20], [21], [22], [24], [25] Portrait of Edward Forbes at the time he graduated from Harvard [1] Harvard and the River, 1890 [2],[3] Earliest Map of Cambridge, 1670 [4] 8/10/2018 The Land on Which Lowell was Built I Lowell House 11. View from the Charles River, looking toward the site of Winthrop House. Lowell House is behind Winthrop. [6] Photograph of Edward Forbes as director of the Fogg Museum (circa 1940) [7] Letter from Cameron to Edward in Florence, April 4, 1902, Describing Details of the Plan: [8] Dedham Polo Club, April 4, 1902 W. Cameron Forbes to E.W.F in Florence. [Edward Forbes was in Florence recovering from a concussion he had suffered while playing rugby at Oxford] Do you know the question of improving Harvard has come up actively + I only wish you were here to put your shoulder to the wheel. The present plan is to build a boulevard from the Harvard Union ( Quincy Square + Beck Hall ) directly to the River This will need a subscription of $50,000 from Harvard people. The City + the State + Park Commission etc. will put up $150,00 or more I think. I have been put on the committee to bull the thing--will send you a circular soon. I am by no means satisfied with the project and have suggested an alternative that a syndicate of 10 men to be got together who will agreed to put up $50,000 each to buy the land to be improved not only by this boulevard but by the River park. All that they get in fact between DeWolf [this boulevard] + Boylston [ Now Kennedy Street]. I have agreed to be one of the 10 (+expect my family will stand in with me.....) Understand this is not a gift. We buy the land + hold to be given to the University at cost if they want it. You know this was done in the case of the Medical School. I don't know whether you have heard about that. A fine tract of land was purchased + held by sundry Boston Gentlemen for the purpose. Last summer Mr. J. P. Morgan gave the University a million dollars to start the Medical School. Rockefeller gave it another million this autumn conditional upon our raising $750,00 more which has been done + that with the previous fund + the value of the old buildings which will be sold will give the establishment $5,000,000. How's that for high. Now I want these same men who held that land + who are now released of that obligation to do the same thing at Cambridge and hold it until some one comes along with five million for an architectural school. The Harvard Library is in a bad way now + they need an even million or more for that. I see by the paper that Cecil Rhodes has left [a] provision for two scholarships at Oxford for every state in the United States. This strikes me as a very noble + enlightened philanthropy as it should promote harmony + fuller understanding between two nations. Well old chap, farewell + get well +remember I am yours always. The Plan of Cameron Forbes [9] Old Mill Pier [10] Bunting has described the River banks: [11] "They were a mixture of modest residences and commercial buildings and its river front was clogged with an assortment of wharves, coal yards, storehouses and a power plant" Photos of Charles River Area [12],[13],[14],[15] The Salt Marshes of the Charles River [16] 8/10/2018 The Land on Which Lowell was Built I Lowell House Letter from Harvard President 12. Charles W. Eliot [17] March 5,1903 Dear Mr. Forbes; The President and Fellows are of the opinion that the plan set forth in the draft of a prospectus sent to me yesterday by Mr. Thomas Perkins would if it were carried into execution would confer a great benefit to the College. It would give the College good access to the great public improvements contemplated or already executed on the Charles River and its two banks and it would convert the region between Mt. Auburn Street and the River between Boylston Street and De Wolf into a handsome well laid out district, with none but good buildings well arranged upon the grounds. To effect this great change in the present condition of that territory would contribute very much to the dignity and pleasantness of the surroundings of the University. The University cannot at present appropriate any of its funds or income to the promotion of this admirable plan; but it is quite within the range of its present experience that it should be hereafter provided with money which will enable it to avail itself of te thoughtful and ingenious provisions of the plan devised to secure a great benefit to the College. A somewhat similar adventure on the part of twenty friends of the Medical School has resulted in the acquisition by that school of an admirable site for its new buildings, and other great advantages for medical education and research. The President and Fellows will be very glad to hear that the undertaking described in the paper above referred to has been successfully accomplished, and they feel that thereby very important and very fitting provision has been made for the future growth of the University. Very truly yours, Charles W. Eliot Letter from Overseer H.L. Higginson [18] February 25, 1903 My dear Mr. Forbes; I have your letter of February 24, together with the prospectus of which you spoke. The plan seems to me very good, so far as the College is concerned; that is to say it cleans up part of Cambridge, and promises to make it more beautiful, and to open the College Yard, as it were, down to the river. It is a fine and worthy object for the graduates; and the money will pay a high rate of interest--not in pennies, but in a coin to be used after pennies have disappeared. Very truly yours H.L.Higginson Map Sent to President Eliot [19] Forbes' Working Map of Acquisitions: Harvard Property and lots to be Secured Page 1 [20] Forbes' Working Map of Acquisitions: Harvard Property and lots to be Secured Page 2 [21] Assessors' Map of 1903: Area of Cambridge of Forbes purchases [22] Letter to Forbes from Coolidge Regarding meeting with Lowell (not yet president) [23] May 25, 1908 8/10/2018 The Land on Which Lowell was Built I Lowell House Dear Edward; 13. I saw Lawrence Lowell on Friday and had a very satisfactory talk We want to have a trustees' meeting as soon as possible at which meeting President Lowell will present his views to the Trustees. I want to leave it to him to appoint the date of the meting, but this is to ask you to let me know in general when to will be convenient for you to have it. I am going to be away myself from the 14th to the 29th of this month, but can call it any time after the 19th and before August 1st that will suit President Lowell. How does this strike you? Yours always, Harold J. Coolidge Deed to Lowell House Land Page 1 [24] Deed to Lowell House Land Page 2 [25] Verizon Yahoo! Mail eppster2@verizon.net Page 1 of 2 Verizon Yahoo! Mail Verizon Central Yahoo! Search YAHOO! Welcome, eppster2@verizon Mail Home Tutorials verizon MAIL [Sign Out, Member Center ] Help Addresses Calendar Notepad What's New - Mail For Mobile Options Check Mail Compose Search Mail Search the Web Folders [Add - Edit] Previous Next Back to Messages Inbox Delete Reply Forward Spam Move. Draft This message is not flagged. Flag Message - Mark as Unread Printable View Sent Date: Thu, 06 Apr 2006 22:51:16 -0400 (EDT) Bulk (2) [Empty] Trash CharlesULowe@aol.com Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert [Empty] From: My Folders Subject: Re: Harvard Riverside Associates [Hide] To: Eliz messages eppster2@verizon.net Member Information Dear Mr. Epp; Ron messages I am not sure where I found out who Dorr was but it probably was at the Harvard Archives. In writing about the Riverside Associates using the Forbes memoire as a scaffold, I tried to make it a habit whenever possible to identify people he mentions. There is a book at the Archives identifying Harvard people, members of the Corporation, Overseers, faculty, etc., up to 1936. I may have found Door there. My guess is that since my Dorr was a member of the Corporation he will be in that book. In addition, the Archives may have a file on Dorr since he was a Harvard heavy. They may be willing to tell you by phone whether there is a file with additional information. I don't know whether they will do that but it is worth a try to save a trip. If they won't give phone information, you might risk a trip since the chances are good that they "know" him. Phone of Archives: 617 495 2461 Good Luck. Charles U. Lowe Delete Reply Forward Spam Move http://us.f841.mail.yahoo.com/ym/ShowLetter?MsgId=551_1579557_22210_1897_861_0 4/7/2006 HARVARD UNIVERSITY LIBRARY VE RI TAS Harvard University Archives Pusey Library Harvard Yard Cambridge, MA 02138 T 617.495.2461 F 617.495.8011 May 15, 2008 Ronald H. Epp 47 Pond View Drive Merrimack, NH 03054 Dear Mr. Epp: Barbara Meloni has asked me to respond to your most recent questions regarding George Dorr and the Harvard Riverside Association. Enclosed please find photocopies of the following: -June 29, 1906 letter from Charles W. Eliot to George Dorr from the Eliot Letterbooks (Call number UA I5. 150, Records of Charles William Eliot, Letterbook, May 5, 1903-Dec. 11, 1906, volume 95). -Description of Harvard Riverside Associates series from the Papers of Edward Waldo Forbes (HUGFP 139.16 and HUGFP 139.16pf, 2 boxes). Although the Forbes Papers can be made available for research in our reading room, please be advised that some portions of the collection are stored off-site and advance notice is required to recall specific boxes. If you would like to use this material please email or write to the Archives at least three business days prior to your visit, indicating the boxes of interest, SO that we may have the material on-site in time for your arrival. Sharon Cooney's The Harvard Riverside Association: Land Acquisition South of Harvard Yard, 1903-1918 is 33 pages long. If you would like to order a photocopy of the 5/30/08 8 paper please forward a check for $9.90 (33 pages @ $.30/page), payable to the Harvard University Archives, to my attention at the above address. Sincerely, RobiniCarlow Robin Carlaw Researcher Enclosures UAI 5. .150 Records of Charles Letterbook May 5 1903 - use // 1716, V01.95 130X 61 Dave 15C HARVARD UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES Name Shelf number FORBES, Edward Waldo HUG (FP) 139.16 HUG (FP) 139.16pf Accession number: Volume: Box Folder Bd. Vol. Total See cover sheet 1 1 pf 2 Notes: See also HUD 3748 Title of record series and dates: Papers relating to Harvard Riverside Associates 1902-1958 Arrangement: See folder list below. Description (physical form, special subjects and correspondents, etc) : Founded by EWF in 1902, the Charles River Association, later Harvard Riverside Associates, was dedicated to preserving the landscape between the University and the river. The series consists primarily of correspondence regarding the early years of the organization. Included in the pf folder are maps and drawings detailing plans for the proposed acquisition and development of land. Box 1 Correspondence and other papers 1903-1911 Correspondence and other papers 1912-1915 Correspondence and other papers 1916-1918 Correspondence and other papers 1943-1958 Miscellaneous notes Letterpress volume (indexed) 1903-1909 Pf folder Maps and drawings 1902-1916 30, 643 Millseive Va you 18-1902 Dear my Elist, I am down in North Carolina in Virginia as it Chanen, tought On after hif which Ref Wavis rd are making together whiel I tell you he Order to Efflan My dela, in answer, you lette. of it 12th giving Mr a list of name of New York men for MU philosophical Committee I thanks had best leave the matter Uni till they return, When I Can Consult Mr Auste toh about it as you Sug- get I think a New York man who 11 mild be of influence mong the new York Men of think should culauly Human upon the Committee if he will, because of his wide reading in philosophy j the thinght study be has given 5 the subject I spoke is The adaws about Increasing the Committe this way r usaw no objective W it, if we could find the night than - We have $63.200_ pledged toward Hall at present, but I direct one power W Complete the Subscribtion away Rottu men alen. with regard 18 the proposed approad from the nives, tell ym ifact, Where Uu stand as I have list been able to get as get an, definite statement from its men who have lake change of the New York Sub- scriptens, but I believe I am lafe a saying that not less than $33000- or 44000 have "ww been aind We all_ and I feel that to this Case the of make a shert hill together thing out Milehell While Shuetting of the fact region mind about it Sincerely yours, Gings R. Dodge President Charl. W. Eliot Hervan's University 30 1702 643 Dear Sr I beg leave LO acknowledge .1. 31 tion of the Harvard Approach Fund The President is now 1ii in York but ex pocts to return to Cambridge temerrov night end I shall bring your letter prompt Ground them George B K Dorr Egq. 643 Datesed University Centrades December 29, 1902 Dear Sir I the telogram sent to President Elist with your Zeliser of I 27th Pay truly your E Secretary to George B Doz Esq Enclosure [12/27/1902] 643 18 Commonwealth Avenue. My dea President Elist Ihave just got the Inclosed telegram from Mr affleton and in new of the subfect it offers I have 4w question that $40000 Can be Counted are, between Rodton View York and Could be soon actually failed if this would lusure the recommen daten V probable adoften of au - Sincerely Your, Dee 271902 is December 29.0 10/02 18 Commonwealth Avenue. 643 My dea President Usit The Situation in put This unit regard is the Hanand Approach fund ! only $31000 have been actually subscribed, , and affection whom as you know. I telegrabled you list IS be able IS off ust less than $40000 of pollible on has officed a bebay of the New York men Th Shan unit us here in make / of the deficing so as is give you call for - This does you assurance of its he amount in a letter whier I gst from him after I sunt yun out his Alegram- that is 5 day, , be is willing fn vailin, one half of 4/1000 to make liming referencial will vaise the other half- h New York if us here This in seems 15 her we 3. the whole amount needed on item basis has been raised get abroad / in the paper, as du would make it doubly difficult for us Is get the many - and might in lear us thank good a good portion at learN of its deficit our- selver- appleta writer the that the demand luads by the Harrand Cleak eftenden in New York upon the this york then thake it difficult, be finds, git them, for this 18 Commonwealth Avenue. I understand the profession 15th plan unds consideration, wide of its Avenue, / according to le lighty feel i I think the will le Sufficient for rfn approach the effect we Luky or been / a parkway rust a teaming road , but less than the would In Inadequats, I feel rl also doubt if all Sub- devittion while an have would be confirmed for an avenue of less widel item.. its. _ affecten ask. the Is lethin kum as early as possible what the action of the board June lle-, is, So that he way lote 410 these in raise, the among needed, if the decision is fainable is New approach, while de matter is first - and for the fame Halon I Hould be glad w know of it Myself- Insti in ma, go through successfully. l as Sincerely Your 5 them. however The ground I got him is with draw upon Was the officialis he would, culturely leave (s lucenter to the legislation from the Summer V then subsequent hostilig build Mr Drog arranged the interes View Wh of he should succede in gette leave 15 present at it and I law had a tile- grow from him today La, in that in view of this the Mumism pilition also would be withdrawn OBii) HARVARD UNIVERSITY 1960 AN INVENTORY FOR PLANNING VE RI TAS HARVARD UNIVERSITY PLANNING OFFICE Cambridge President Fellows of Harvard College, 1960. these buildings along with Holworthy Hall (1), built in 1812, and proposed sites for six additional build- ings. University Hall (6) was designed in 1815 by Bulfinch and constructed on the site proposed in this plan. Arthur A. Shurtleff wrote of these and other buildings to be added to the Yard in the two cen- turies following. "There is certainly nothing novel in the scheme upon which these buildings are grouped. Their placing was so much a matter of commonplace in the days before the Revo- lution that almost no documentary record was made of it. Nevertheless, the persis- tency with which the scheme was carried out quarter century after quarter century indicates the important place it held in the minds of the upbuilders of the young Univer- sity. It is SO admirable a unit that imme- diately when the word Harvard is pronounced to one who has seen this quadrangle, a strong and pleasing image of it comes to mind." 1 SUGGESTIONS FOR THE ORDERLY ARRANGEMENT OF THE GROUNDS OF HARVARD COLLEGE Frederick L. Olmsted, Jr. 1896 Several proposals to construct the Charles River Dam were made about the turn of the century. This dam would create the Charles River Basin and insure the conversion of the salt marshes and mud flats along the river to stable park lands. "Plans recently prepared by Frederick L. Olmsted, Jr. and reproduced in an adjacent column will provoke the interest of those Harvard alumni who agree with him that a new approach to the Yard from the Charles might better the whole aspect of the Univer- or GROUNDS OF HARVARD COLLEGE Frederick L. Olmsted, Jr. 1896 Several proposals to construct the Charles River Dam were made about the turn of the century. This dam would create the Charles River Basin and insure the conversion of the salt marshes and mud flats along the river to stable park lands. HARVARD "Plans recently prepared by Frederick L. Olmsted, Jr. and reproduced in an adjacent column will provoke the interest of those Harvard alumni who agree with him that a new approach to the Yard from the Charles might better the whole aspect of the Univer- sity. Minor changes in the planning of the University property would serve to lend grandeur to this undying feature and would enhance the dignity of Harvard's topographic situation."2 The approach to the Yardfrom the Charles River was only one feature of this plan. One can recog- nize the numerous buildings (lightly shaded) pro- posed for future expansion of the College in the Yard and north of the Yard. Langdell Hall (1908, 1928-29) and Widener Library (1914-15) are the only existing buildings which bear similarity of site and bulk to these many proposals. HARLES RIVER 1. The College Yard - - Harvard University, Arthur A. Shurtleff, Instructor of Landscape Architec- NOV 1896 ture, 1904. SUGGESTIONS FOR THE 2. Harvard Alumni Bulletin, May 15, 1948, Re- ORDERLY-ARRANGEMENT-OF-THE-CROVNDS OF HA creation of 1898 publication. PLANNING OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY STUDY FOR DIGNIFIED APPROACH TO HARVARD COLLEGE -- Olmsted Brothers 1901 BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF DE WOLFE PARKWAY Olmsted Brothers 1902 HARVARD YARD The attempt to create a link between the College Yard and the Charles River as proposed by Olmsted reappears with alignment variations in these and later proposals for the development of Harvard College and vicinity. MASSACHUSETTS HARVARD ST. 3/6/1902 QUINCY SQUARE ther "The undersigned, graduates of Harvard, wish to call your attention to a measure now pending, which it is hoped will provide at last the digni- fied and suitable approach to the college grounds for which the need has long been felt. The Charles River Parkway has already been laid KEY MAP ARROW ST. Dria out, and is now being constructed, following the river bank along the Cambridge side, from Har- vard Bridge to a point beyond the bridge cross- ing from Harvard Square to Soldiers Field. This BOW ST. will bring it, as may be seen on the accompany- ing plan, within a short distance of the College Yard. MT. AUBURN ST. "What is now proposed is to construct a wide park-like street connecting this river parkway with Quincy Square, and thus provide a continu- ous driveway, shaded with trees, and free from STUDY FOR DIGNIFIED APPROACH car tracks, from the Harvard Bridge to Harvard TO College. It will also afford a more direct, as HARVARD COLLEGE well as more attractive, route between the Har- DE WOLF ST. AND QUINCY SQUARE vard Union and the University Boat House and SCALE group Soldiers Field." 1 ARROW ST. river bank along the Cambridge side, from Har- vard Bridge to a point beyond the bridge cross- ing from Harvard Square to Soldiers Field. This ST will bring it, as may be seen on the accompany- ing plan, within a short distance of the College Yard. MT. AUBURN ST. "What is now proposed is to construct a wide park-like street connecting this river parkway with Quincy Square, and thus provide a continu- ous driveway, shaded with trees, and free from STUDY FOR DIGNIFIED APPROACH car tracks, from the Harvard Bridge to Harvard TO College. It will also afford a more direct, as HARVARD COLLEGE well as more attractive, route between the Har- DE WOLF ST. AND QUINCY SQUARE vard Union and the University Boat House and SCALE Soldiers Field. 1 JUNE 1901 MILL ST. GRANT ST. RIVERVIEW AV. 08 COWPERTHWAITE ST. 4-4.B It is assumed that the continued interest in the lands along the Charles and their linkage to the College Yard may be attributed in great por- tion to the activities of the Harvard Riverside Ansociates. "The Harvard Riverside Associates, Messrs. Thomas Nelson Perkins 91, Augustus Hemenway '75, Harold J. Cool- idge '92, and James A. Burden '93, led by Mr. Edward W. Forbes '95 solicited con- tributions to acquire property in this area. This organization was eminently success- ful and when the property was turned over to the University in 1909 something over $ 800,000 had been spent on land aquisi- tions. It was in this manner through the initiative of Mr. Forbes and the generosity of alumni that Harvard obtained the sites for the freshman halls and much of the land on which the houses were later erec- ted."2 I A circular letter to the Alumni of Harvard University, March 6, 1902, from George B. Dorr, Secretary and Treasurer of an alumni group. "The Evolving Shape of Harvard," illustrated lecture November 1956, Charles W. Eliot 2nd, Professor of Landscape Architecture. PLAN OF PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS FOR HARVARD SQUARE AND VICINITY E. J. A. Duquesne 1913 A circular letter to the Alumni of Harvard University, March 6, 1902, from George B. Dorr, Secretary and Treasurer of analumni group. "The Evolving Shape of Harvard," illustrated lecture November 1956, Charles W. Eliot 2nd, Professor of Landscape Architecture. PLAN OF PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS FOR HARVARD SQUARE AND VICINITY E. J. A. Duquesne 1913 In February 1912 the Harvard Square Businessmen's Association petitioned the Mayor of Cambridge to request the University to appoint a committee "to prepare a plan or plans as a basis for the present and future development of Harvard Square."1 President Lowell appointed four professors from the Faculty of Architecture to serve on this committee: Messrs. E. J. A. Duquesne, H. V. Hubbard, J. S. Humphreys and H. L. Warren. "A few months later the University agreed to employ Professor Duquesne to prepare the plans. in consultation with the other members of the committee who were contributing their ser- vices."2 The plan reprinted here was prepared by Professor Duquesne to accompany this report of the University Committee. Several committee recommendations which may be identified in this plan include: (a) widening Massachusetts Avenue from Central Square to Harvard Square and widening Boylston Street between the river and Harvard Square, (b) abolishing Riverview Avenue and using the lands for parking along the Charles River Road and to admit the proper placing of the new freshman dormitories parallel to the Charles River Road. These proposed dormitories may be seen along the river and are similar to Smith, Standish, Gore and McKinlock Halls. A proposed open area appears in the plan where Lowell House now stands. In the Yard, Professor Duquesne proposed buildings similar to Memorial Church, Houghton and Lamont Library. Additions to both Hunt and Robinson Halls and the replacement of Boylston Hall with a considerably larger laboratory building were three additional unrealized proposals. 1. Letter to the Mayor of the City of Cambridge (Hon. J. Edward Barry), February 16, 1912, from Mr. John Nolen. 2. "The Future Development of Harvard Square," Report of the University Committee appointed by the President of Harvard University at the request of the Mayor of Cambridge - 1913. 4-4-C Search - Cambridge Public Library Page 1 of 2 00 00 CAMBRIDGE PUBLIC LIBRARY Home Search Titles Dates Help Register Search limited to Simple Search Advanced Search No search filters set "George B. Dorr" Search Cle Search history Refine search Search Results Publication Your search for "George B. Dorr" found 7 results. Showing results 1 to 7. Sort by: Cambridge Tribune (4) ALDERMEN RECONSIDER VOTE ON NEW POLICE DISTRICT ORDER [ARTI Cambridge Chronicle 1 June 1907 Cambridge Chronicle (3) n H. Corcoran and Rev. John J. Ryan, P. R. George B. Dorr, representing the Riversid Category - was- ARTICLE (7) HARVARD ALUMNI [ARTICLE] Cambridge Tribune 12 July 1902 Decade d alumni associations, and already $18,000 has been sent to George B. Dorr, of Bostc 1880-1889 (1) the 1900-1909 (6) Harvard University. Harvard's Finances. [ARTICLE] Word count Cambridge Tribune 21 January 1888 e year there were the following which were over $1000: George B. Dorr estate, $4786. 51-1000 (4) Paine estate, $1600; >= 1001 (3) BOULEVARD PLAN [ARTICLE] Cambridge Tribune 2 February 1907 At a gathering Inst Saturday at the home of George B. Dorr, is Commonwealth avenu was present BOULEVARD PLAN BEING REVIVED [ARTICLE] Cambridge Chronicle 2 February 1907 d at a meeting recently held at the residence of George B. Dorr, 18 Commonwealth av a PROJECT FAVORED [ARTICLE] Cambridge Tribune 8 June 1907 http://cambridge.dlconsulting.com/cgi-bin/cambridge?a=q&hs=1&r=1&results=1&txq=.. 10/31/2013 Search - Cambridge Public Library Page 2 of 2 d College, 50 State St., Boston, June 3, 1907. Mr. George B. Dorr, 18 Commonwealth My Dear FAVOR DE WOLF STREET WIDENING [ARTICLE] Cambridge Chronicle 8 June 1907 , Harvard College, BO State St., Boston, June 3, 1907Mr. George B. Dorr, 18 Common Mai*. My Dear http://cambridge.dlconsulting.com/cgi-bin/cambridge?a=q&hs=1&r=1&results=1&txq=... 10/31/2013 TO BRING HARVARD Symphony Orchestra, presented the univer. sity with Soldiers' Field, the great play- ground of some twenty-two acres on the YARD TO CHARLES Boston side of the river, where the various athletic interests of the university are now permanently established. In other words, the Harvard man of a dozen years ago, un- University Alumni Organization less he happened to be connected with a 'Varsity or class crew, practically never Scures Much of Land Be- went down to the river. while nowadays he is likely to cross it nearly every afternoon tween Present Grounds in Spring and Autumn on his way to the athletic fields. and River. CHANGED CONNDITIONS. This changed condition, which has incl- AMBRIDGE, Mass., Sept. 4.-About 250 dentally strongly emphasized the fact that C years ago one Capt. Johnson. describ- the university, visited annually by thou- ing the then appearance of Harvard sands of tourists. has no thorougly pleas- College, wrote: The scituation of the ant approach from the direction of Boston. Colledg is very pleasant, at the end of a has naturally brought into existence several spacious plain. near a fair navigable river, plans for connecting college and river by environed with many Neighboring Towns an attractive roadway, but these plans have of note, being so near that their houses so far been more expensive than the college join with her Suburbs, the building thought could undertake without outside assistance. by some to be too gorgeous for a Wilder- Meantime there remained the danger that ness and yet too mean in other's appre- the land between the college and the river hension for a Colledg, it is at present in- might at any time be purchased and used larging by purchase of the neighboring for factories or other permanent structures houses." Since that time Harvard, one equally out of harmony with the neighbor- might say, has been chronically " inlarg- ing university and with the purpose of the ing by the purchasing of the neighboring park authorities. The Harvard Riverside HRA houses, or their purchase for her by alumni Associates were organized to prevent this and others interested in the growth of the possibility by acquiring the land and devel- university and in the development of edu- oping it in harmony with both interests. cation. (The latest of these purchases, In other words the newly acquired terri- made in the interest of the university, al- tory. although not owned by the college. though not directly for that institution, will be devoted largely to college purposes. bids fair to restore something of this an- continuing the movement of dormitories to- cient water front and to give the old col- ward the water front and offering an oppor- lege a glimpse of the "fair navigable tunity for the much needed connecting river from which the growth of Cam- boulevard. bridge between the college yard and the This latest change in Cambridge real es- Charles has practically isolated her for tate has, moreover, a broader interest than several generations. even the growth at the university. The Charles River basin has from the beginning LAND ALREADY SECURED. of Greater Boston's park development been During the past Summer a large part of regarded as the natural centre of the sys- the territory necessary, roughly speaking, tem, and although some other parts of the to continue the present Harvard yard plan have been earller put into working op- southward to the banks of the Charles has eration. the most recent efforts are along been acquired by the Harvard Riverside the long-neglected banks of the river. A Associates, an organization made up of movement, for example, is now on foot in several prominent Harvard alumni, with Boston to dam the stream and transform the intention of controlling it in the inter- the river basin into what would be to all ests of the university. As it now stands intents and purposes a beautiful lake, and the land between the college and the river the borders of this prospective lake are represents two distinct strata, and its con- already emerging from the first bareness dition is in Itself self-explanatory of the of newly laid roads and newly planted trees fact, at first glance surprising. that the and shrubs into the orderly charm of natural growth of Harvard has not already pleasant driveways, well kept sea walls, incorporated it. (This growth. however. and pebbly beaches. Cambridge. along has been to the north. away from rather what was once the Harvard water front, than toward the river. largely because such has been one of the important and diffi- has been the line of least resistance. he cult problems of the landscape architects very presence of the college. as well as owing to the unsightly architecture that the fact that the strip of land immediately has grown up between the college and the to the south bordered the main road to river front. The destruction of these build- Boston. early gave the southern boundary ings and the erection of others in harmony a high value as the site of stores and with the modern good taste of college dormitories. and thus placed a financial architecture will eventually change the en- barrier in the way of southward develop- tire character of this part of Cambridge ment as long as the land north of the col- as well as provide a direct and charming lege remained less valuable Beyond this connection between Harvard University and more expensive real estate. and extending. the park system as a whole. until the development within very recent HOW BOSTON WILL BENEFIT. years of the great Metropolitan Park sys- When this actually happens the university tem of which Boston and its neighboring and the park system itself will beat a re- cities is now so justly proud. to the very markable and mutually helpful relation in banks of the Charles, lies a strip of land that practically every department of the given over to the untidy dwellings that so university will be part of development oiten cluster about a water front-to nar- of Boston and its environs by the park row crooked streets. as a well-known system. This relation is already typified Harvard professor wrote some years ago, by the Arnold Arboretum, the great tree flanked with plain frame houses. streets and shrub museum that is an inseparable NO ingeniously constructed that no one of portion of the metropolitan parks, as well them offers so much as a glimpse of the as by the Bussey Institution. The Harvard water from the yard." Agricultural College, whose location is also CAUSES OF PAST NEGLECT. part and parcel of the beautiful chain of Tt must be confessed. however, that until riverways, lakes. and open country that recently the Yard cared very little to begins In the very heart of the city and look at the water. The graduate of a dec- carries the traveler in a great irregular arc until it brings him back to the ocean ade ago can easily remember when not only was the river front unattractive. but the beaches. The Arboretum is managed by inhabitants hostile: and It was not 90 Very Harvard University, and its roads and long ago in the history of Harvard rowing pathways are maintained and policed by that one bridge spanning the Charles was the City of Boston-an arrangement that makes the great tree and shrub museum famous for the pretty girls that gathered to watch the crews pass under it. and a distinct university possession. and yet another. nearer Cambridge, equally famous hospitably opens its gates to all the people of the Commonwealth. for the cohorts of urchins who waited pa- tiently to pelt the oarsmen with rocks, mud. On the Boston side of the Charles also the new Harvard Medical School will soon and other missiles. The development of the Metropolitan Park system, which has now erect that institution in the Boston Fenway, cleared the river banks and is rapidly es- thus adding a new and architecturally beau. tablishing a beautiful driveway along its tiful institution to the famous Back Bay region and a fresh link to the chain of border. combined with an increased student growth by which the university has devel- interest in rowing. no longer as a sport con- fined to the crews that represent the uni- oped from a single building thought by some to be too gorgeous for a wilderness versity in the big races, but as a sport open (I) and participated In by a large body and yet too mean in others' apprehension of students, has reintroduced the Yard to for a college to a metropolitan institu- the river. The final consummation of tion. its various departments separated by closer relations came when Mr. Henry T.. many miles as the bird flies and joined to- gether by the beautiful walks and drives Higginson, who is so well known through- of a splendidly developed system of mu- out the country as the benefactor of the nicipal parks. Published: September 1903 Copyright © The New York Times Recomplete copy 7/31/18 x € OTTEN S PACES ARDY fit OCTOBER 2013 I ANITA BERRIZBEITIA Lou JUDGE JOSEPHLATE SITE OF HOUSLOF Cas. JOWN VANSALL too LANDING (Changes LANDING THATCHES A C PICTORIAL MAP OF CAMBRIDGE 1760 - 177° SHOWING THE RESIDENCES 1 GARDENS DALT Little THE PRINCIPAL CITIZENO OF THE Town the adidas take 400 goo NAMES SHOWN IN PARENTHESIS INDICATE THOSE DESSONS DWELLING HEAL AT ANOTHER DERIOD DATES INDICATE EXISTING OVILDINGS 4 THE TIME or THERE ERECTION BY One QUOCOT B LILLIE MARSH Anita Berrizbeitia. Opon Spaces of Harvard 1636-2013. (2013) REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING: Busquets, Joan, Felipe Correa, Luis Valenzuela, and Harvard University Graduate School, of Design. 2004. Bringing the Harvard Yards to the River. Cambridge, Mass.]: Harvard Design School. Bunting, Bainbridge and Margaret Henderson Floyd. 1985. Harvard An Architectural History. Cambridge, Mass.: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. Cambridge Massachusetts, Playground Committee. The Story of Cambridge Playgrounds in Schoolyards and Public Parks. Cambridge. Clarke, Theodore G., author. 2012. The Charles River A History of Greater Boston's Waterway. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publish- ing, Ltd. Craul, Phillip J., 1932-, Ellyn M. Meyers, Joe Wrinn, Valkenburgh Associates Michael Van, and Planning Group Harvard Uni- versity. 1993. A Master Plan for the Harvard Yard Landscape Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University?. Emmet, Alan, Douglas C. Allen, and Harvard University Department of, Landscape Architecture. 1978. Cambridge, Massachu- setts, the Changing of a Landscape. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University]. Hall, Max. 1986. The Charles, the People's River. 1st ed. Boston: D.R. Godine. Harvard University Department of, Landscape Architecture. 1974. Olmsted's Park System as Vehicle in Boston : Urban Open Space History, Analysis & Proposals, 1875-1975-?. Cambridge, Mass.: Dept. of Landscape Architecture, Harvard University. Harvard University Long Range, Planning Group. 1974. A Long Range Plan for Harvard University and Radcliffe College in Cambridge and Allston. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Planning Office. Houghton, Deborah, Paul Petschek, David Porter, Roy Rudenstine, Stanislaus von Moos, Holyoke Center Harvard University, and Harvard University Department of Visual and Environmental Studies, Student problems. 1973. Holyoke Center,. Cam- bridge, Mass.], Harvard University, Department of Visual and Environmental Studies. Iori, Massimo, 1958- and 1887-1965 Le Corbusier. 1998. Le Corbusier: Carpenter Visual Art Center. Vol. 2. Milano: Unicopli. Johnson, Carol R. and Pete Carey. 2010. Carol R. Johnson : A Life in Landscape. Allston, MA: Daybreak Press. Lambert, Craig and John F. Kennedy. 2005. The Origins of the John F. Kennedy School of Government. Cambridge, Mass.: Ken- nedy School of Government Case Program. Marchione, William, 1942-. 1998. The Charles : A River Transformed. Dover, N.H.: Arcadia. Massachusetts Daughters of the American Revolution Hannah Winthrop chapter, Cambridge Historic guide, to Cambridge. 1907. Cambridge Common in 1776. Cambridge, Mass.: Massachusetts Daughters of the American Revolution. Hannah Win- throp chapter, Cambridge. Mumford, Eric Paul, 1958-, Hashim Sarkis, Neyran Turan, Timothy Hyde, Eduard F. (Eduard Franz) Sekler, and Cammie McAtte. 2008. Josep Lluis Sert: The Architect of Urban Design, 1953-1969. New Haven :Cambridge: Yale University Press ;Harvard University Graduate School of Design.http://hollis.harvard.edu/?itemid=%7Clibrary/m/aleph%7C011508276. Peabody Terrace, Docomomo U.S., ,accessed September 18, 2013. http://www.docomomo-us.org/register/fiche/peabody_terrace Tomfohrde, Karl Martin. 1935. A Public Open Space System for Somerville, Massachusetts, Submitted as Part of a Thesis for the Degree of Master in City Planning, Harvard University, School of City Planning, Cambridge, Mass. Shand-Tucci, Douglass and Richard Cheek. 2001. Harvard University : An Architectural Tour. 1st ed. New York: Princeton Architectural Press. Subscriptions made to Cambridge Parking - giving and amounts subscribed. 1908 May 9 July 15 James J. Higginson, 16 E.41 TY 1, P. T. Brown, 156 5th Ave. 200 00 " 17 H. D. Robbins, 1034 5th Ave. 10 " 23 A. H. Wiggin 42 W. 49th St. 100 " G. V. Knowlton, Jr. 135 Broadway 05 " J. Harsh 10 " I. N. Chelps Stokes 10 " " Harry 7. black 118 E. 22 St. 100 24 Howard C. Smith 27 William St. 10 " " James W. Appletion 45 Wall St. 25 Aug. 1 F. H. Squihn Ipswich, Mass. 50 " 22 78 Beekman St. TO Sep. Chas. LicBurney 5 11 Lawrence Godkin 520 Park Ave. 100 6 E. D. lorgan 36 7.10th St. 25 903 Jan. 7 " Jas. J. Highinson 100 Broadway 250 b 23 Robt. Datoon 16 E. 41 St. " 29 1 Park Avenue CUS Chas. Sanier 1,000 it Feb 3 59 Cedar Street 11 5 Panl Dama 1A 5th Ave. 1,000 11 Chos. S. Fairchild 11 40 Well St. ". Austin Wadsworth 850 " 13 50 Francis Shaw, E. 41st St. Mar 190 3 Lawrence E. Sextion Beason St. costos 100 11 1111 34 Pine St. W. R. Eurtington 100 " Goo. Foster Peabody 43 51 Broadway 25 11 Jos. A. Stetison Exchange 1,000 " Geo. C. Clarke 10 " Louis C. Clarked Clarke Doage " " D. Crawford Clarke Co. 49 Wall St. Amos T. French 4 August Belmont Tuxedo, N.Y. 25 R.P. Perkins 43 Exchange 17. 1,000 " Chas. H. Russell 41 Union Sq. 25 " Chas. O. Brewster 11 Eway. 250 " Frank E. Randall 86 liberty 25 " 6 T. I. Browne, Jr. GO Wall St. 50 11 11 James C. Carter 50 " 23 Geo. E. Turmure 54 Wall Peanut 50 Apl 1 Jas. A. Burden, Jr. 64 Wall 100 " 8 " Ront. Dudley Winthron 7 E. 91st St. 130 11 II. E. Tischorisher 40 Wall 1,000 May 1 F. L. Crawford Boston 200 11 21 Edw. D. Brandegee Faulkner Farm, Broole 00 Dec. 7 904 H. i. VanDuser 1 E. J. Wendell 31 Nassau St. 50 Aug. (Time 8 E. 38th St. 100 100 Carried Termard. 15,20 C 1207 1440778 624 n8 x FirstSearch: WorldCat Detailed Record Page 1 of 3 FirstSearch COLGATE UNIV WorldCat Detailed Record Click on a checkbox to mark a record to be e-mailed or printed in Marked Records. Staff View My Account Options Comments Home Databases Searching Results Exit Hide tips List of Records Detailed Record Marked Records Saved Records Go to page WorldCat results for: (su= "Harvard Riverside WorldCat Associates") and su= "History.". Record 4 of 4. Subjects E-mail Print Export Help 4 Mark: Prev Next Detailed Add/View Record Comments Papers of Edward Waldo Forbes, Edward Waldo Forbes 1860-1969? English Archival Material 68 containers of mss. Includes personal and professional correspondence, lecture notes, diaries and calendars, student notes and compositions, and writings. GET THIS ITEM Availability: THE Connect to the catalog at Colgate University Libraries External Resources: MY Loan Cite This Item FIND RELATED More Like This: Search for versions with same title and author I Advanced options Find Items About: Forbes, Edward Waldo, (max: 21) Title: Papers of Edward Waldo Forbes, ca. 1860-1969 (inclusive). Author(s): Forbes, Edward Waldo, 1873- Year: 1860-1969? Description: 68 containers of mss. Language: English Abstract: Includes personal and professional correspondence, lecture notes, diaries and calendars, student notes and compositions, and writings. Correspondence includes family and personal letters. Correspondents include W. Cameron Forbes, Edith Forbes Webster, K.G.T. Webster, Ralph Forbes, Alexander Forbes, and Edith Emerson Forbes. Also professional correspondence with Bernard Berenson and T.S. Eliot; correspondence and other papers, 1903-1963, relating to the Museum of Fine Arts and with Fogg Museum directors, John Coolidge and Paul Sachs; and letterpress copybook, 1903-1918, of correspondence with Harvard Riverside http://0-firstsearch.oclc.org.library.colgate.edu/WebZ/FSFETCH?fetchtype=fullrecord:sess... 4/28/2008 FirstSearch: WorldCat Detailed Record Page 2 of 3 Associates. Correspondence, ca. 1900s, between Richard Norton and T.A. Fox also is included in the Forbes' papers. Forbes' writings consist of manuscript on the history of the Fogg Art Museum, poetry and personal writings, such as autobiographical sketches and family stories. Other material includes diaries, ca. 1888-1967; calendars, 1913-1968; personal notebooks with sketches, memoranda and notes on museums and works of art; student notes, 1891, and compositions for Harvard courses; notes, 1901-1902, for Oxford lectures; and memorabilia, such as diplomas and certificates. Related publications and reference material also available in repository. SUBJECT(S) Descriptor: Art -- Study and teaching. Named Person: Berenson, Bernard, 1865-1959. Coolidge, John, 1913- Eliot, T. S. (Thomas Stearns), 1888-1965. Forbes, Edward Waldo, 1873- Forbes family. Forbes, Alexander, 1882-1965. Forbes, Edith Emerson. Forbes, Ralph Bennett. Forbes, W. Cameron (William Cameron), 1870-1959. Fox, T.A. Norton, Richard. Sachs, Paul J. 1878-1965. Webster, Edith Forbes. Webster, K.G.T. Named Corp: Fogg Art Museum -- Administration. Fogg Art Museum -- History. Harvard Riverside Associates. Harvard University. Dept. of Fine Arts -- Students. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Genre/Form: Autobiographies. Certificates. Diaries. Diplomas. Lecture notes. Letterpress copybooks. Poems. Sketches. Note(s): Bio/History: Forbes graduated from Harvard in 1895, served as Director of Fogg Art Museum, and taught fine arts at Harvard. General Info: Preferred citation: Edward Waldo Forbes Papers, Harvard University Archives./ Unpublished shelflist available in repository./ Occupation: Museum directors. Entry: 19860707 Update: 20080423 Document Type: Archival Material Accession No: OCLC: 122413292 Database: WorldCat 30000 WorldCat results for: (su = "Harvard Riverside 5 WorldCat http://O-firstsearch.oclc.org.library.colgate.edu/WebZ/FSFETCH?fetchtype=fullrecord:sess... 4/28/2008 FirstSearch: Libraries that Own Item Page 1 of 2 FirstSearch COLGATE UNIV Libraries that Own Item This screen shows libraries that own the item you selected. Staff View My Account Options Comments Home Databases Searching Results | Exit Hide tips List of Records Detailed Record Marked Records Saved Records Go to page ? Current database: WorldCat Total Libraries: 1 WorldCat E-mail Print Return Help Title: The Harvard Riverside Association : land acquisition south of Harvard Yard, 1903- 1918 Author: Cooney, Sharon Accession Number: 77066099 Libraries with Item: "The Harvard Riverside Ass..."( Record for Item I Get This Item ) Location Library Code US,MA HARVARD UNIV, ARCHIVES HRA Record for Item: "The Harvard Riverside Ass..."( Libraries with Item ) GET THIS ITEM Availability: Check the catalogs in your library. Libraries worldwide that own item: 1 Connect to the catalog at Colgate University Libraries External Resources: MY Loan Cite This Item FIND RELATED More Like This: Search for versions with same title and author I Advanced options Title: The Harvard Riverside Association : land acquisition south of Harvard Yard, 1903-1918. Author(s): Cooney, Sharon. Language: English SUBJECT(S) Descriptor: Real property -- Purchasing -- Massachusetts -- Cambridge -- History. Named Corp: Harvard Riverside Associates -- History. Harvard University -- Student housing -- History. Document Type: Book Entry: 20001121 Update: 20061218 Accession No: OCLC: 77066099 Database: WorldCat http://0-firstsearch.oclc.org.library.colgate.edu/WebZ/FSFETCH?fetchtype=holdings:entit... 4/28/2008 OFFICE OF CHARLES D. WETMORE, 3 EAST 33RD STREET, NEW YORK. May 25th, , 1903. Francis R. Appleton, Esq., 2 Maiden Lane, N.Y. Dear Appleton:- In regard to my subscription to the scheme for widening DeWolf Street, Cambridge, I hand you herewith my note for $1,000. payable on demand, which is at your disposal, it being understood that unless the widening is made I am under no obligation on the note. Very truly, balan ( Mr C.D.W.) (Enc.) Edward Waldo Forbes, Yanles Visionary. Harvard U. 7099 Art Museum, 1971. FOREWORD EDWARD FORBES was paradox personified. Our generation thinks of him IN the director who created the Fogg Museum. How else could he fairly be described? Agnes Mongan has told in the introduction to this cata- logue of the changes he wrought in his own institution and the influence he exerted on all American art museums. Such an achievement would surely have required a lifetime of hard, administrative work. That is not how Forbes saw his life. The Fogg plays a major, but by OCLC un means a dominant role in his extended, unpublished autobiography, "An Notes." Hard work? It is never suggested. Administration? The word is not mentioned. His manuscript is a rambling tale of objects and friends, a chronicle put together by a consistently warmhearted, oc- disorganized amateur. And the impression that emerges from Notz: See copy in FORBES FAMILY the writing is identical with that conveyed by the man one met. Ninone ever seemed less like our stereotype of a successful museum di- file regarding Harvard Lighthearted, carefree, obviously absentminded, he never seemed to he graping the point one was trying to make. Could he concentrate? Riverside Associates A man of vision, certainly, but also a man of notions. It was a long time before one became aware that if he yielded on his notions with easy good human, he pursued his visions with quiet relentlessness. lii this pursuit he brought an astonishing variety of talents. Most im- Wintely, energy and a desire to begin making changes. Most funda- il Mill for friendship based on an exceptional range of sympathy mil an unerring eye for quality in people. He could evoke from hard- Executives an idealistic dedication of which they did not know they were capable; he could inspire the young and feckless to focus their lis the at least one moment of significant creativity; he could direct III to il lifetime of dogged devotion. Friendship meant ac- 3 HARVARD UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Harvard University Archives TAS Pusey Library Harvard Yard Cambridge, MA 02138 T 617.495.2461 F 617.495.8011 May 15, 2008 Ronald H. Epp 47 Pond View Drive Merrimack, NH 03054 Dear Mr. Epp: Barbara Meloni has asked me to respond to your most recent questions regarding George Dorr and the Harvard Riverside Association. Enclosed please find photocopies of the following: -June 29, 1906 letter from Charles W. Eliot to George Dorr from the Eliot Letterbooks (Call number UA I5. 150, Records of Charles William Eliot, Letterbook, May 5, 1903-Dec. 11, 1906, volume 95). -Description of Harvard Riverside Associates series from the Papers of Edward Waldo Forbes (HUGFP 139.16 and HUGFP 139.16pf, 2 boxes). Although the Forbes Papers can be made available for research in our reading room, please be advised that some portions of the collection are stored off-site and advance notice is required to recall specific boxes. If you would like to use this material please email or write to the Archives at least three business days prior to your visit, indicating the boxes of interest, SO that we may have the material on-site in time for your arrival. Sharon Cooney's The Harvard Riverside Association: Land Acquisition South of Harvard Yard, 1903-1918 is 33 pages long. If you would like to order a photocopy of the paper please forward a check for $9.90 (33 pages @ $.30/page), payable to the Harvard University Archives, to my attention at the above address. Sincerely, Robin Carlow Robin Carlaw Researcher Enclosures LHI 5.150 Records of Charles Letterbook mays 1903 - tell // 17M V01.95 BOX / 161 David 158 HARVARD UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES Name Shelf number FORBES, Edward Waldo HUG (FP) 139.16 HUG (FP) 139.16pf Accession number: Volume: Box Folder Bd. Vol. Total See cover sheet 1 1 pf 2 Notes: See also HUD 3748 Title of record series and dates: Papers relating to Harvard Riverside Associates 1902-1958 Arrangement: See folder list below. Description (physical form, special subjects and correspondents, etc) : Founded by EWF in 1902, the Charles River Association, later Harvard Riverside Associates, was dedicated to preserving the landscape between the University and the river. The series consists primarily of correspondence regarding the early years of the organization. Included in the pf folder are maps and drawings detailing plans for the proposed acquisition and development of land. Box 1 Correspondence and other papers 1903-1911 Correspondence and other papers 1912-1915 Correspondence and other papers 1916-1918 Correspondence and other papers 1943-1958 Miscellaneous notes Letterpress volume (indexed) 1903-1909 Pf folder Maps and drawings 1902-1916 [6/26/1906] 85 18 Commonwealth Avenue. Dear Prohiming Elist this two letter.,7, adducled to Isend you mt hist you for Commont Certification mining - On - Ms. Ellis gift to the Caud at Ba Harbs, N 3 2. the other list regard W Thing Walfut approact Then that day will make fact maltus Clear W the ofter Members of the Certification r the troubh h ifflam them I also send you mt the atla. of Pau Hain, etc. D. auda EGG th arthright June 29, 1906. Dear Mr. Dorr:- The Corporation acted foverably on your request for the sale to you of a portion of the Ellis land at Saul's Hiff, and left to me the further arrangements for the sale. Accepting your suggestion of Mr. David Ogden as a satisfactory person to determine details of the transaction, I suggest that you invite him to act, and say that we should be glad to have him consult local ex- perts if he desires to do so. The Corporation agreed with you that def- inite rights to bring veter-pipes and wires to the balance of the Ellis land night well be part of the consideration. I have approved the bill of Mr. M. W. Hill, and it will shortly be paid by our Surser. will you kindly let him understand, at your convenience, that his bill dated March 6 WHIS not received by Harvard University until June 26? The matter of the DeWolf Street widening was referred by the Corporation to the Treasurer, Mar. Charles Francis Adams, 2d, 50 Stat St., Boston, with full power to take such action is you and he might think expedient, except that the Corporation did not feel that they could call The in / subscription since the subscriptions were not made to them. Perhaps you and Kr. Appleton could devise a call which should include & statement that the President and Fellows have agreed to hold the money to apply it -2- U.S soon as possible to the purpose for which it was given. I am going tomorrow to Mount Desert, SO that you can commun- icate with ne at Asticou. Very truly yours, C. W. E. Mr. George B. Dorr. Old Farm, July IGEC Bar Garbor, Maine. DEA President Elist. I want post for unit regard IS out West; which I hope to do in auacher week He It approact matter before If or to- So I send free cofies of Some Consifordine which will show how things Hand at present frank affleton W I am Want which Warran unit the actuar I luChn Copy of a letter for provided on to hit asking lue to awsum it Halons I millers IS the adams, that the City which I have done - fult house forth how h a polition - when go M would be lasia than to nced and be liable to Uu cutam and possibly fail heavy damages without any compendate gan - Deduction there damage. x 2 Old Farm, Bar Garbor. Maine. maki, the parker , likely the flu hit Call of its Uu and the alimini Subscription from the Cod.of provement - would Selm a flight our - and Fill would be Jones butterment. also in that Can, of off set in part at leact good past I should think the Coct of its laud taken i While the tax return - allowing for Janu College parkway Would unquestionably be much halley is th fulius M the Western Side of the grate gm the land r the building on it than it wh Could be without Refroument I hope be get back before the matty Conus before th City government, when I will glady I do what Can to urge it But Whether do or not M influence would be Hight the true had Con When it will he important this Companyed T/ fundles and it Second 15 the Farm, Bar Garbor, Maine. press the math hour_ Late Altumni the subscription ma be difficult to oblaw, once given up which lin ill might if hucellay be possible to increase it even', and late the Luits against the City will have been comprovided when it be holder to buy the truatter up again - and I feel a Though as Uu that the parting is give Who Mr Convenient deprifed pleased al will as infertant. in The false for the College Convenient approach to it how left possible from Bella and the rivwside a talf about it unit Padman Rales the other day, who said lu thought theyrea a good On also, on Wh tohole, life for happy the malti of again again before the Cig but that Somehous le Oclobu would be quite lady laught doington My Option has been in New York the last two Old Farm, Bar Garbor, Maine. weeks NLo, N as I was h Botter hepelf autil (lu days ago I have not Illn Mi But lu What the a few liver av be was Since On the boat ging up. Both give off said be had been over the land again Cv studied it quite thought, and that lu was lake that peper urit him W New york where he Would theriel its qualter Mau which au had referred I him runts out his ofinion On it While in New Ink and al I Hundred and he is effected how today he will douth unti for shorts as I will also do When I have seen him thirty long, C B.Net 10/31/2013 Carbridge P.L. Website Notes Cambridge Christe / Jeene 1907. 1. Regard undering of Je Wolf street fun mass ave to Charle Rue Pachway "George B. Dour report the Riverside Association sad he was anthonyed to pay the cif $ 40,000. if it would widen the Street." Continidge Tribune, U.25 (12 July 1902) % a Proposed Bueward : "Haward graduates have now take u hand the tosh f raising 050 000 toward the expens of the proposed wideving of Dewalfe street as an inducent to the city to approve thereplan 4 Ami "to provide a dignified + handsome approach H to unwant gured." No metion of GBD. Carbodyn Tuben .V. 29, # 49, 2/2/1907. 1. "at a gathery last Saturday at the has of gaoye B. wan, 18 Commonwealth avenue, generhou guild unspresult or a Hawaed Columnus, + Mayor Wardwell, Lake Racholph Coolidge Robert Andraw & other prominest men were also in attendance x took part in the discussion of the plass, all heating from then 2. Committee Meeter : From R appleton, Rechard H. Dava, Gwyn B. Don, Charles S. fair child augus tus Hemenway, D.L. Higginson, Fredeuch Samuel D.Warren t Hary Hearg S.van Daren. Jr. Richard u. Saltonstall, Joseph B, Warner, #. Carbridge Tubum, 8 June 1907 Fen Hawad Collep, 6/3/1907 To: 18 Communical my Dearlin Dam: Re Dain request for info about college poley ie lord of Howal Reverside desorate, "the proporation has no intention of taby out of toyation any land now taxed between Mas due & the level ":- "the sleintenal of the corporation in the plan of the Housed Aiversede Associates is its in terest in havery that past of their made more beautiful + attentive.". C-F Adoms, and, Theaver HC Submitch g A.w.lope Sehmeted use headlin DeWolf Street boulevard Plan is approved z Commensirves & by the Houseled Authorities." Front paya. 18 Consonwealth Avenue, Boston. May 10th, 1907. President Charles W. Eliot, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. Dear President Eliot, I have been thinking over the DeWolf Street matter, which our talk this morning has helped to make clearer to me in its various bearings, and I have also had a talk about it again with Mr Daly. And I want to present the matter to you as I now see it, in a statement which you can bring up before the Corporation if you wish to do so at its meeting Monday. In the first place, the more I look at it the less I like the idea of making any private trade with Father Ryan with regard to he Church property he is trustee for. It seens to me that doing SO would put us in a false position and that if it came to public knowledge, as sooner or 1 ter we must be prepared to have it do and at the hearing itself quite possibly it would be certain to create a prejudice in Canbridge against our undertaking, a feeling in which the College though itself taking no active part in the affair would be involved with us as having knowledge of it. It would look like what it would really be in fact a political deal in which the friends of the College paid the Catholic Church as represented by Father Ryan a certain sun of money for its polit- ical support in getting a measure through in which the College was interested. Incidentally, it would also subject the Church to 2 criticism for making a private deal by which through the use of Lts political influence it reaped a benefit as land owner in which its neighbors did not share and to the probable increase of ex ense to the City in the claims from others it would lead to if the Perk- way should be built; and the reaction from this criticism would not be apt, it seems to me, to further friendly relations between the Church and College. And if such an agreement be made with Father Ryan publicly I do not see how it could help having an importunate effect in giving adjoining land owners Whose land would be taken for the Parkway reasonable sround for placing a corresponding exorbitant value upon their land and in creating ill feeling on their part if they fail to get assurance also of obtaining it, nor now it could fail to create opposition also on the part of the City Council to the whole scheme on the ground of its expense upon the basis of such values. Moreover, any payment made by the Alumi and not made to the City to help it bear the cost of the improvement for which we are petitioning would be quite certain to be resented, in Mr Daly's opinion, by those members of the City government not in Father Ryan's following but interested in the matter for the City from the economic point of view. For these reasons it now seens to me that it would not be best to make any deal, either public or private, with Father Rvan but simply to 80 ahead dealing straightforwardly and singly with the one party with whom our Conrittee is legitimately concerned, the City of Carbridge, offering it outright the $40,000. in subscription from the Alwnni originally promised when the lines of the avenue were laid out by the Board of Survey, and leaving it open to it to pass a conditional vote if it choses based upon a larger contribution from them $50,000. in this case most probably, which I have no 3 doubt that Appleton and I would then be able to obtain within the next few Months and which we both would gladly undertake to do. although I personally do not feel able to make myself actually re- sponsible at the present time for more than I have done already. In this way whatever we do raise would 80, as it should, to the City if the Parkway should be built to help lighten the expense to it of making an improvement which would be a benefit alike to it and to the College. And I do not feel that the Catholic Church would either have or seriously claim it had any arievance against us in the matter. According to Archbishop Williams's own statement, in declining an interview with Hr Daly and myself Father Ryan to be also present the matter is one which they regard as relating simply to the value of the land which would be taken by the City. And according to what Archbishop O'Connell, Archbishop Williams co-adjutor and appointed successor as I under- stand it, also told me in the winter, this land does not enter into their plans for future building or church use but is simply land which they now wish to sell at a good price. And we have no right to assume, nor has the Church, that the City would not pay its full fair value for the land which it would take. on the contrary, I think that the influence of the Church politically is such that it would be likely to obtain from the City the highest price which real estate values in the neighborhood would justify. But this matter is purely one between the City and the Church as land owner. We as a Committee are simply asking the City to make an improvement which in the opinion of its Park Board, as well as in that of real estate experts and leading citizens, would be for its own great and permanent advantage as well as for that OI the College, and which if not made now is likely to become economically impossible to make later. No injury would be done the Church by making it, nor any 4 other land owner, under present conditions and this the Church itself acknowledges in stating that it is simply a question with it of getting a good price for its land. There is no question of the reloval of any church, of interference with any building plan, or of injury done to any religious sentiment. It is a matter of business pure and simple, and the business is one lying between the City and the Church, with which our Co Difittee could not in point of fact concern itself without laying itself open to the charge of meddling with what does not concern it. Under these circuistances it does not seem to me, as represent- ins our Cormittee and speaking my opinion frankly while quite ready to accept the Corporation's judguent in the matter, that sufficient ground exists for its requesting us to withdraw from our undertaking without bringing the matter to its legitimate conclusion in the hearing now arranged for before the City. But that the City should be siven the opportunity of deciding what action would be for its best interest in regard to it. For it is not a College matter only but one in which the City is really more concerned than it is, and a public improvement which would be of permanent and constantly in- creasing importance if it should now be made and which if not made now it is likely to become permanently impossible. with regard to the Church's attitude, which presents the only reason as I understand it for such possible action on the Corpora- tion's part, Archbishop O'Connell has put himself on record in his letter to me in favor of the improvement upon public grounds and as simply desiring for the Church a fair price for the land which would ise taken; Archbishoy Williams has stated the matter to be simply one of the value of this land; and Father Ryan, though exorbitant in his clain with regard to the value of the land, has also put it on a 5 financial basis nurely. And the City, not oursolves, is the proper person to discuss with the Church and other owners the value of the land that would be taken. I do not therefore see how any strained relations could result between the College and the Church under these conditions, even ir the College itself were urgine the improve- ment. But as a matter of fact the improvement is not being urged by the College but by a Comittee of the Alumi organized quite in- dependently of the College and not directly subject to its control. This Comittee however would not have undertaken its work if it had not been encouraged to do so by the government of the College and been given its support. And as representing that Committee I do not feel that any but the strongest reasons should lead the Cor- poration now to request it to withdraw at the last moment after years of work done and personal responsibility assured and after contributions to the undertaking have been asked for and obtained and not to bring its members' endeavor to its legitimate conclusion before the City government and give it the ouvortunity to decide upon a matter in which the City's interest is, it seens to me, yet greater than the College's Personally, it does not seen to me that the chance of getting tie improvement adopted, in the face of the existing economic ob- stacles as well as political ones and others, is a considerable one, but in bringing it before the City government we shall at least have done all that we can do and can retire from the matter if we fail with the sense, and with the record, of having done the best we could to bring it to a successful issue. But if we withdraw now without giving the City opportunity to decide what action it wishes to take in the matter, not only those who have been interested with us in the undertaking but people in the future, turning back to the op- 6 portunity which now exists, night fairly blane us for withdrawal without bringing the thing to its legitimate conclusion and ascer- taining whether it were possible of accomplisiment or not. Hr Daly thinks there is a strong feeling at Carbridge among the members of the City government and influential citizens inter- ested in the matter that the improvement is a really immortant one for the City and one whose need is going to be felt increasingly and that the opportunity to make it now when so large a sw1 as $40,000. (if no more) will be contributed by the alwani towards its cost, and when its lines have been laid out and suits are pending on them and no important buildings block the way, is one which will make men think seriously before letting it 20 permmently. What I have said about the difficulties in the way of making arrangement with Father Ryan financial difficulties apart represents Mr Daly's view of the matter as well as my own, after much discussion of it between us in its various bearings. And he also feels that the course suggested is not only the one that would present us in the best light and leave us in the best position in the matter but that it is also quite as likely to lead to a suc- cessful issue as one based on paying Father Ryan for the withdrawal of his opposition, in view 01 the position in which this latter course would leave us with regard both to the City government and to other land owners within the Parkway lines. In view of the responsibility which Mr Appleton and I are under in this matter and the relation in which we stand to others inter- ested in it, if the Corporation should finally decide to ask us to withdraw our petition now before the Carbridge City government for a hearing on it, in spite of the reasons which I here present for its consideration against such action, I trust that the Corporation 7 will make its request to us to do so formally and in writing so that it may justify us in the eyes of others interested with us in the undertaking and before the public !'or our withdrawal, since this would not be made on grounds of personal conviction but solely in deference to the Corporation's wishes. Yours sincerely, HRA- - TREASURER'S OFFICE, HARVARD COLLEGE, No. 50 State Street, Boston, May 28, 1907. Mr. George B. Dorr, 18 Conton wealth Ave., Boston, Nass. My dear Mr. Dorr:- Referring to your request i'or information concerning the policy of the College in regard to the land or the Harvard Riverside Associates, which information has become material because of certain statements made at the recent hearing before the city Government on the proposed widen- ing of Do Wolfe St, I beg to say that the College has at the present time no interest in the Harvard Riverside Associates except six shares of the stock which has been given to the College. It is entirely prohlenatical whether the College will obtain any further interest in that land. Whether the College ever obtains any further interest in the land of the Harvard Riverside Associates or not the present Corporation has no intention of taking any land now taxed between Massachusetts Ave. and the rivor whether owned by the Harvard Riverride Associates or any one else out of taxation. (In this connection, however, it is fair to call attention to the fact that we have no authority to control the action of our successors. Very truly yours, [Charles Adams] Bar Harbor, Maine. October 28th, 1907. President Charles 1. Eliot, Carbridge, Mass. Dear President Eliot, I enclose a copy of a letter I lately wrote Mr Appleton on the De Holf Street Boulevard anttor, and or his answer. I have nothing to add to what I have said in my letter to him; you will be able to draw conclusions from it and I shall be Elad to get any suggestion about it that you can make me. It seens to ne possible that Archbishop O'Connell, now that ne is actual head of the church here, Might be made to feel it necessary to use his influence, for the church's credit and good name if for no other reason, in support of a mensure which he has himself endorsed and which springs from the interest of aten whose judgment with regard to its importance and whose good opinion he must value. And I should think him Man of the world enough for it to be possible to SHOW him quite frankly what Father Ryan's course has been and the discredit it would be to the church, as well as injury to a useful undertaking, if it failed to pass owing to opposition made in the church's name and springing Iron motives SO univertity. Can you not help us in resterd to this ? Some arrangement by which Father Ryan's credit with his parish would be maintained could be arrived at if Archbishop O'Connell should really take the matter up; and it seens to un that short of an additional contribution large enough to carry the measure over the 2 read or opposition t.dis is the only was in which NO are likely to win out side resulting as blings now abound. I an very polistant to see our undertaking fail. I tenl that if it does it will be a source OI constant and increasing council in the Casare, as the Richor Park and the college both. develop with a needless bar 01. such a chapacter between them. I shall be coming in again to Boston the Laston part of next week unit shall tion take the matter us with Varron I'm I have just got a letter on the subject. Yours sincerely, copy. 21 Haiden Lane Now York Oct. 24, 1907. Dear Dorr:- Your Letter of the 21st from Bar Harbor has just reached no. I (0) coins to forward it to San. Warren for such observations as l.e May make. ( 211 very : much disappointed at the situation, of course, but not at all supprised that politics should spoil a good thing. ) I think Mr. Thurston has done his best to stop this worthy enterprise, which, though discreditable to him, seens to be effective. I know of no place to get the funds to pay a creater share of this undertaking. As you have pointed out. it will be hard enough to make good the pronises which you and I have of Tered. The money which I have at interest in about fifty years will he sufficient ! President Fliot is much interested in this and asked me re- cently whit progress had been made. I was obliged to tell him that matters were in status quo, Dlus a lawyer's bill. I think he would be interested to hear from you. will you not write to him and point out the situation ? He may know of a Cenerous man to sive another $25,000 to the plan, and be is quite likely to know of sone way to approach the interest of which you speak. It is a share if this rond is not to 00 built; but I cannot see that you and dopt I have been renise in our efforts and I shall not despair of success until the vote is taken. Sincerely yours, (Stated) Mannois R. Ampleton. George R. Domn. Req. COPY. Bar Harbor, Kaine. October 21st, 1907. Francis R. Appleton, Usq., New York city. Dear :- Appleton, I went up to Roctor last week on a surrors tron Ir Daily to attend a hearing of the Highway Commission at Cabridge, to whom the Dewolf's Street Approach matter was referred by the City council last July. The Highway Commission consists of seven members of whon five were present Thursday evening, together with the Street Comissioner; no one else was there but Mr Daly and myself. One of the members of the Council was obviously in fevor of our scheme; the other four, including the chairman N2 Blanchard, were discourag- ina in the time they took about it, dwelling On! the opposition of abuttors, the injury to the children's playeround and the loss of opportunity to build a church upon it, the creat expense to the City and the liability of over-running estimates, etc., etc., SO that In Daly said to ne when we cane away "Someone's been senzing those fellows ! They're adroid their recommending it may be used against then in the elections." It struck ne the same way. It was dis- appointing, for Hr Daly felt fairly confident last summer of cotting the support of this confission, who are all as I understand it in- dependents and not of Father Ryan's following. I went over the question again with then at some length; showed that Father Ryan's objection that the lot would be ruined for school purposes by the loss 2 of the land taken for the houlevard was not honest since he also claimed he wanted to build a caurci on it which would take more room away from the children's term the housewed would, and that they naturlly and another lot in overship bought for the church; showed with in Daly's assistance that the estinate 01 cost they quoted was excessive; that the objections of abuttors, including the caupen, were only or spren from the infinience and ouent not to influence their judgment against camping out 2. public improvement; and drelt on the permitment loss of the opportu- nity to the city, as well 20 of our subscription, that would result if the uniortaking were abandoned now. But J did not feel that I made much headwing; they seemed to me afraid, as Me Daily said, that it night ise made a change against then in the coming elections extramadance, shown to Harvard college, injustice to the poor who owned the land, injury to the school, etc. This I write to explain the situation to you. The procedure is for the Hi Empy Corrission to report to the City Council or the measure; the city Council then vote upon it an if their vote is favorable --- a majority vote only is needed in this instance it is referred to the Board of Survey whose action in the motter is little more then tornal as I understand it but who cannot act upon it and report back to the City Council without civing the public three weeks' notice or their hearing on it. The question of ay- propriation does not come up until all this is done. If the ighway Comission, composed as it is of independents, reports uninvorably -- or fails to report Devorably upon the measure that will be the end or it write certainly. And it struck both No Only and usself that they were not likely to endorse it as matters stood. They subjected to He mite openly that it the College or its friends would Live one hundred thousand dollars instead of difty Whoteard they 3 would endome it without hordination, tast it was the expense to the city of which they were spraid and the possible slor return or the expense to the city throu mear building et the present time, and that in this expense GOTEL be still nuther leavered to tue city tile mitter would have a very directement Revent to them. I told then that you and I and already Welled outselves for more than un lind paised 02 Know with certainty that we could price, and that there van ::0 BURPOO of with I knew validation ve could draw upon for more. Ar Daily and I talkei the matter over at length before we parted. Apert from increase of contribution to the undertaking one think only seened to offer chance of success in bringing it about, it seemed to us. And that is bringing influence to hear on Father Ryan and his following, now that Archhishop Williams is dead, through Apchbishop O'Connell who is naturally favorable to it and Wito as a non C: the world and of affairs mast understand, and could be further shown, as Archbiskop Williams could not what the notives really are that have inspired Father Ryan's opposition in this matter. And he also Might be mode to realize the discredit that would stand to the church if a public improvement of the kind should Tail through opposition made in the church's name upon motives so unworthy. AS anchbiscop, his position now would be very different from what it was last winter, and his control of the situation is he chose to assert his auto.ity in the matter, whether for tie sake of the public improvement or the church's credit, would probably to conclusive. At all events it seems to be the one stone left as yet unturned, and worth a trial. If three or your men, known to him as mer of influence interested in public officious, should LO to him on behalf 01 the University to telk the matter over, stating their inter- est in the undertaking and whit tiley t'elt with record to Pather 4 Ryan's attitude in the matter. together with the seets ve have es to its notives, sure event might ine arrived at by videh we would cet the support 01 The Catholic following in the City council instead of its apposition. The chance of course is a slip one at this state - had Villions died a year 320 it would have been another networ --- but slient as the chance in it seems to the month taking, and so it seened to i.r' Daly. And the creation is VI.OH can we best out to 80 with us and talk the matter over with Archbish.op 0'Connell. The first thing that occurs to the is whether there are not influential Untholics anone the alvery who could be cot to take the matter up. are there any such in New YORK witom you could interest in it ? or there or elsewhere MOON we could get Hold of through others. Another thing that occurs to me is that San Warren told the last winter they had elected O'Connell into his dining club, and Sai is interested with us in this Matter one of the original corrittas on it. Personal equaintance of that kind would Live us a better morning in the nation. And San may be able to subjest others. I cannot COMIC up to town immediately myself, SO if you are in Boston won't you take the Hatter up with him if you think post. on with any one else that May occur to you. Whitever we do :nut be done soon, for it ought to be done in time to influence the report of the Highway Corrission to the City Council. This report tany probably would have made next week but in Daily undertook to see Mr Blanchard, in view of the possibility of our being able to do sun thing alone this line and set him to hold the report up for a while to give us time. If we should be able to set a favorable report I'ron the Commission and a myselity vote from the City Council, the witchst course would tion be to get the inaured in the annual 5 Budget the Transing or the your, wion a majority wate would be to 0836 it. vitile presented at another time or in mother very a 1,770 their vote would DO 11/ communy. Yours sincerely, (Signed) George 3. Door. June 25, 1907 Door Mr. Dorr, In response to your request I C1-- close Ur. Masterson's lothers to you, which have been on file in this office. You will see by this corresgo dence that Mr. Histor- son should be addressed as Harris Masterson, jr. His address is Huston, Texas, where, I cum informed by acquintances of his,hy went some ten days or a fortnight ago. Although I have made a nuber of different inquiries, I have been unable to obtain his father's initials. I trust, however, you will have no difficulty in getting into communication with him now that, you have the son's address. Very truly yours, GREENE Goorge B. Dorr, Esq. Copy. 18 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston. June 15th, 1907. My dear Lr Daly, I had 2. talk again with President Eliot yesterday with regard to the DeWolf Street matter and he wishes to have it strongly out in your argument at the next hearing and in whatever you may say before committees or to committee men afterwards that we do not ask that the City should build the parkway because Harvard College would benefit thereby but on the ground that the gain resulting from it will ultimately be a great one to the City itself and that it cannot be economically done, if possible at all, if given up at present and put off until a later day. Harvard College and its Alumni wish to see the parkway built but they do not put forward their desire in the matter as a reason for the City's building it but only its own interest, which they feel not only justifies the City's making the expenditure at the present time but would make it unwise for it not to do so. And they feel that the special benefit which the College would derive therefrom is fully cornensated by the considerable portion of the expense of building it which the Alumni offer now to bear. President Eliot also wishes to make it clearly understood that if the Alumni's present offer is not accepted the subscriptions now obtained will be returned and the matter will end SO far as the Geop Alwnni and the College are concerned. And this, I may also state The again upon my own authority speaking in the name of the Alunni com- mittee, will inevitably be the result of the rejection of our present offer. We will not take the matter un again nor retain funds enabling us to make a future offer. Yours truly, Gov. B. Don TREASURER'S OFFICE, HARVARD COLLEGE No. 50 State Street, Boston, June 3, 1907. Mr. George B. Dorr, 18 Commenwealth Ave., Boston, Mass. My dear Mr. Dorr:- Referring to your request for information concerning the policy of the College in regard to the land of the Harvard Riverside Associates, which information has become material because of certain state- ments made at the recent hearing before the City Government on the proposed widening of De `Wolfe St., I beg to say that the present Corporation has no intention of taking out of taxation any land now taxed between l'assachusetts Ave. and the rivor whether owned by the Harvard Rivorside Associates or any one else. The few pheces of private property that the University is likely to need in the future Tie to the north of Kirkland Street. They are comparatively low in price and the Bity would be the gainer, if they were acquired by the College because of the resulting improvement of the neigh- borhood. The sole interest of the Corporation in the plans of the Har- vard Riverside Associates is its interest in having that part of the city certain made more beautiful and attractive. The murs net result of such improve- ments will be to increase the tax resources of the city, and to that result the University looks forward with unqualified satisfaction. Very truly yours, 6/19 litter Dent on Day face 15-1907- TREASURER'S OFFICE, HARVARD COLLEGE No. 5C Stato Street, Boston, June 3, 1907. lr. Goorge B. Dorr, 18 Commonwoalth Ave., Beston, Mass. My door Mr. Dorr:- Referring to your request for information concerning the policy of the Collage in regard to the land of the Harvard Riverside Associates, which information laskoccmo material because of certain statements rade at i.h. recent hearing before the city Geverment on the proposed widoning or Do Folfo St. , I beg to say that the present Corpora- tion has no intention of taking out of tuxation any land now taxed bo- tween "mssachuset S Ave. and the river whether camed by the Harvard Acco- clates or any one elso. The solo intorest of the Corporation in the plans of the Hervard Riverside Associates is its interest in having that part of the city made more boautiful and attractive. The certain not result of such improvements will be to increase the tax resources of the city, and to that result the University locks forward with unqualified satisfaction. Very truly youre, 26 East 37th Street, New York, June 5, 1914. George Foster Peabody, Esq., Saratoga Springs, New York. Dear Sir: About ten years ago you subscribed $1,000 toward the proposed building of a boulevard from Charles River to a point near Harvard Square, as a special and more wor thy approach to the University. All efforts to have this work accomplished, have failed, and as there seems no prospect of any change in the situation, it seems to be my duty to return the sub- scriptions which were given to me for the purpose. There is an accumulation of interest amounting to between 50 and 60 per cent of the original subscription. Sometime about 1902 a Committee was organized in Boston to carry through the project. There were plans and circulars issued and the statement was made that the Cam- bridge authorities would lay out and build the boulevard if one quarter of the total cost of $200,000 was provided by private subscription. I was asked to join the Committee and ask for subscriptions in New York, which I did, and obtained some which I have held ever since. The Boston CBB part of the Committee seems to have dissolved early, leav- ing only Mr. George B. Dorr. He and I did everything we could think of to push the matter along and even guaranteed the $50,00 which we supposed was the only condition neces- sary. There was opposition at the various hearings before the City of Cambridge Counc il and there was not courage enough to put the matter through, in order words, the project became politically impossible. While I am very sorry that this good thing could not come off, it happens that it does not seem quite as important now as when initiated because in the meantime Harvard College, through its friends, has secured the right to a large block of land between the River and Mt. Auburn 2 Street. You probably know of this. Recently the freshmen dormitories have been built on part of that land. In due time the remaining portion of the land now covered with houses and buildings, will come into possession of the college and be formed into another college yard in some fashion. The college is now trying to find from their own resources means to clear up a small tract immediately be- hind the new freshmen dormitories, in order to give more suitable surroundings. While I regret that the money collected for Harvard objects should fail in the purpose, there seems nothing for me to do but hand back the money to the subscribers with the foregoing explanation. I am waiting a little before the distribution because the bonds which represent the subscrip- tions have gone Gown 8 little since the purchase some years ago but I will not wait very long. Vary truly yours, COMMISSIONERS CHARLES C.LESTER. COUNSEL GEORGE FOSTER PEABODY CHAIRMAN ALBERT WARREN FERRIS,M.D. MEDICAL EXPERT FRANK N. GODFREY BENJAMIN F. TRACY FREDERICK EDWARDS, C.E. ENGINEER IRVING G. ROUILLARD SECRETARY STATE OF NEW YORK STATE RESERVATION COMMISSION AT SARATOGA SPRINGS July 17, 1914. Dear Sir:- I have your esteemed favor of 15th July enclosing to me check for $1,618.66, signed by you as Treasurer of Cambridge Parkway subscriptions. I note that the amount of my subscription of ten years ago with interest added, is now returned to me because the project failed of accomplishment. I thank you heartily for your letter and beg to return herewith the check duly endorsed to your order. I request that the interest, at any rate, shall be used for the Riverside Trustees. I will have to take a few days to think further in case any suggestion should occur to me as to other use for the benefit of Harvard University which you might make of the principal sum, $1,000. I am Very truly yours, Francis R. Appleton, Esq., 26 East 37th St., New York, N. Y. 26 East 37th Street, New York, July 16, 1914. George C. Louis C. and D. Crawford Clark, Esqs., 51 Wall Street, New York, N. Y. Honored Sirs: In further explanation of the enclosed check which I send to your order for $1618.66. Your original subscrip- tion to build the parkway approach to Harvard College yard from the river, was $1,000. The accumulated interest is 61866% When this project was started a dozen years ago, we were as- sured by the Cambridge authorities that the road would be built at a cost of about $200,000, provided Harvard men paid one-quarter. Mr. George B. Dorr, of Boston, and ano ther, promptly guaranteed $50,000 and proceeded to ask for sub- scriptions. At the hearings before the Cambridge Council, oppo- sition developed and politics spoiled the whole thing. The money subscribed has been held for 8. long time, hoping for some better development, but as none has come it seems to be my duty to return the money. The disappointment isn't so great as it might be because in the meantime a large tract of land has been bought, between the river and Mt. Auburn Street, and held for the future benefit of the College. The Freshmen Dormitories are already built on the Riverside on a portion of this land. In the future a drive- way will probably be laid out through this land and will thus bring about something similar to the original plan. The Riverside Trustees, who hold the title to this new land would be very glad to receive funds at any time to hold for such future development whenever the College may come into the possession of this new land. I have held this money in my hands for so long, I now feel as if I were parting with an old and familiar ac- quaintance. Sincerely yours, AUGUSTUS l'EABODY LORING LORING, COOLIDGE AND NOBLE TELEPHONES MAIN 0.:31-0532-0533 HAROLD JEFFERSON COOLIDGE COUNSELLORS AT LAW, CABLE ADDRESS TOAST BOSTON JOHN NOBLE. +1) STATE STREET FRANCIS RAYMOND BOYD. SAMUEL VAUGHAN. BOSTON MASS. November 17, 1915. To the Trustees of the Harvard Riverside Trust. Gentlemen: - I enclose herewith the annual summary of accounts of the Harvard Riverside Trust for the year ending October 1, 1915, and make the following report: (1) As to income account. We show net earnings from properties of $3,409.15 applicable to mortgage interest, as against $8,557.73 which was the net earned by the properties last year. Last year, however, owing to the existence of the guarantee fund, we paid the College the full amount due as interest. This year out of $9520. interest due at 4% on the $238,000. mortgage held by the College, we were able to turn over only $3409.15. This leaves us $6110.85 in default. The cause for this serious decline in income is almost wholly attributable to the Freshman dormitories which practically closed up our private dormitories and caused a loss of over $4000. There is no reason for thinking that this condition can be much improved in the future, so far as our private dormitories are concerned, although by strict economy we hope to make a somewhat better showing this year. The College authorities have realized the position in which we are placed, and have receipted on account for such money as we could turn over to them. Other dormitories, both public and private, have met with a similar shrinkage of income, brought about by the requirement that all Freshmen should -2- room in certain specified buildings, and by the resultant scramble for tenants from the three upper classes at greatly reduced rentals. This condition was foreshadowed in my report of last year, and the result has not been different from anticipation. (2) Principal account. This account shows a balance on hand of $6,929.11, made up of principal balances from earlier accounts, and the proceeds of various transfers of property at one time or another. It represents principal which we have retained as working capital and have not applied to the reduc- tion of mortgage indebtedness. (3) Properties account. This shows practically no change. We have not bought or sold any land or conveyed any to the College during the current year. (4) Taxes. We paid this year a tax bill to the City of Cambridge amounting to $8575.69. This is more than 1/3 of the gross rentals that we get from our real estate, and as there is but little of it unimproved, the tax burden is very serious. We have made vigorous protests this year, but have got no re- lief from the Assessors, who answer those who complain of the real estate assessments in the neighborhood of Harvard Square by saying that all the real estate in the City is going to be revalued on a scientific basis some day - perhaps next year. This is as far as we can get short of litigation. (5) Physical condition. Our buildings have been maintained in good condition except in cases where we thought that they would -3- soon be removed owing to their proximity to the Freshman dormitories. In these cases repairs and maintenance have been cut down to an absolute minimum, with a corresponding loss of rentals. In conclusion I would say that the development most to be desired at present is the removal of a lot of tenement houses in the immediate rear of the Freshman dormitories. I have conferred several times with the College as to the possibility of doing this, suggesting that if the College was willing to forego the rentals, we might remove the build- ings, and expend some of our principal in grading and planting the ground. The College has not yet accepted this proposition, owing to the immediate loss of income, but as the tenement houses are becoming increasingly unproductive, I hope that before long this change can be accomplished. Yours very truly, /tarm I Costwarer Managing Trustee P.S. A detailed statement of earnings and expenses attributable to each property is on file in this office and can be seen at any time. VOTED: That the Board hereby gratefully acknowledges the receipt of a fund of $3700. turned over by Mr. Francis R. Appleton on July 8, 1916, to be expended, together with such other sums as the Board might approve, for the development of a Close behind the Freshman dormitories; and that the Board hereby wishes to spread upon the record its thanks to the following persons, contributors to the said fund in the following amounts: George Foster Peabody $1618.66 Frank E.Randall 80.93 Charles H.Russell 404.67 Charles S.Fairchild 404.67 E.D.Brandegee 80,93 Harry W.Mack 16.17 Miss Marion Stetson 16.17 Winthrop Burr 100. I.N.P.Stokes 161.86 Balance of interest on subscriptions after their return 46.69 Interest on foregoing 132. N.H.Stone 500. F.R. Appleton, to even up 137.25 $3,700. Dear Sir:- On July 8,1916 ME Francis P. Appleton turned over to the Harvard Riverside Trustees a fund of $3700. which he had previously collected, with instructions that this same should be used in the development of a Close in the rear of the Freshman tornitories at Cambridge. with this money, to which was added $2804.13, contributed from the funds of the Trustees, thirteen tanement houses were removed from the region, and it was graded, fencel and planted with English elms and beeches in a manner that has greatly im- proved the character of the neiwhorhood adjoining Min Freshman buildings. As you were one of the original subscribera to this fund collected by Mr.Appleton, no has asked me to write thia a ort statement of the application 01 he money, and to enclose a copy S.D of the vote of the Harvard Riverside Trustees, Da3801 at their meeting of April 23,1918, expressing their appreciation and thanks for your gift. Yours very truly, enc ( ) AUGUSTES PEABODY LORING LORING, COOLIDGE AND NOBLE HAROLD JEPPERSON COOLIDGE TELEPHONES MAIN 6531-6532 6533-6534 CONSELLORS .77 Law JOHN NOBLE CABLE ADDRESS." TOAST BOSTON' 1/1 STATE STREET FRANCIS RAYMOND BOYD SAMUEL VAUGHAN BOSTON. MASS. Nev.13,1917 Francis R.Appleton Esq. 26 East 37th St., New York, Y. Dear Sir:- I enclose herewith the annual summary of accounts of the Harvard Riverside Trust for the year ending October 1,1917, and make the following report: (1) As to income account: We show net earnings of $3628.77 paid to Harvard University on account of interest on their mortgage of $238,000. Last year we paid them $6700.27, the actual amount due each year being $9520. I think we must expect the loss of rentals will be even more marked during the coming year and in the indefinite future. At present Shepard's Block, our largest dermitery, is vacant, with but little prespect of being rented again in the future, and I think we must expect on this account a considerable further diminution of income in the years to come. In fact by the end of another year the trustees are likely to have to face the problem of insufficient income to meet current expenses and taxes, to say nothing of mortgage interest. This condition is I believe entirely attributable to three causes:- (1) removal of income producing tenements; (2) competition of Freshman dermiteries: and (3) the war, with its disturbing effect on rental values. 4 F.R.A. -2- The expense account has been most carefully watched to offset as far as possible decreasing income, with the result of a better showing than could have been anticipated at the beginning of the year. Under our arrangement with the College, the total net income was turned over at the end of the year, to be applied on account of the mortgage interest,- it being agreed that our failure to pay the full interest will not be considered a default entitling the College to foreclose. (2) Principal cash account. This account, which represents our working capital, so to speak, shows a balance of each on hand of $2161.99 and $10,000. invested in Liberty bonds. $4,367. was spent in grading, planting and fencing the land in the rear of the Freshman buildings from which the tenements had been removed during the previous year. (3) Properties account. No change appears in this account except that options given to the Iota Club to purchase 41-45 Winthrop Street for $12,000. have been further extended on an additional payment of $600. towards the purchase price. (4) Taxes. The tax assessment for the year 1917 shows a slight reduction from the previous year. The large reductions which should have been made in view of the removal of thirteen buildings have been to a great extent offset by increases in valuation of the land. The physical condition of the remaining properties is good, and the appearance of the neighberhood much improved by the treatment of the land in the rear of the Freshman buildings. No meeting of the trustees was held during the year, and it is F.R.A. -3- desirable that before long a meeting of the Board be called to consider certain points of general policy not fully covered by existing votes. Yours very truly, enc acct. Handle officers P.S. A detailed statement of the earnings and expenses attributable to each property is on file in this office, and can be seen at any time. October 1,1918 Harold J.Coolidge, Esq., Managing Trustee of the Harvard Riverside Trust, 40 State St., Boston, Mass. Dear Mr.Coolidge: Answering yours of October 1st, I write to say that the College will accept a deed from the Trustees of the Harvard Riverside Trust property, conveying title to the real estate, subject to such incumbrances as now exist: and that the Corporation will place on its records a vote ex- pressing their general sympathy with the purposes for which the trust was created, and their intention of carrying out the same as far as may not be inconsistent with the future policies of the College. Yours very truly, (Signed) Charles F.Adams, Treas. H.C. HARVARD UNIVERSITY CAMBRIDGE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE November 5, 1918 Dear Mr Appleton: Now that the transfer of the Riverside lands has been made to the College, I want to tell you how much it means to us. I know that it has taken a great deal of work and thought, not always under the easiest con- ditions, or with entire recognition of the great foresight that prompted it: but it seems to me that the possession of this land will mean everything to the University in time to come. Very truly yours, a Sawrence Smell Francis R. Appleton, Esquire 25 East 37th Street New York City 8. EDWARD WALDO FORBES We were much saddened to learn of the passing of Edward Waldo Forbes, first Honorary Fellow of IIC, on March 11, at the 1969 age of 95. Mr. Forbes built the William Hayes Fogg Museum at Harvard into an innovation showcase and teaching institution. A grandson of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Mr. Forbes took over the direction of the Fogg Museum in 1909. The New York Times on March 13 said that his most far- reaching step perhaps was prevailing upon Harvard classmate, Paul J. Sachs, to give up a career in his family's investment banking firm and join in the direction of the museum. Their collaboration was to last for 30 years. One of the results of their efforts included the construction in 1927 of a building to house the enlarged collections. The style of the museum and its relationship to teaching within the University served as an example for curators everywhere. To members of IIC, Mr. Forbes' great importance is in his encouragement of the technical study of materials of fine arts. In recognition of this work, he was made the first Honrary Fellow of IIC on his 85th birthday in 1958. It was Mr. Forbes who brought together the laboratory team under Mr. George L. Stout's direction, with R. J. Gettens and R. D. Buck. His spirit, enthusiasm, and insight led to the important work of that laboratory and to the training of so many of the American leaders in museum conservation. His was a leadership of example. His gentle enthusiasm kindled a spirit and dedication towards the conservation and technical examination of museum objects that has traveled far from the unpretentious museum in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and burns as brightly as ever in those who enjoyed the pleasure of his company. Bulletin of the American group. International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Work v.9, 2, April 1969. Rg. 8. 1. d Waldo Forbes, nLee Visionary. d U. : 7099 Art Museum, 1971. FOREWORD EDWARD FORBES was paradox personified. Our generation thinks of him IN the director who created the Fogg Museum. How else could he fairly be described? Agnes Mongan has told in the introduction to this cata- logue of the changes he wrought in his own institution and the influence he exerted on all American art museums. Such an achievement would surely have required a lifetime of hard, administrative work. That is not how Forbes saw his life. The Fogg plays a major, but by OCLC no means a dominant role in his extended, unpublished autobiography, "An Notes." Hard work? It is never suggested. Administration? The word is not mentioned. His manuscript is a rambling tale of objects and friends, a chronicle put together by a consistently warmhearted, OC- nationally disorganized amateur. And the impression that emerges from the writing is identical with that conveyed by the man one met. No one ever scemed less like our stereotype of a successful museum di- fertur, Lighthearted, carefree, obviously absentminded, he never seemed to be grasping the point one was trying to make. Could he concentrate? A man of vision, certainly, but also a man of notions. It was a long time before ene became aware that if he yielded on his notions with easy good humar, he pursued his visions with quiet relentlessness. Fa this pursuit he brought an astonishing variety of talents. Most im- distely, energy and a desire to begin making changes. Most funda- il Hill for friendship based on an exceptional range of sympathy and an unerring eye for quality in people. He could evoke from hard- driving executives an idealistic dedication of which they did not know were capable; be could inspire the young and feckless to focus their he at least one moment of significant creativity; he could direct to il lifetime of dogged devotion. Friendship meant ac- 3 2 Design; George Stout, appointed by Edward Forbes to be the of the Fogg's Department of Conservation (he later became f the Worcester Art Museum and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Boston) Elizabeth Jones, our present chief of Conservation; delbaum and Marjorie Kitchen FitzSimons, graduate students iseum training course; Linn Orear, Editorial Assistant. Rosa- Edward Waldo Forbes bes Pickhardt, Ann Forbes, and Mr. and Mrs. Elliot Forbes inuously and always graciously answered the endless queries 1873 July 16. Born on Naushon Island, Woods Hole, Massachu- ) them. setts, the son of William Hathaway and Edith Emerson a rapidly changing present with its necessary innovative and Forbes. Educated at Milton Academy. 5 programs quite alters ways which even recently seemed fairly 1895 A.B., Harvard University. emed well to record, as we are attempting to do in this exhibi- 1899 Purchased first Italian primitive in his collection while travel- of the Fogg Museum's past and in so doing to honor one of its ing and studying in Italy. ors. AGNES MONGAN 1000 Founding Member, Trustees of Public Reservations. 1000-1902 Special student, New College, Oxford, England. 1902 Formed Charles River Associates. 1003-1966 Trustee, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. 1903-1904 Taught English, Grammar, and French at Middlesex School, Concord, Massachusetts. 1904 Member, Committee on the Fogg Museum. 1904-1920 Standing Committee, Trustees of Public Reservations. 1907 January 29. Married Margaret Laighton of Boston. 1900-1944 Director, Fogg Art Museum. 1000-1041 Lecturer, Department of Fine Arts, Harvard University. (gill 1919 Served in the American Red Cross, Italy. 1011 Honorary M.A., Harvard University. 1947 Trustce, Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford, Connecticut. 1911 Martin A. Ryerson Lecturer in Fine Arts, Harvard University. I lonorary Doctor of Arts, Harvard University. 104 1957 Board of Overseers, Harvard University. 1046 1060 Life Member, Trustees of Public Reservations. I Honorary Fellow, International Institute of Conservation. Mard h 11. Died in Cambridge. xi Beth A Mandelbaum and 3 Marjorie K. Fitz Simons Eds. City Planner FOREWORD CITY planning encompasses many varied activities and interests. De- pending on the particular individual and his preferences, it can be ap- proached from any one of its many different aspects. To the majority of people, city planning is basically a matter of eco- nomics. Their interest is conditioned by economic feasibility. To others it is rightly a social concern. To some, perhaps only a few, it is viewed in its physical or form-giving aspect, which brings city planning into the field of design. Those interested in the visual arts are most concerned with this latter form-giving process, one that determines the final shapes of the buildings and spaces in which we live. The awareness of the physical aspects of city planning should not in any way diminish the im- portance of the social and economic aspects. We are beginning to realize that decay and pollution have gone so far that the traditional ways of correcting present-day poor conditions have to be radically reformed or abandoned, and new ways of financing the required changes must be found. Edward Waldo Forbes was mainly interested in the visual arts; for him an interest in landscape architecture and city planning was a natural outgrowth of his interest in the arts and his wish to live surrounded by things beautiful. His ties to Cambridge and Harvard moved him many years ago to apply his visionary gifts to his everyday environment. He be- longed to that particular group of city planners, a gifted minority, who react to the harmony or beauty of the environment, both natural and man-made. Many planners today would call him a utopian or a dreamer -anyone trying to follow a similar line of thought only a few years ago was referred to as a "long-haired city planner." Attitudes have happily changed. The continued destruction of our environment, and the serious 46 problems of our cities with which we have to cope, bring the utopian dreamers of yesterday closer to today's reality. 4. Edward Waldo Forbes worked and fought to create a better and more harmonious environment. His approach was that of a man concerned with the preservation of beauty. He believed it worthwhile to wage a long battle to improve the conditions of the areas around the Harvard University campus. Happily he was successful. Anyone familiar with the In 1921 Harvard's President Lowell awarded an honorary degree of University's development along the banks of the Charles will realize, in Master of Arts to "Edward Waldo Forbes whose tenacity of purpose reading this text, the considerable benefits both Cambridge and Harvard in acquiring for the University the Riverside land, and works of art for have derived from the pioneering efforts of Edward Waldo Forbes. its museum, has achieved the incredible." Many are aware of the part played by Forbes during his thirty-five-year directorship of the Fogg JOSÉ LUIS SERT Museum in providing the Harvard community and the public at large with significant works of art. Less well known is Edward Forbes's role as the guiding spirit and principal fund raiser of a group of Harvard alumni who worked indefatigably during the first decade of the twen- tieth century to acquire most of the land in Cambridge bounded on the north and south by Mount Auburn Street and the Charles River, and on the east and west by De Wolfe and Boylston Streets (see Figure I). This land, upon which many of Harvard's undergraduate Houses now were stand, was purchased by Edward Forbes and his "Riverside Associates" appleton with the future development of the University in mind. The Riverside Associates, formed initially as a private group with no special commit- efforts, ment to Harvard other than a strong loyalty, intended from the start CBD's massi that the land which they had worked so hard to acquire would one day be part of the University. directed Joices An examination of the history of the Harvard Riverside Associates in- volves many legal and technical considerations which will be discussed here. The basic facts, however, have far-reaching conceptual ramifica- off space tions. Edward Forbes's vision of the future, the transformation of the muddy banks of the Charles River, with its factories and old unattractive in City wooden buildings (see Figures 2, 3), into a second Harvard "Yard" and comparable with the residential colleges of Cambridge and Oxford, is very much in the spirit of the concept of the "city beautiful," a phrase often used by urban planners and landscape architects at the turn of the account abserts century. In other words, Forbes, whose strong sense of the importance of providing the public with beauty is apparent in his multifarious con- tributions to the Fogg Art Museum, carried this idea over into the fields that of urban planning and conservation of open spaces. His efforts resulted could > resulted in a direct and powerful impact on the face of Harvard! The work of the Harvard Riverside Associates also reflects the large-scale interest in town 1 Bentinck-Smith, W., "Forbes of the Fogg," Milton Bulletin, Vol. 4, February, 1941, 48 p. 4. ILL Notes See remainder of city planning essay, Pgs. 49-88. Karl Hagland As an engineer I am unable to advise my friends to put money into per- Inventing the Charles Rever 0 manent buildings for an institution [MIT] which by the time it gets to be vigorously performing its use is faced by a continually increasing expense to protect it against the encroachments of the sea, with a distant future when Cambridge MIT Press, 2003. submergence is inevitable. See Pp. 194 f. Hiram Mills to the president of MIT, 1912 People come here from the West and turn up their noses at the Charles river basin. They state flatly what they would do with that basin if people out The Colleges and the West had the handling of it. It would be "something else than a wash basin with some ducks in it." Esplanades Cambridge Tribune, 1928 In no city is unification of public sentiment more difficult to obtain. In none are more numerous or more various plans offered every time a public improve- ment is proposed Will the thing be done? Who can tell? This is Boston. The New York Times, on the plan to build a four-lane highway as part of the new Esplanade, 1929 Today, there is only one esplanade on the Charles-the one with the Hatch Shell and the fireworks, on the Boston side. But from the first proposal of the new Boston Park Department in 1876 to the completion of the islands and lagoons in 1936, the area was officially called the Boston Embankment The Esplanade was across the river in Cambridge. The name showed up first in the 1870s on the maps and drawings of Charles Davenport, then in the street plans and park proposals of the city of Cambridge a decade later. But at some point after the completion of the Boston Embankment in 1910, the name crossed the river to stay. In the last decade of the nineteenth century, few signs of active life or leisure could be seen along the river-mostly rowers on the water and a few athletes at Harvard's recently dedicated Soldiers Field. Then came the studied eclecticism of Carey Cage, a small structure for indoor sports, and Harvard Stadium, the largest reinforced concrete structure in the world at the time. In 1903, the Charles River Dam was approved, and new parks and parkways were built. Moving at a measured pace, Boston's universities dis- I rontispiece Nett Boston Citile Ideance ( Sampaign, cember 1910. detail covered the riverbanks. FULL CATALOG - Full View of Record Page 1 of 1 Harvard University HOLLIS CATALOG Search Results List C Expanded Search Previous Searches TAS Command Search Display Options Full Catalog Find Articles Journal Titles Digital Resources R Full View of Record : FULL CATALOG Print/Save/Send Add to List View List Last Browse Back to Results List Choose format: Full view I Short view I MARC Record 4 out of 59 Previous Record Next Record Author : Shurtleff, Arthur A. Title : Boston metropolitan planning. Locations/Orders : Availability Location : Loeb Design i Analytic [To locate, search for the title of the journal in which it appears.] Holdings Availability In : City planning, vol. 6:1, Jan. 1930, p. 15-19; with photo, plans. HOLLIS Number : 003925374 Previous Record Next Record SEARCH: FULL CATALOG Search type: Search for: Keywords anywhere Title beginning with Title keywords Author (last name first) Search Clear Author keywords Scroll down for more choices Have you tried Harvard's Google Book Search? LibX Search Tool About the HOLLIS Catalog E-RESEARCH (ARTICLES) CITATION LINKER RESEARCH GUIDES OTHER CATALOGS LIBRARY INFO HARVARD LIBRARIES HA Copyright © 2006 President and Fellows of Harvard College http://lms01.harvard.edu/F/THMCU5MRK5QGVE44KXUHVMNBD4DIYKGUJ7BQB2.. 5/11/2008 FULL CATALOG - Full View of Record Page 1 of 1 Harvard University HOLLIS CATALOG Search Results List C Expanded Search Previous Searches TAS Command Search Display Options Full Catalog Find Articles Journal Titles Digital Resources R Full View of Record : FULL CATALOG Print/Save/Send Add to List View List Last Browse Back to Results List Choose format: Full view I Short view I MARC Record 54 out of 59 Previous Record Next Record Author : Shurcliff, Arthur A. (Arthur Asahel), 1870-1957. Title : The Metropolitan plan. By A.A. Shurtleff. Locations/Orders : Availability Location : Cabot Science i Eng 450.13 [In storage. Consult Circ. desk.] Holdings Availability Description : p. Maps and plans. Notes : In Massachusetts - Metropolitan improvements commission. Public improvements for the Metropolitan District, 1909, pp. 187- 258. HOLLIS Number : 006966778 Previous Record Next Record SEARCH: FULL CATALOG Search type: Search for: Keywords anywhere Title beginning with Title keywords Author (last name first) Search Clear Author keywords Scroll down for more choices Have you tried Harvard's Google Book Search? LibX Search Tool About the HOLLIS Catalog E-RESEARCH (ARTICLES) CITATION LINKER RESEARCH GUIDES OTHER CATALOGS LIBRARY INFO HARVARD LIBRARIES HA Copyright © 2006 President and Fellows of Harvard College http://lms01.harvard.edu/F/THMCU5MRK5QGVE44KXUHVMNBD4DIYKGUJ7BQB2... 5/11/2008 Source: Bunting i Robert H. Nylander. Old Cambridge CantridgettistorialComm. 1973. and Coolidge but today after several changes in name known as Shepley, Bul- finch, Richardson, and Abbott) did not obtain its first commission until 1893 (Perkins and Conant Halls), though it was to have a virtual monopoly of Harvard commissions under President Lowell If not, in the long run, followers of H.H. Richardson's style, this firm succeeded to his architectural practice, the partners being trained in his office, and one of them, George F. Shepley, married to Richardson's daughter. If one may not speak of a single Eliot style of architecture, he can identify an Eliot real estate policy. Its formation was in part historical, following a decisión the Massachusetts Supreme Court (Massachusetts General Hospital VS. The Inhabitants of Somerville) in March 1869, the first year of Eliot's tenure, which had ruled that a city could not tax a charitable or educational institution for the unimproved land it owned, Under this ruling Harvard was relieved of a yearly tax burden of $2500. This was the signal to increase land acquisition, and before the next year was out Harvard had acquired Jarvis Field (in exchange for the Delta upon which Memorial Hall was to be built) and accepted the gift of 70 acres in the Brighton marshes from Longfellow and his friends; in 1871 the 5.3-acre Holmes Field was purchased for $31,500, bringing Harvard holdings in unim- proved land to a value of almost $107,000. The other large gift of land was Soldier's Field, donated by Major Henry Lee Higginson in 1890. President Eliot decreed, however, that money saved in taxes should be expended for main- tenance of grounds, thus repaying the community to some extent for tax losses. In 1870 a campaign was launched to landscape the Yard; Jarvis and Holmes 374. PLAN SUBMITTED BY THE HARVARD Fields were graded in 1874-75; $5000 was expended on brick and stone college BOARD OF OVERSEERS TO THE CORPORATION, sidewalks in 1874. Tree-planting and pruning went forward in 1869, 1871, 1876, NOVEMBER 1896. PROBABLY DRAWN and the late eighties. new STIONSHOR THE BY OLMSTED, OLMSTED & ELIOT THE GROUNDS or HARVARD COLLEGE If the policy of land acquisition was clearly a strong point of Eliot's administra- tion, planning for its use was not, though it was a matter much discussed in Peabody, Augustus Hemenway, and George Shattuck) commissioned a study of the decades after 1890. The president's son, landscape architect Charles Eliot, their own, entitled "Suggestions for the Orderly Arrangement of the Grounds of after three years' work of supervising the grounds (1887-90), criticized the Cor- Harvard College." This they submitted to the Corporation in November 1896 poration for not adopting a definite scheme for physical development: "This (Fig. 374). Probably prepared by Olmsted, Olmsted and Éliot, the plan a permitting donors of buildings and gates to choose their sites is fatal to general companying this report concentrates on the Yard and the North Yard, and effect. Outside the quadrangle the Yard is already a jumble of badly placed buildings and roads " attempts to patch together a sequence of axes and symmetrically arranged build The same note is echoed in Charles McKim's exasper- ings which looks more orderly on paper than it would have read in actuality ated comment to the Treasurer that "some plan is woefully needed at Har- vard Another interesting aspect is the way it anticipates a library as large as Widener " and it is confirmed by a resolution passed by the Board of Overseers yet ignores Harvard Yard by attaching the huge building to the south of Gore in 1894 and sent to the President and Fellows, pointing out the need for a plan Hall and by providing a great porticoed facade fronting Massachusetts Avenue for future development of college property. The resolution also recommended the appointment of an advisory committee of competent professional men se- From there a processional way leads to the river where a parkway was being planned by the city. lected by members of the university's governing boards to approve all plans for future building. The Olmsted proposal was characteristic of several others that followed during The President and Fellows did not seem to think such plans for future develop- the rest of Eliot's administration. none of them acted upon. As late as 1905, in ment or the appointment of an advisory committee necessary. They did, how- response to a report by the Visiting Committee on Fine Arts and Architecture the Treasurer of the Corporation, Charles Francis Adams, wrote that the result ever, commission a series of plans by Aspinwall and Lincoln (1895) showing the boundaries of the college real estate in Cambridge and the locations of existing of building during the previous sixty years "is a disgrace, and I imagine that Eliot's long administration will hereafter be judged by it. Nevertheless the ideas buildings, with notes concerning restrictions and conditions governing the place- ment of buildings on the various parcels. Apparently the Overseers did not contained in the various proposals inspired a group of loyal alumni to lay the groundwork for future expansion toward the river, a topic to be discussed in consider this a satisfactory solution, for a subcommittee of the board (Robert relation to the Lowell administration. 182 386. VIEW OF HARVARD HOUSES FROM 387. KIRKLAND HOUSE, WILLIAM SMITH HALL, 1913. ACROSS THE CHARLES RIVER. PHOTO OF 1936 SHEPLEY, RUTAN & COOLIDGE The houses along the river form one of Greater Boston's majestic sights (Fig. hip-roofed elevation found on the narrow ends of Harvard Hall is used at 386). Looking more like palatial residences than college dormitories, the Standish Hall, though here the wooden cornice is more intricate than the original structures are set among trees which unite them as a group yet preclude visual worked in brownstone. When, because of their larger scale, the houses sometimes competition between individual buildings. Several towers are discernible above needed heavier or more elaborate architectural accents than colonial work the treetops but not SO many as to clutter the scene, and the houses open toward provided, the designer did not hesitate to turn to more opulent English an almost idyllic foreground (if one can forget the traffic, of the riverfront and precedents, as at Gore Hall, which recalls the late 17th-century garden facade of parkway), the remarkable thing is how individualistic yet how harmonious are Hampton Court. However, the one detail most popular with the Shepley office the five large structures fronting the river. Each appears to have grown separately was the console balcony and enframed window of the east facade of the Old in response to its own set of requirements, yet they are harmonious because State House in Boston. An almost exact replica of this famous composition was those requirements were not dissimilar. Because there is so little evidence of used on the facade of Fogg Museum and in simpler form and smaller scale at monotonous repetition, it is hard to imagine that all were designed by one McKinlock Hall and Eliot House. In short, this South Yard gives the feeling of a architectural firm within a sixteen-year period. neighborhood that has grown harmoniously over a period of time rather than of one planned all at once by a designer standing at a drafting table. This, indeed, is The houses along the river represent a conscious effort by the administration to the difference between the feeling generated by the South Yard and that by the extend the atmosphere of old Harvard Yard to a new South Yard and thus to campus of Harvard Business School (1924) on the opposite side of the river, symbolize the continuity of the Harvard "Collegiate Way of Life.' One means of which seems to have sprung into being all on the same day (except, of course, accomplishing this was the conscious Imitation of the architectural style used in for additions since World War II). the Yard. There could be no reproduction of specific old buildings, because the new ones were much larger in scale, but each house was sited and detailed in a Each house has its own character. Kirkland House, composed of Smith and distinctive way. The plan of none of them is exactly the same, and some were Bryan Halls, may be the least interesting, because of its rather fussy detail and fitted to irregular sites. Even more subtle was the way architectural ornamenta- the rigid planning of the main quadrangle (Fig. 387). The design is conservative, tion was handled, with one dormitory borrowing details from a particular model, with a profusion of somewhat dry ornament typical of the early 1900's. The another from a different one, so that each achieved an individuality of its own. formal symmetry of the completely enclosed main courtyard, which permits no irregularity and provides no visual escape route other than by the axial entrance Thus Kirkland House is the only one to use the twin chimneyed gable connected arches, is confining and rather boring because it can be read at a glance; much by a horizontal parapet found at Massachusetts Hall, and McKinlock Hall makes livelier is the long narrow court formed by the addition of Bryan Hall (1931) the only use of the stepped gable, volutes, and paired oculus windows from the and closed off from Dunster Street by the tencing and planting around the Old State House in Boston. The recessed entries with pilasters superimposed on master's house garden. Hicks House as the house library is a welcome and rusticated jambs of the old main (west) front of Hollis Hall were copied with imaginative relief and represents Harvard's first effort to preserve an early great appropriateness in the old Yard on Mower and Lionel Halls and later at Cambridge building other than its own (Fig. 128). The large mass of the whole McKinlock; the florid scroll work from the pediment of Holden Chapel is used in complex works well in screening off the quiet tree-filled yard from noisy simpler form at Dunster House. The pedimented pavilion superimposed on a Boylston Street. 183 The hint of a rural environment conveyed by the pleasant lawns and courts of improving the area for the benefit of the school, President Eliot made it clear the South Yard is magnificently amplified in the park area along the Charles River and beyond that by the campus of the Business School. The river is that Harvard had no funds for such projects; anything accomplished here would have to be done with outside finance. He also opined shrewdly that an spanned by two handsome brick bridges, the Anderson (1912) and the Weeks Memorial (1926), the latter a footbridge that also carries steam pipes to the expression of university interest in such a project would cause land prices to soar. Business School buildings. Weld Boat House, a picturesque building from the pre-Lowell era, was erected in 1906. Attention was first called to the area in the late 1890's by discussions of The development of the South Yard was slow and hesitant, spanning the last improvements in the Charles River basin. It was proposed to construct a tidal years of the Eliot administration and most of Lowell's. Even after the idea of a dam that would stabilize the water level, to landscape the river banks, and to line Yard had been accepted, the concept of how it should be designed changed the river with carriage-ways. The earliest scheme (about 1894) for extending drastically, beginning as a mere parkway connecting Harvard Yard with the river Harvard toward the river was a proposal by Charles Eliot, the president's son, to and expanding eventually to include the entire area between DeWolfe and improve the Brighton lands-the Longfellow meadows and Soldier's Field- Boylston Streets. The present concept of self-contained residential nuclei already in university ownership. The idea of a physical link between Harvard and connected by informal, tree-filled parks and streets with little traffic evolved the river first appears, however, in the Olmsted plan commissioned by the only gradually, and one is thankful that the realization of the project was Overseers in 1896 (and mentioned earlier in relation to the North Yard) (Fig. delayed long enough for the present scheme to mature. 374). This plan suggests a "park approach" from the river, that is, a boulevard connecting the Yard with a carriage-way along the river. Typical of "City The zoneGouth of Mt. Auburn Street known as Riverside was not an attractive Beautiful" planning of that period, the proposal does little more than replace one in the late 19th century (Figs. 67, 392). Containing a mixture of modest Plympton Street with a 70-foot wide, tree-shaded avenue, whose axis is shifted residential and commercial buildings, its riverfront was clogged with an ugly slightly to conform to that of a hypothetical group of buildings to be erected in amortment of wharfs, coal yards, storehouses, and a power plant. As late as 1898 the Yard, while ignoring the shabby Riverside district through which it passes. Harvard was disposing of property south of Massachusetts Avenue instead of acquiring ii. When planners and alumni began to discuss the possibilities of Such a scheme was soon rendered obsolete by the construction between 1892 and 1903 of a series of costly dormitories along Mt. Auburn Street financed by private capital. Fresh impetus was given the movement to connect Yard and river by the actual construction in 1902 of a stretch of riverside parkway extending between DeWolfe and Boylston Streets. Now the proposed connecting boulevard was shifted to DeWolfe Street to avoid the new dormitories (Fig. 393). This stage of the planning is illustrated by the 1901 proposal by F.L. Olmsted, Jr. for the widening of DeWolfe Street, in which that thoroughfare is envisioned as a 392. AERIAL VIEW OF 1875 SHOWING SOLDIERS FIELD, spur off the river parkway leading to Quincy Square and the Yard. A remnant of RIVERSIDE, AND RESIDENCES FRONTING QUINCY ST. this plan is the Class of 1880 Gate facing Quincy Square, an appropriate architectural focus to terminate the proposed DeWolfe Street axis. This gate at the bottom of a modestly high terrace has never led anywhere, neither when erected in 1905 and Professor Palmer's house stood off center on top of the terrace nor today when blocked by Lamont Library; its only purpose was to provide a monumental terminus for the unrealized boulevard. Early in 1902 a group of Harvard alumni mounted a campaign for funds to augment those allotted by the city and Park Commission to enhance he proposed aggrandizement of DeWolfe Street. At this point, however, a recent Harvard graduate, Edward Forbes, entered the picture. Although he had contributed to the boulevard project, he sensed deficiencies in it. Very soon he realized the greater possibilities of acquiring the entire area between Mt. Auburn Street and the river, an ambitious venture in which he was able to rally the support of a number of influential alumni. The story of his activities and some of the designs proposed for the improvement of the area were presented as part of HIT exhibition honoring Mr. Forbes in 1971, It was mounted by the Foga Museum of which Forbes for many years was 184 HARVARD UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Harvard University Archives TAS Pusey Library Harvard Yard Cambridge, MA 02138 T 617.495.2461 F 617.495.8011 May 29, 2008 Ronald H. Epp 47 Pond View Drive Merrimack, NH 03054 Dear Mr. Epp: Enclosed please find a photocopy of the following, as requested: Cooney, Sharon. 1990. "The Harvard Riverside Associates: Land Acquisition South of Harvard Yard, 1930-1918." Unpublished paper, Cambridge Historical Commission. (Call number HUD 3748.290) Sincerely, RobinCarlaw Robin Carlaw Researcher Enclosure THE HARVARD RIVERSIDE ASSOCIATES: Land Acquisition South of Harvard Yard, 1903-1918 Sharon Cooney Cambridge Historical Commission August, 1990 1 THE HARVARD RIVERSIDE ASSOCIATES: Land Acquisition South of Harvard Yard, 1903-1918 In his 1901-1902 Annual Report, President Eliot noted that the acquisition scheme designed to secure land for the Medical School in Boston actually placed too much land in the hands of the University and that the University would therefore sell the excess. While this decision by the Harvard Corporation assuredly rankled with some members of the Harvard community, it was probably met with approval by another set of Harvard alumni and affiliates who were also in favor of Harvard expansion. This group was dissatisfied with Harvard's policy of expansion only to the north of the Yard. The area south of the Yard was becoming increasingly more attractive as a place for badly needed expansion by the University. The city had completed by 1901 much of the clean-up of the riverfront area, and had nearly finished Memorial Drive. The students had demonstrated their own preference for the Mount Auburn Street area, and made it a desirable location for clubs and private dormitories. Around 1901, several members of the Harvard community sought to take advantage of the riverfront clean-up by initiating a plan for transforming DeWolfe Street into a broad boulevard to the River. The DeWolfe Street widening initiative was part of a growing awareness of the possibilities for improvement and expansion towards the river. Those committed to the street widening commissioned plans for the 2 eventual development of that area, with DeWolfe Street slashing through what, in 1902, was a district full of low income houses and businesses, but which could be converted into a grand new Harvard, if the plans were fulfilled. Into this atmosphere stepped the Riverside Associates, another group of Harvard alumni with an eye toward improving the land south of the Yard for Harvard's sake. The actual date on which the idea for the Riverside Associates took hold is uncertain since sources vary. As early as January 7, 1902, Edward Forbes, one of the Associates, wrote a letter to Harold Coolidge accepting his services as a real estate agent securing land for the school.1 (Since this letter was located in a Riverside Associates folder, it is likely that the real estate transactions were to be made for alumni rather than for the Harvard Corporation. ) In a letter to McGeorge Bundy, Forbes set the date for the plan between 1902 and 1904, 2 while another Associate, Thomas Thomas Nelson Perkins, set the date in the spring of 1903.3 The ,Veism Parkers. idea- for creating the group was conceived by Edward Waldo Forbes. Forbes graduated from Harvard in 1895, and remained C12. active in Harvard affairs, holding a position with the University until, in 1909, Eliot appointed him the director of the Fogg Art Museum. In correspondence with his brother, Cameron, while studying in Paris, Edward revealed his hopes for Harvard's future. Edward was later to collaborate with Cameron in gaining subscribers for the Associates. It is likely that Edward's connection with Perkins was made 3 through his brother, who had lived with Perkins from 1898 to 1900. Perkins graduated from the college in 1891 and the law school in 1894, after which he joined Ropes, Gray & Loring, a Boston law firm. He became a fellow of the University in 1905, a position he held until he died in 1937. Perkins wrote of his reasons for joining Forbes in his plan in a letter to J. P. Morgan, Jr., , in 1908: My first connection with the Harvard Riverside matter was in the spring of 1903 when Forbes first took up the subject. He then came to me to get me to draw various forms of subscription papers for him, and I talked to him about the matter a good deal. The plan of securing and holding the land between Mt. Auburn Street and the river for the benefit of the College seemed to me then to have been a very good one, and it seems to me now to have been a good one. At that time the College had been growing with marked rapidity. Private dormitories were being built and the character of the territory between what was then Harvard Street, and is now Mass. Ave., and Mt. Auburn St., had changed very markedly in comparatively few years. The district immediately south of Mt. Auburn Street was a very decided eyesore. I believed as I still believe that it was a mistake for the College to try to force the dormitory development on the north side of the Yard, because I did not believe any more than I do now that the college boys wanted to live on the north side of the Yard and I believed that the proper development for the college was toward the river "4 Forbes and Perkins were not alone in their visions for Harvard's future, and land and options in the area south of the Yard began to be bought in the names of various alumni. Eliot and the College's Role There is no documentation of the University's role in dates! the beginnings of Forbes' plan, but it is clear that Eliot and other members of the University community were aware of without the plan almost from its conception. On November 26, 1902, Dann Elist 4 one University administrator mentioned that Eliot was aware that there were men who were interested in buying the land south of the Yard 5 H. L. Higginson, an overseer and the principal donor of the Harvard Union, wrote a letter to Forbes which was included in a prospectus for the Associates on February 25, 1903. The letter expressed approval for the project because "it cleans up a part of Cambridge, and promises to make it more beautiful, and to open the college Yard down to the river.6 It is clear that Eliot himself had a hand in the creation of the Prospectus to be sent to potential contributors, as well as in the actual make-up of the Trustees. Perkins continued an extensive correspondence with Eliot in February and March of 1903. On February 28, for instance, Perkins sent a draft of the proposed prospectus to Eliot for his perusal and asked him, if everything was satisfactory, to write a letter to Forbes to be included in the prospectus. 7 Eliot did write this letter, and it was included in the final prospectus. The letter, dated March 5, said that while the University was not in a position to appropriate any of its funds or income at that time, "it is quite within the range of its present experience that it should be hereafter provided with money which will enable it to avail itself of the thoughtful and ingenious provisions of the plan devised to secure a great benefit to the College. 8 Eliot's connection to the land acquisition scheme appeared to be more firm in his correspondences with 5 Perkins. On March 24, Perkins wrote to Eliot to tell him that they had succeeded in securing options for nearly all of the important parcels. But, he wrote, Forbes was not competent for the task of getting subscribers in Boston because of his lack of experience. "Men who should subscribe at least $10,000 are giving only $1,000 each and with $500,000 to raise, small subscriptions will not do. "9 Perkins wanted to ask Lowell to do the job, and wanted Eliot's opinion. For some reason, Eliot's letter books, which contain a carbon of the letters which he sent from his office, did not cover this brief period - one volume ended just short of this period and the next one continued on March 30 - and no other copy of the letters sent to Perkins could be found. However, according to a letter sent to Perkins dated March 26, Eliot did respond unfavorably to Lowell's connection with the group as a fund raiser. Perkins wrote, "I am sorry that you feel as you do about Mr. . Lawrence Lowell. It seems to me that it is not SO much that we need somebody else to take charge of the job of getting subscriptions, as it is that we need some older person to get the subscriptions. I think Edward Forbes can be of a great deal of use, as he has time and is very zealous, but with $500,000 to raise at a time when money is SO hard to get as it is now, we have got to get men who will give more than $1,000."10 Eliot must have written back because Perkins thanked him for a letter he wrote on March 27, in his own letter dated March 30. In that letter, Perkins 6 mentioned that he secured the help of Robert Bacon and Augustus Belmont for soliciting subscriptions, possibly at the suggestion of Eliot.11 The actions of Eliot and the Corporation belie what seemed to be words of approval for the land scheme. Cameron Forbes wrote a brief history of the Associates, which his brother sent to the Harvard archivist in 1962. In that history, Cameron wrote that the University was unfriendly to the whole idea, especially because of the problems that they already faced with the city over taxation. "The unfriendly attitude toward the project which he encountered spread to the community in which Edward was hoping to raise the necessary money for the purchase of the land, and Edward met with what amounted to a cold refusal to subscribe toward the project. "12 While this explanation may have been a cover for his own brother's faults as a fund raiser, the fact that the University was hesitant at that time to take actions which could anger the city was true. In his letter to J. P. Morgan in 1908, Perkins mentioned that when he agreed to the scheme he "knew nothing about the troubles that the College was having with the City of Cambridge in regard to taxes, and had no knowledge about the financial difficulties that the College had to meet. " As to Eliot's feelings toward the project, there is much ambiguity. Obviously from his letters to Perkins and Forbes in the planning stage of the scheme, Eliot was somewhat in favor of the plan. However, he did not always 7 work with the Associates, and often acted in ways adverse to the success of the project. In the fall of 1903, Eliot spoke to a St. Louis meeting of Harvard graduates and said that the Associates needed no more money. On January 21, 1904, Perkins wrote to Forbes, "I will try to see Cam and find out what if anything he has done with President Eliot. I should think a quick death was much too merciful. "13 On June 28, 1904, Edward Forbes wrote to Eliot to ask him if he would make a statement that rectified his error in St. Louis, since the Associates were in fact in great need of donors to cover the maintenance costs of the property. Eliot agreed, though there was no evidence that he did indeed rectify his mistake. In 1907, when allegations were raised in the General Court that the University proposed to take the Riverside lands out of taxation, Perkins sought Eliot's help in placating the legislature, without committing them to any future policy. 14 Eliot went ahead and wrote to the chairman of the committee on taxation, without first asking Perkins' opinion. Perkins probably would have opposed sending the letter. In it, Eliot wrote that the University's sole interest was in the beautification of that area, that the idea that they would take over the land was false, and that that Corporation would not take any of the land out of taxation. 15 Essentially, Eliot committed his administration and the Associates in a way against which Perkins had warned him. Eliot probably meant what he wrote to the legislature, and 8 Eliot truly did not think that the lands held by the Associates would be used by the University while he was in office. Since the trust was set up with a five year time limit, it is evident that the Associates and Eliot were not agreed upon the future of the Riverside lands. While Eliot was aware of the Associates' plans, and approved of their efforts to a degree, he was not entirely willing to commit the University to these plans, and perhaps did not see a need for the South Yard which the Associates planned for from the start. The available records of the Overseers and the Corporation do not show any official discussions of or policies concerning the Associates. The Board of Overseers had commissioned a report on the state of the dormitories shortly before the Associates came about, and Lowell and Harold Coolidge's brother, Archibald, were members of the commission which recommended a comprehensive housing plan in their 1902 report. However, this cannot be assumed to have been accepted as correct policy by the Board, and the fortuitous time at which the report was published may have been strictly coincidental. Nevertheless, the report proved portentous since Lowell soon assumed office and made the South Yard project his prime concern. The Organization of the Associates Forbes' idea for securing land for the school culminated in the Harvard Riverside Associates, a trust designed to manage and develop the lands held by the group 9 with an eye toward Harvard's future expansion. However, much activity was completed before the Declaration of Trust was filed with the Registry of Deeds in 1903. Forbes solicited the help of Harold Coolidge for coordinating the actual purchase of the land for the group, and, after Forbes October, 1903, used Loring and Coolidge to manage the property and handle the financial affairs of the trust. 16 Harold Coolidge had graduated from Harvard in 1892 (Law, 1896), and was a member of the Randolph Trust and the University Associates, along with his brother, Joseph Randolph Coolidge. Forbes chose Coolidge on the basis of his success in buying the land for South Station. 17 Coolidge had been able to stem the inflation which usually accompanies large land deals by using several small brokers, each of which purchased two or three properties for the group. This plan would be ideal for the land acquisition scheme in Cambridge, SO long as word did not get out who was behind the purchases and the area of land of interest to the buyer was kept a secret. Word of the Associates' activities seemed to reach the 3/17/03. newspapers by March 17, 1903. The Boston Globe wrote on that date that the land south of Mt. Auburn Street was ideal for a group interested in beautifying that area, a strong hint at what was to come. The Globe calculated that there were eighty-one owners in the area in question and that it would not be a difficult venture to secure the land. The Boston Herald wrote a piece on the scheme on April 23, 1903, 10 writing, "The plan is merely an independent movement on the part of some graduates who believe that ten or twenty years hence they may have done something of real service to the college. Word of the Associates' plans, however, did not reach the press until the Prospectus was published, at which time most of the land which the Associates were interested in had already been purchased, or had already been secured through options. The Crimson did not write of the scheme, in fact, until after the land had all been purchased, in 1905. They wrote on March 17 of that year, "Their acquirement of the land between Massachusetts Avenue and the Charles points to a day when this section can be rid of its squalor and made both useful and attractive." Overall, the press reports of the developments in that area were positive and approving. Coolidge must have acted quickly after being commissioned by Forbes, because Forbes showed a map to Eliot on March 30, 1903, which showed the large number of houses that the Associates had already secured, either outright or as options for future sale. The area covered by the map demonstrated that the Associates had already secured most of the lands between Massachusetts Avenue and the river.18 Several very important tracts remained to be bought, nevertheless, and Coolidge continued to negotiate for their sale. Other than Forbes and Perkins, the original Associates included Robert Bacon, James A. Burden, and Augustus 11 Hemenway. Robert Bacon was chosen as a trustee because of his connections in Boston and New York. Bacon, a member of the class of 1880 and an overseer for eighteen years beginning in 1895, was a good choice for gaining subscribers and coordinating the Associates' activities. (Bacon was later appointed secretary of state by another Harvard graduate, Theodore Roosevelt. ) James Abercrombie Burden, class of 1893, had strong connections in New York and Boston, and was an asset in gaining the initial capital necessary to buy the properties. Augustus Hemenway, class of 1875, was an overseer, and gave the University the gymnasium in 1878. These men agreed to be trustees for the Associates and, in 1903, signed the Declaration of Trust (June 30, 1903, 3047-567). The Trust was designed to secure subscribers for up to $400,000 and to allow the trustees to take up to $600,000 in mortgages, all to be used to purchase the lands south of Massachusetts Avenue between DeWolfe Street and Boylston Street. Included in the trust agreement was a clause which stipulated that if the land had not been sold in five years the shareholders would determine what ought to be done with the trust. The Associates were hopeful that by that time the University would be in a position to buy the land. The Associates attempted to keep the logistics of the Trust simple: $200,000 would be secured from ten New York alumni, and the rest would be secured in Boston. The New York subscription was easy to fulfill - Robert Bacon, James 12 Stillman and seven other prominent alumni put forward $20,000, while Burden and Charles Wetmore, the private dormitory investor, joined to complete the subscription. Wetmore was particularly enthusiastic about the scheme and, in February, 1903, offered his architectural firm's services for the future building plans. 19 Shortly afterward, he sketched a plan for the area. Wetmore's firm submitted another plan for the area which was published in the Harper's Weekly, January 15, 1910. In August of 1903, Wetmore went one step further and offered to sell the group his properties in Cambridge at cost. 20 The Boston subscriptions were more difficult to achieve. By March 30, 1903, the Boston committee only had promises for $100,000. The group continued to use the Forbes brothers to find subscribers, however, and they achieved the full $200,000 needed. The combined $400,000 was used to purchase tracts within the desired area, and the trustees secured a mortgage on these tracts in order to purchase the remainder. Beyond the initial outlay of money for the purchase of the land, the trustees had to maintain the properties and pay the mortgage. The trustees expected to use the rentals from their properties to pay the mortgage as well as a three percent dividend to the capital investors. In the event that the rents were not sufficient to cover this expense, the trustees secured promises from one hundred alumni guarantors to fill the gap. While the initial subscription 13 was expected to be an investment (in Forbes' eyes at least) , the guarantees were to be outright gifts. Forbes admitted that his initial impression was that the subscriptions were an investment, and that the capital subscribed would be returned to the investors, but it was evident to Forbes by 1906 that it was unlikely that the subscribers would regain their initial investment. 21 Few of the subscribers actually thought of the transaction as an investment even in 1903, and were motivated more out of concern for Harvard than for financial gain. In fact, many of the subscribers stipulated that they did not want the dividends or the money returned. 22 It became clear at an early date that the guarantors would be necessary to carry the properties. Part of the problem sprang from the fact that the city, upon learning of the alumni's efforts, raised the assessed values of the properties, requiring higher taxes, because of the perceived wealth of the new owners. Also, much of the property was of poor quality, and therefore could yield only minimal rents. ( One exception was Shephard's Hall at 29-33 Holyoke Street, which was rented to Harvard students. ) By the time that the five-year trust expired, the financial situation was precarious. In a statement dated 1908, Forbes wrote, "The title will still be held by the Trustees because the relations between the Corporation and the City of Cambridge are strained on account of the question of taxation. "23 The Associates and the stockholders had to decide what to do 14 with the seventy-eight parcels of real estate which they had bought by that date for a total of $865,000. They decided 1908 to redesign the trust under the new name, Harvard Riverside Trustees. First, the guarantors were asked to convert the guarantees to an outright cash subscription in exchange for stock. Second, the University put up an additional $300,000 to pay part of the $485,000 mortgage on the land. Third, Harvard had the right to nominate one trustee and would be consulted before any mortgages were taken or dividends paid. Finally, Bacon was no longer to be a trustee, and Frank Appleton, Harold Coolidge, and Samuel Vaughan ( one of Perkins' associates) were made trustees. The purpose of the trust was reiterated: "The purpose of this trust is to ensure the management and development of the trust estate in such a manner as the trustees believe to be for the best interests of Harvard University; but the authorities of the said University shall have no right to direct the trustees or control their actions, except as herein expressly provided" (October 1, 1908, 3405-70). The indenture included a stipulation that, upon receipt of the land, the University would pay the Trustees rent. Putting the Land to Use Shortly after the new trust agreement had been completed, several changes at Harvard occurred which affected the land scheme. First, it became apparent that the attempts to widen DeWolfe Street would never be successful, owing to the City's arguments with the 15 University over taxation, and the fact that St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church was opposed to the widening, since it stood comments GSD; to lose some of its property. The group behind the street widening project agreed to give the money that they had raised to the Trustees (a total of about $50,000). This donation to the Riverside Trustees' cause was interesting, especially since Perkins refused to write a letter in support of the plan in 1907, for fear of tying the hands of the Trustees in the future. A second important event put the Riverside Trustees' plans into action - President Eliot retired from office, and his successor, A. Lawrence Lowell, became acting president in May, 1909. No record is available as to the relationship between Lowell and the land scheme prior to 1909, and Lowell's letters in that period did not include correspondence with the group. However, the fact that Perkins had considered Lowell as a potential fund raiser for the group, and the fact that Lowell had himself expressed the need for further development of the college plant, lend themselves to the notion that Lowell had considerable knowledge of, if not relations with, the Trustees. Very early after taking office, Lowell put his interest into Note: motion. On July 6, 1909, Coolidge wrote to Forbes that he Chich had had a long discussion with Lowell concerning the plans the for the land development which Guy Lowell and Emerson had already completed. 24 After that, Coolidge continued an BRD. active correspondence with Lowell, explaining to him the 16 movements of the trust in detail, especially Coolidge's efforts to purchase the remaining tracts which were deemed necessary for the dormitory plans. (Coolidge would have been required to do this because of the stipulation in the trust agreement of 1908. However, there was no indication that he had kept this kind of correspondence with Eliot. ) One example of Lowell's involvement, through correspondence with Coolidge, concerned the land at the corner of Plympton and Riverview streets. In December of 1909, Coolidge wrote Lowell to explain to him the difficulties which he was having in purchasing two lots owned by Michael O'Sullivan. Eleven Riverview and 101 Plympton were important to the plans which the Trustees had already commissioned. O'Sullivan, a contractor who had laid the foundations of many Harvard buildings, owned a great deal of land of interest to the Trustees, and had sold many lots to them (i.e., the properties on the north side of Mill Street, 14, 16, 18 and 20 Mill Street, and several lots and houses within the boundaries of Mill, DeWolfe, Riverview and Plympton streets). The houses at 11 Riverview and 101 Plympton Street were of a finer quality than those which he had already sold. O'Sullivan lived in 11 Riverview with his wife, and his cousin occupied 101 Plympton. It is likely that the Trustees had avoided purchasing the two houses at an earlier date because it would have been expensive to hold the properties, due to their higher assessed value, but it may also have been the case that O'Sullivan had refused to 17 sell (there was no mention of these two houses in the correspondence prior to 1909). In his December 6 letter, Coolidge described the difficulties which he had had with O'Sullivan. O'Sullivan refused to consider a sale for cash "saying that he was too old a man to break up his home. "25 When Coolidge offered to move the house to the corner of DeWolfe Street, and to pay him a cash bonus, he said he would need to think about it. A while later, O'Sullivan said he would need three more weeks to think about it, but Coolidge was pessimistic about the chances that he would sell at a price which the Trustees could afford. At the end of the letter, Coolidge reminded Lowell not to say anything about the plans to outsiders, since this would hurt the groups' efforts at securing the last tracts of land. In February, 1910, Coolidge offered O'Sullivan $25,000 for his lot and his cousin's lot. Coolidge again prescribed silence concerning the exact plans for the dormitory. Interestingly, by that time, Wetmore's original plan for the area had already been published in the January 15, 1910 Harper's Weekly. This may have been the reason behind O'Sullivan's recalcitrance. Several other owners had refused to sell for reasonable prices, because they knew that their properties were desired for the planned new dormitories. In the end, the University was forced to build around O'Sullivan's buildings, and, in 1926, when John F. O' Sullivan tried to sell the land to the University, Lowell 18 refused to buy, saying that it was of no use to them at that time since Gore was already built. 26 The two houses still remain, although they have since been purchased by the university. The example of the O'Sullivan dealings demonstrates both the difficulty which Coolidge faced in securing the last tracts of land, and the close relationship which Lowell maintained with the group. Lowell worked closely with the Riverside Trustees, but also had an agenda of his own. In 1910, he commissioned his own plans for the dormitory development, which he then showed to the Trustees. Foregoing the Trustees' own favored architects, Lowell chose Shepley, Rutan & Coolidge, and, by June of that year, had shown the plans to Forbes. No clear indication of the feelings of the Trustees as to Lowell's taking command of the project is extant, but Forbes did write of the incident in a letter to William Emerson. I asked H. C. and N. P. what effect (Lowell's plans) would have on our previous relations with Wetmore, which I have told you about. Harold replied that we the trustees of the HRT are really under no obligation in this matter. While we were the only people interested in the development of this land, we did a certain amount of planning. Now the President comes along and chooses any architect who he pleases and makes some plans. 27 The plans which Emerson and Guy Lowell had made, and which Coolidge had shown to Lowell only a year before, were disregarded by the President, who had his own vision for the area. This created a delicate situation for the Trustees, because it could alienate one of the projects most dedicated 19 supporters, Charles Wetmore. Wetmore, who had his associate, Vernon Howe Bailey, design the plan which was published in the Harpers' Weekly that same year, had agreed to aid the group in 1903 with the understanding that he might be given the commission. While no legal claim was held by Wetmore, it is likely that Lowell's disregard for the Trustees' position created a bad feeling among its members. Nevertheless, the Trustees continued to work with Lowell toward creating a workable plan. The land would not be transferred to the University until the Trustees were satisfied with the plans. Essential to gaining the Trustees' approval was the creation of a plan which kept the access to the river and the broad vistas which had been central to the Trustees' own plans. The plans of Emerson, Guy Lowell, and Charles Wetmore included a quadrangle with an opening to the river, around which were to be built various large dormitories. The effect of these plans was to make a second yard, more grand in scale than the Old Yard, and making use of the entire area below Mt. Auburn Street. Each of these plans made room for various club buildings along Mt. Auburn, incorporating that social structure into the campus environment. This was in keeping with the Trustees' standing policy of selling lots to the clubs. Also, the major private dormitories were to be incorporated in some way into the overall plan for the campus. This foreshadowed the eventual sale of many of them to the University. 20 The Trustee's plans were different from the eventual 1 plan for the area, for three reasons. First, Lowell had his own idea as to how the area ought to look, and Shepley, Rutan & Coolidge created a plan which did not have one central quadrangle, but rather, several smaller courtyards, allowing for better use of the area. The plan was in keeping with what came to be known as the house system. The house system, a concept not actually realized until the second phase of dormitory building had been completed, was modelled after the English universities' colleges. The term "house" was substituted SO as not to diminish the importance of Harvard College. Each dormitory would be its own "house", complete with a library and dining hall. Again, these features were not introduced until the second building phase, in the twenties. The Shepley plan also prevented the South Yard from eclipsing the importance of the old college Yard, because of the smaller scale of the quadrangles and the buildings themselves. This, however, did not allow for the vast open space to the river which the Trustees' plans had included, but the Trustees eventually accepted the plan, probably realizing that their hands were tied if they truly hoped to have their dream realized in the immediate future. Lowell, with his own very decided view of the College's future, was unlikely to compromise. The Shepley plan was the one used to raise the money to begin construction. 21 2 A second reason why the final plans for the area's development differed SO greatly from what had initially been offered by the group's architects was that the plans were restricted by the unavailability of certain tracts of land. As was the case with the real estate at 11 Riverview and 101 Plympton Street, the Trustees were unable to purchase several pieces of land which could have been important parts of the new dormitory area. Berry, who owned the land at the south corner of Dunster and South streets, refused to sell for less than $19,000 because he knew that the plans required his property. 28 Likewise, Delaney refused to sell the lot next door, 20 South Street, for a price which the Trustees could afford. 29 The plans, therefore, had to be altered, preventing the building of Smith Hall at South Street. Delaney continued to hold out, and, in 1930, when the University built Bryan Hall just below South Street, they could not build the center section because that lot had been rented to someone unwilling to break the contract. This Hall could not be finished until 1933. The plans for Gore Hall were altered to build around the O'Sullivan property. Those lots were never incorporated into the dormitory system. 3 The third factor in settling where the buildings would be placed was the necessity to retain as many properties as possible as renting properties. Since the rents helped to pay the taxes, the more lucrative rentals were essential to the Trustees' plans. The first buildings were built in an 22 area where there were few buildings. For instance, Gore Hall required the razing of only ten properties, while Standish and Smith Halls were built on land which had held mostly warehouses. Thus, the final plans for the first phase of buildings reflected the desire on the part of the Trustees to maintain a strong rental base among the remaining properties. On July 17, 1912, the Trustees conveyed one-third of their land to the University. The Riverside Trustees met in the end of April of that year to approve the plans designed by the University's architects. Some alterations were made, due to the inability to purchase some of the lots, but there was no documentation as to what recommendations the Trustees may have made at their meeting with respect to the access to the river and the open vistas to the river. It is likely that they were willing to accept the plans fairly readily, since they wanted to see the plans which they made ten years before put into action. Also, the Trustees were having financial difficulties, and giving some of the land over to the school would relieve some of their burden, while perhaps boosting their appeal to the potential alumni contributors. Upon receipt of the buildings, the University had to fulfill the stipulation of the 1908 Trust agreement which required the paying of $2,400 to the Trustees. This amount was equal to the amount of taxes which was due on the lands transferred to the University for the year 1911. In November, 1912, the Trustees signed a transfer deed with the 23 City of Cambridge to pass the rent on to the City. 30 This action may have been prompted by a desire to placate the City, after the school removed SO many properties from taxation. Lowell continued to raise the money for the building campaign and, after deciding that construction would begin in the summer of 1913, he wrote to Coolidge to give notice to the renters in that area. Only three buildings which the Trustees transferred to the University for the first phase of building had outstanding leases: 8 Mill Street, 72-74 Boylston Street, and 78-80 Boylston Street. Two of these buildings were actually demolished for the first three dormitories. Gore, Standish and Smith Halls were completed in 1913, and opened for rent to students in the fall of 1914. The Trustees maintained their interest in the development of that area, and Coolidge wrote to Lowell in the spring of 1914 to ask if he might tear down the row of houses behind Gore Hall, on Mill Street. 31 These buildings, according to Coolidge, were "a poor class of property" and an eyesore, and ought to be removed before the students moved into the dormitories. Also, the house at the corner of Holyoke and South streets was in the way of the Holyoke Street widening, and had to be removed. Lowell recommended not removing the houses to the north of Mill Street, because of the great deal of rental income the Trustees would lose. However, these houses were removed shortly thereafter. 32 Later, in April, 1918, Coolidge again asked about removing 24 houses for aesthetic reasons, this time on the south side of South Street between Dunster and Holyoke. Coolidge called the four houses "tenements in very bad repair, and said that he asked for University permission because it would change the status of the mortgage. 33 The Trustees continued to hold the remainder of their property, until in 1918 the group's financial difficulties forced it into bankruptcy. The rentals of the group's properties "look very sick at present, " Coolidge wrote in April, 34 and, by September of that year, he wrote that the group could not pay its taxes, and that the College must foreclose. 35 Forbes wrote Coolidge that he was sorry about the state which the Trust was in, and that he hoped that the University could take over the property. 35 By October 1, the College accepted the transferral of all of the Trust's property along with its mortgage. The Riverside Trustees were disbanded (Perkins continued raising money for the University as head of the Endowment Fund, beginning in 1919). Included in the transfer were houses and one major dormitory, Shephard's Hall, which together could provide 170 student rooms. The University put the rooms to immediate use, since they faced a shortage of housing. This shortage led to the start of the second phase of dormitory building. The University used the land remaining from the transferral of the Riverside lands, and augmented it with an acquisition program of its own. This campaign had many of the same characteristics as that led by Harold 25 Coolidge, including the use of independent brokers and the difficulties which the buyers had with inflated prices. While McKinlock Hall was built primarily on lots from the Riverside lands, the University was pressed to purchase the area on the opposite side of DeWolfe Street, since the Trustees had concentrated their efforts between DeWolfe and Boylston. Thus, it was the University which was behind the removal of the large numbers of low income homes between Grant Street and the river, all within a span of a few years, around 1926-1927.39 The Harvard Riverside Trustees served a vital purpose in the creation of present day Harvard. One observer in 1921 wrote to Lowell, I remember SO well the time fifteen years ago, when Eleanor and I crossed on the steamer with you, and heard you talk of your ideas for Freshmen. I could hardly follow you then; for the plan seemed SO diametrically opposed to Harvard tendencies at the time, that the mere question of discipline seemed to me insoluble, and seemed of itself to present a fatal obstacle. And now it has all worked out so well! In the evening, as I walked through the quadrangles, there seemed to be, in spite of the newness of everything - a feeling of classic shades, and a touch of the atmosphere of Oxford Cambridge. 39 Sherrard Billings. 11/22/21 and Despite Lowell's own motivating force after he assumed the president's chair, the dream of a dormitory system for housing the College could not have been affected in such a short time without the help of the alumni who organized the land acquisition scheme. More importantly, the development of that dormitory system might have occurred to the north of the Yard, away from the river, and the development of that 26 part of the city might have been very different. The Trustees' activities and those of Lowell's Administration in the decades after that first transferral of land changed the tenor of the riverside community forever. Architectural Designs Completed for the Riverside Trustees Various designs for the area south of Mount Auburn Street were made for the Riverside Trustees prior to President Lowell's final decision to use the firm of Shepley, Rutan & Coolidge. The first of these plans was 1. completed around the time that the group began its fundraising. One set of plans, signed "V", is dated January, 1903, and was probably created by Guy Lowell, or one of Lowell's associates. In this plan, Holyoke and DeWolfe streets are wide, straight, tree-lined boulevards leading from Mount Auburn Street to the river. A series of smaller quadrangles, with buildings of a scale similar to those in the old Yard, is scattered across the area. Most of the building seems to be placed north of an extended, broader Mill Street, though the plans disregarded the actual layout of the streets in that area in 1903, and designed the area around a new grid of streets. The main focal point of the plan is Holyoke Street, which is bisected by a large quadrangle. Holyoke continues to the river, and across a bridge to Soldiers' Field. To the left of that Holyoke quadrangle is another smaller quadrangle, and to the right are another smaller quadrangle and a larger one comparable in size to the Holyoke quadrangle itself. These four 27 quadrangles are connected. The buildings themselves are of uneven design and proportion. 2. A second plan finished around 1903 was probably designed by Charles Wetmore. The plan was finished prior to the purchase of the Riverside lands, since it includes a dotted line surrounding those lands proposed to be purchased for the University. However, the date for the completion of the plan was after 1902, since it shows Hampden Hall, built in 1902. It is likely that this plan was designed by Charles Wetmore, because he had mentioned plans to submit a design, and because this design is similar in many respects to the 1909 plan designed by his firm. This earlier plan is highlighted by a large, domed building positioned on the south side of Mt. Auburn Street and equidistant from Holyoke and DeWolfe streets. This domed building overlooks the river, across a broad quadrangle which ends at the parkway, and sports an overlook at the other side of the parkway. Several large rectangular buildings are placed symmetrically around the quadrangle. Wetmore also gives attention to the area between Mt. Auburn Street and Massachusetts Avenue , incorporating the already existing private dormitories into a series of squares, with fully ( or nearly fully) closed courtyards in the center. The clubs themselves are also represented, though Wetmore locates them in different areas which allowed for greater symmetry and conformity to the overall scheme. Finally, Holyoke Street ends at a large bridge crossing the river to Soldiers' Field. Interestingly, 28 Wetmore's plan, like that of "V", does not utilize the area by the river, between Holyoke and Boylston, which became important in the final plans for the South Yard. Likewise, no use is made of the land to the east of DeWolfe Street. 3. A third early plan was designed by William Emerson. It is not clear at what date this plan was executed, but it is likely that it is one of the plans which Coolidge showed to Lowell when he took office in 1909. The plan only examines the area below Mt. Auburn Street, and most of the work is between Dunster and DeWolfe streets. The focal point is in the center of this area, between Dunster and Plympton streets. However, unlike the plans of "V" and Wetmore, Emerson's plan takes into account the existing street patterns to a large extent, and does not attempt to straighten or square the streets to force a symmetry. At the river is a large, open, tree lined yard, stretching the distance between Holyoke and Plympton streets, and from Mill Street to the river. Just north of the yard is the largest complex, extending to Mt. Auburn Street in the north, and bounded by Holyoke and Plympton streets. The complex borders the streets, with a large open space bisected at its center by a row of buildings. To the west of Holyoke Street is another complex, which extends from Mt. Auburn to the parkway, allowing the end of the complex to overlook the yard. This effect is mirrored on the east side of Plympton Street, and an imperfect symmetrical effect is achieved. Across the Parkway, these complexes end in an overlook at 29 the river. The basic symmetry of the plan is broken by an additional building complex to the west of Dunster Street, just south of South Street. All of the buildings in the Emerson plan are uniform in design, and are three stories in height. 4. Vernon Howe Bailey, representing Warren & Wetmore, designed another set of plans which were published in Harpers' Weekly in 1909. This plan has many of the features of the 1903 Wetmore plan, with some distinct variations. Unlike the original, this plan does not attempt to redesign the area between Massachusetts Avenue and Mt. Auburn Street, where the principal private dormitories had already become established. The entire plan consists of a series of nine uniformly large rectangular buildings. These buildings form a square by lining Holyoke, Mt. Auburn and DeWolfe streets. The three buildings along Holyoke Street are distinct because they are on the outside of the square formed by the three streets. The three buildings on Mt. Auburn Street, and the three on DeWolfe Street, are located on the inside of the square. This allows this south campus to appear to be more centered in relation to Harvard Yard. The three rows of buildings surround a large open courtyard which overlooks the river. Holyoke Street itself is broader, and leads to a large, ornate bridge, which links the campus to Soldiers' Field. Like the earlier Wetmore plan, the central building is domed, though it is not 30 distinguished in any other way from the rest of the buildings. These four plans may not have been the only plans which were produced for the proposed new dormitories. Several plans for the area had been prepared in relation to the DeWolfe Street widening project, most notably by the Olmsted brothers. Also, Shepley, Rutan & Coolidge may have offered plans prior to 1910, though these were not available. It is interesting to note that, while these four plans prepared for the Riverside Associates share certain common traits, they bear only slight resemblance to those which were actually adopted by President Lowell. 31 NOTES 1 Harvard Riverside Associates (HRA) Correspondence, 1902- 1909. HUD 3748.510 2 Forbes to Bundy, March 2, 1960. Harvard Riverside Associates General Folder. HUD 3748 3 Perkins to J.P. Morgan, August 11, 1908. HRA Correspondence, 1902-1909. HUD 3748.510 4 Ibid. 5 L. B. R. Briggs to Forbes, November 26, 1902. HRA Correspondence, 1902-1909. HUD 3748.510 6 Eliot Papers, 1903, box 134, folder #988. UAI.5.150 7 Perkins to Eliot, Feb. 28, 1903. Eliot Papers, 1893-1903, box 118, folder 274. UAI.5.150 3/5/1903 8 HRA Correspondence. HUD 3748.510 9 Eliot Papers, 1893-1903, box 118, folder 274. UAI.5.150 10 Ibid. 11 Ibid. 12 HRA General Folder. HUD 3748 13 HRA Correspondence. HUD 3748.510 14 Eliot Papers, 1903-1909, box 237, "Perkins". UAI.5.150 15 Letter to Hon. Allen T. Treadway, March 18, 1907. Lowell Papers, 1919-1922, folder 183. UAI.5.160 16 Perkins to Robert Bacon, October 29, 1903. HRA Correspondence. HUD 3748.510 17 Forbes to Clifford Shipton, Harvard Archivist, 1962. HRA General Folder. HUD 3748 18 Lands Papers College Lands, Maps, 1900- UAI.15.740 pf. 19 Perkins to Burden, February 10, 1903. HRA Correspondence. HUD 3748.510 20 Perkins to Forbes, Aug. 3, 1903. Ibid. 21 Forbes to Perkins, Dec. 6 , 1906. Ibid. 32 22 Accounts and reports for the Riverside Associates. HRA Financial Records. HUD 3748.728 23 HRA General Folder. HUD 3748 24 E. W. Forbes: Correspondence of the HRA. HUG 4401.12 25 Lowell Papers, 1909-1914, folder 851. UAI.5.160 26 Lowell Papers, 1925-1928, folder 337. UAI.5.160 27 Letter dated June 27, 1910. EWF: Correspondence of HRA. HUG 4401.12 28 Coolidge to Lowell, April 30, 1912. Lowell Papers, 1909- 1914, folder 851. UAI.5.160 29 Coolidge to Lowell, May 20, 1912. Ibid. 30 Lowell Papers, 1909-1914, folder 375. UAI.5.160. See deed 3773-39, March 31, 1913, assignment of rent charge to City of Cambridge. 31 Letter dated April 30, 1914. Lowell Papers, 1909-1914, folder 366. UAI.5.160 32 Lowell to Perkins, June 2, 1914. Lowell Papers, 1909- 1914, folder 1270. UAI. 5. 160 33 April 8, 1918. Lowell Papers, 1917-1919, folder 1760. UAI. 5. 160 34 Ibid. 35 C. F. Adams to Lowell, September 16, 1918. Lowell Papers, 1917-1919, folder 414. UAI.5.160 36 Sept. 25, 1918. EWF:Correspondence of the HRA. HUG 4401.12 37 Coolidge Letter, September 19, 1918. Lowell Papers, 1917- 1919, folder 456. UAI.5.160 38 For a list of lots purchased those years, see UAI.5.160 Lowell Papers, 1928-1930, folder 192. 39 Sherrard Billings to Lowell, November 22, 1921. Lowell Papers, 1919-1922, folder 981. UAI. 5. 160 1 INF 19/28 a Harvard's "Constructed Utopia" and the Culture of Deception: The Expansion toward the Charles River, 1902-1932 Author(s): BENJAMIN J. SACKS Source: The New England Quarterly, Vol. 84, No. 2 (June 2011), pp. 286-317 Published by: The New England Quarterly, Inc. Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/23054804 Accessed: 22-05-2017 15:38 UTC Note: See also- 1. Bunting, B. Harvard : An Architectural History. Cambridge Harvard U. P., 1985. Pp. 123f. 2. Shand-Tucci, D. Harvard University: An Architectural Tour Princeton: Princeton U.P., 2001. 5/26/2017 XFINITY Connect Re: "Constructed Utopias" Benjamin J. Sacks 12:45 PM To Ronald Epp Dear Dr Epp, Thank you so much for getting in touch with me. I am thrilled to know that at least one person has read the article; one never knows once they have been published and squirreled away into a journal. I am afraid I have not yet your new book, although I am aware of it. I have always held a soft spot for New England history and geography (I'm a New Hampshire native myself). I want to thank you, as well, for bringing this error to my attention, and I must assume full responsibility for it. I am sorry too that Dr Lowe never reached out to me. I remember his article well; it was, indeed, one of the very few substantive, scholarly efforts to tease out what happened at tum-of-the-century Harvard. I hope that the mistake did not cause him too much distress - that would have certainly never been my intention! I don't know what the process to make a revision would be for an academic journal, but I'll contact the New England Quarterly in the coming days and see what they can do. At worst, if I ever return to the subject for a book-length work, I'd certainly correct the mistake. Thank you again, My very best, Benjamin Benjamin J Sacks MA FRGS (mobile) From: Ronald Epp Sent: Wednesday, May 24, 2017 12:09 Subject: "Constructed Utopias" To: Benjamin J. Sacks Dear Mr. Sacks: I have just completed a careful reading of your 2011 NEQ article on the Charles River expansion undertaken by Harvard. For more than a decade this expansion has been of great interest to me since the subject of my 2016 Creating Acadia National Park: The Biography of George Bucknam Dorr played a role, as you have noted on page 293 and again on 296. For more about this book, google "Epp and Acadia." I have learned much about the property acquisition process from your pioneering work but I would be remiss if I didn't make you aware of an error derived from your references to Charles U. Lowe's "The Forbes Story." I communicated with Dr. Lowe first in September 2007 and again in April 2010 pointing out that Dorr's middle name was not as stated in the article and that Dorr was not the Treasurer of Harvard, though his maternal grandfather-Thomas Wren Ward-had been from 1830-1842. Dr. Lowe wrote to me that he was "humiliated by your corrections and wish that there was a way to correct the essay" (which was not my intention, to be sure). Since his death in 2012 this resource persists. I brought this matter to your attention out of respect for the quality of your scholarship. Most cordially, Ronald Ronald H. Epp, Ph.D. 532 Sassafras Dr. Lebanon, PA 17042 717-272-0801 eppster2@comcast.net CULTURAL LANDSCAPE REPORT THE ESPLANADE BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS Prepared for The Esplanade Association 10 Derne Street Boston, Ma 02114 Prepared by Shary Page Berg FASLA 11 Perry Street Cambridge, MA 02139 January 2007 http://www.esplanadeassociation.org/park/history.html CONTENTS Introduction 1 PART I: HISTORICAL OVERVIEW 1. Early History (to 1893) 4 Shaping the Land Beacon Hill Flat Back Bay Charlesgate/Bay State Road Charlesbank/West End 2. Charles River Basin (1893-1928) 11 Charles Eliot's Vision for the Lower Basin The Charles River Dam The Boston Esplanade 3. Redesigning the Esplanade (1928-1950) 20 Arthur Shurcliff's Vision: 1929 Plan Refining the Design 4. Storrow Drive and Beyond (1950-present) 30 Construction of Storrow Drive Changes to Parkland Late Twentieth Century PART II: EXISTING CONDITIONS AND ANALYSIS 5. Charlesbank 37 Background General Landscape Character Lock Area Playground/Wading Pool Area Lee Pool Area Ballfields Area 6. Back Bay 51 Background General Landscape Character Boating Area Hatch Shell Area Back Bay Area Lagoons 3 7. Charlesgate/Upper Park 73 Background General Landscape Character Charlesgate Area Linear Park 8. Summary of Findings 84 Overview/Landscape Principles Character Defining Features Next Steps BIBLIOGRAPHY 90 APPENDIX A - Historic Resources 92 APPENDIX B - Planting Lists 100 Trestees of Reservations: Castle Hill Archives 2/27/08 Short Box List for Appleton Papers Box 1-A Appleton Genealogy, English Ancestry Box 1-B Appleton Genealogical Material Box 1-C Misc. notes, correspondence and printed matter re early Appleton family members and collateral branches of family. Box 1-D Papers of General James Appleton (1785-1862) and his son Daniel Fuller Appleton (1826-1904) Box 1-E Papers of the children of Gen. James Appleton Box 1-F Misc. Papers and genealogy of the Randolph family Box 1-G Papers of the Lanier and Egleston families (maternal lines of Appleton family) Box 2 School papers of Francis Randall Appleton, Sr. (1854-1929) Boxes 3-5 Material related to Francis Randall Appleton, Sr. at Harvard College, Class of 1875. Box 6 Personal papers of Francis Randall Appleton, Sr. See file 19, page19, Box 7 Combined personal and business papers of FRA, Sr., from 1916 until his death in 1929. Box 8 Misc. Papers of the children and granddaughters of Daniel Fuller Appleton A) Files 1 - 20. Speeches of Francis Randall Appleton, Sr. (1854-1929 B) Files 21-37. - Miscellaneous papers of James Waldingfield Appleton (1867-1942) C) Files 38-41. - Miscellaneous personal papers of Randolph Morgan ("Budd") Appleton (1862-1940), brother of Francis Randall Appleton, Sr. D) Files 42. Miscellaneous personal papers of Ruth Appleton Tuckerman (1857-1929), sister of Francis Randall Appleton, Sr. E) Files 43. Miscellaneous personal papers of Ruth Appleton Wendell (1891- 1943), daughter of Francis Randall Appleton, Sr. F) Files 44. Miscellaneous personal papers of Alice Appleton Hay (1894-1943), daughter of Francis Randall Appleton, Sr. Appleton Papers. Box 6 : File 13 Correspondence to FRA, Sr. Primarily New York Farmers Association and American Relief for France (1916), ca. 1891-1927 File 14 Ephemera and printed matter, Porcellian Club Dinner of 1891 File 15 Application, Society of Colonial Wars, ca File 16 Meadow Brook Club (hunt club, Long Island, NY), mortgage w/ FRA as a trustee (and founding member), 1894. File 17 Menu, banquet given to Oxford and Cambridge Track Athletic Teams in NYC in 1901 File 18 Correspondence re: "Gate at Harvard in Memory of Rev. Joseph McKean, founder of the Porcellian Club. File dates 1901-2. File 19 Correspondence re: Cambridge Parkway (1904-1912). A cooperative venture of Harvard classmates and associates, who purchased land along the Charles River for the benefit of improving the outlying areas around Harvard for building a boulevard approach to Harvard Yard in cooperation with City of Cambridge. Includes canceled checks. File 20 Correspondence re: Professional organizations and associations. [Notc: See also Box 7,file 6 : Harvan Riverside Trust.] File 21 Oversize certificates, re: Metropolitan Museum (NYC), and South Carolina File 22 Correspondence re: Harvard College Teachers Endowment Fund File 23 Correspondence from FRA, Jr to FRA, Sr and FLA (his mother and father), 1905-8 File 24 Correspondence to FRA, Sr and FLA from FRA, Jr and Charles Lanier Appleton during tour of France, via Liverpool. As young men, following their graduations from Harvard. Includes a photograph of the brothers taken in France. 1906-7 File 25 Correspondence re: "New House" at 26 Eat 37th St., NYC (1907) File 26 Re: Loan to Samuel E. Hall, 1908-13 File 27 Legal document re: assignment of patent to J.F. Ross and FRA, Sr. for process for partially molded concrete (1909) Appleton Farms, Family Papers 19 Trustees of Reservation Easte Hill. 2/27/08. TTOR Appleton Papers. Notss 62 boxes. Francis Kandall Appleton Sr. (1854-1929) Howard Class of 1875. Box 2, ,3-5, 6,7,25, 47 Thayer Hall Porcellian Club 21 Haward Hol workhy U.Gew Hall B3.F.1 telle fr. Nathanappleton, 10 Commonader Are 6/21/74 to "Dea Broth Senter, Accq. of breella Clch B3f3 Cataloger it the Alple Chapte, AKE Clas of 77. No listy to 6BD use 74. B3.844 Twenty plas letter of accept /regret for Class Day 1875. B 4.F.5 1871 Sept. Expense Book B4.F7. Books History 2 Livy Fundets 2 Chem Horace Xeopler Levy Rabinz haled Gron Hist And gen Philosic $ 678 Plato Cocero Ings hatrait in Overett Q TOR Appleton B5.fl Exams: Tear Pepers. B5.FZ tyan Question. Junior Paper - (copied)re rack list Melon. Harvad Culey Clas of 1874. Secretary's Report # / (1874). B5.flo. Hastz-Ruday Club. 1874. Porr not list as Member or Officer C 50 Nuber in dan I forward Directory fa 1873-74. GBD listed. The Hagenta Vol. 3 (6/19/74), # 10. $ Exam 1874. Committees Appt. by the Board of Overee 1904. Regulation of in Fourty of Homes College 35fill Adopted 1871. Ariginal of Room, 28 July 1871. Iu Febs. 1577, FRA is Matriculated. 47 They Hall. for 4 years 35 f(3 easy. n.d. "My Life". THE CAMBRIDGE TRIBUNE: SATURDAY, JULY 12, 1902 CAMBRIDGE-TRIBUNE dreamstime masclea and tange Are the the development of higher TD children who have to stay the city any alderen is wast and need) Subscription for One Year Perhaps the ideal vacation school will Single Copy 500's be found when these letter. too team be e By wall from of postage takes late-the country: when . city like a THE - THINKS to Cambridge ran lease a large tract of b morning Street field and woodland not too far away. b Coops for / ullies - Friday can take all children but the youngers ADDRESS all number and wake checks from the city streets during July and payable $ THE CANDRIDGE THINGS Rowaun , GAMWELL and J. Les - August, returning them. If necessary, p and / each Sunday, for home care and rells a tous Instruction: can take them in al Telephone Cambine classes of a store or two on walks and at Place - CARWEN CLASSIC teaching without books ard on the spot. of the radiments of such sciences - but m SATURDAY, JULY is - any. sociogy and geology, such arts It as swimming and first old to the In in THE PROPOSED BOULEVARD. Jures, and such duties as public clean- . liness and ridiness self-restraint and Harvard graduates have now taken respect for the property and comfort of in hand the task of raising $60,000 to others ward the expense of the proposed wid Such lessons, la their relation to ening of DeWolfe street as an Induce daily life. can be better thught in the ment to the city to approve the plan and natural tife of a country home than in undertake the work. The plan was sug the artificial life of a schoolroom, and gested by Harvard men to provide such summer school might be a favor dignified and handsome approach to the ite with every child and a power for university grounds and It is often spek good In the community. It would cost en of as the Harvard parkway. But It money. but # would return a hundred Is by no means the university slose cents on the dollar. that would be benefited by its construe- Lion. The city would share in no small degree the benefit of the ornamentation of the district traversed, and the adven- tages of the connection of the riverway and Massachusetts avenue. The city is spending a hundred thou sand dollars a year for the construction of . beautiful bonlevard from the rest dential district of Boston to the centre of Cambridge as ture to ead-pleasure travel to come this way, and to buy. build and settle here. What that bonie vard win he In methetic and material value to the city may even now be un- derstood by a glahee at the beginnings near Harvard bridge. The roadbed is rapidly approaching readiness for trav et from that point to near Harvard square. Just beyond lies Massachusetts avenue, the outlet to the northern see tion of the city. From Garden street to Porter square It is the handsomest mile of readway In Cambridge, but there in no adequate connection between the two boulevards. It is true that Baylaton street was widened for that purpose. but It will never he much used in that way. In the first place, the river parkway swings away from Maspachusetts are aus at DeWolfe street, and to follow It around to Boylatun street, and so to Harvard require. would be a waste of time In the second place. to save mon ey. the street was widened on the WTOUK side and its entrance to Harvard square Is on of the most dangerous crossings in the city for driver. bleyelist or pedes Irian. In the third place It is distinctly a business street. with delivery wagons loading and unloading by the sidewalks all the time. and so in undestrable for pleasure travel either by wheel or afent. Two of there reasons do not apply to DeWolf* street. which furnishra the shortest and most direct rosnection be tween the riverway and Massachusetts avenue. and is a residential street. The third an be avaided by the lesson of PX. perience. The laying out of a boule varil here on wisely chown Haes will be a great benefit to the city. VACATION SCHOOLS. A correspondent of the Bonton Trans tript writes strongly against varation schools as at present conducted. arging that children who have been grown in wheelhouses for nine months of the year should have at least three months is the open air. and that immature minds which have been entivated to their fullent extent for three-fourths of the year should He follow for the re mainder. or at least should be given a rotation of crops, in support of his ar gument, he states that children who are Indured at the opening of the term to go to school If left to their own Inclination give It up as soon as the first enthusi usm wears off. Nature rebels Against . never-varying restine. and the children have to be foreed to continue going each day. or the record of attendance be comes se bad as to cast discredit on the windom of the plan. To such an extent is this true that school reminities have adopted rules that no child can be en rolled at the beginning of the term WE less the parents agree to compel It to at land to the end, whether the child en Jeys the work or not. This is an unjust and an unwise poll- cy. Varation schools like evening schools. should be entirely voluntary The pupil of the latter is old enough to attend It for a purpose, and to continue or to stop with good reason. The pu pll of the former is not, as rule, old enough to be troubled with purposes or reasons, and the temptation to parents whose day is filled with hard work. to get rid of the care of them for half the day is great. The record of attendance might not show so well If children were allowed to drop out when the contine meat became distasteful, but It would be more beneat If It showed exactly how much of study is destred by chil drea during the hot months of number Children whose parents - take them to the country are not hodied up at Iss sons during that thank but lodse In the Belds like to