City Of Boston: Traversing Boston: Traveling The City Before Cars

Press release from the City of Boston:

July 28, 2021

Since the late 19th century, Boston’s transportation system has been on the move, always changing to fit the needs of residents. Since the late 19th century, Boston’s transportation system has been on the move, always changing to fit the needs of residents. Historically, Boston’s transit systems operated locally and regionally, supporting businesses and whisking residents to different parts of the City and beyond. In this first of a two-part series, we look at Boston’s transportation systems of the past, and explore how Bostonians traversed and interacted with their city!

Beacon Street. Sleighing on the boulevard, February 1901, Boston Public Library Over a century ago, Boston’s streets were busy with horse-drawn vehicles. Businesses relied on this type of transportation to criss-cross the City and supply goods to their customers. Before modern refrigeration, Brighton resident Ice harvesting on Jamaica Pond, circa 1898, Boston City Archives Trade card for Fresh Pond Ice, 1861, Historic New England

, a Charlestown resident, discusses cold, early mornings in which he helped his father deliver milk to area customers. A horse-drawn wagon was used to transport the milk, and Daniel recalls how the horses knew the delivery route just as well as Daniel’s father.

Take a look at a milk delivery driver’s notebook complete with handwritten notes and invoices for milk delivery!

Take a look at a milk delivery driver’s notebook complete with handwritten notes and invoices for milk delivery Horse-drawn vehicles were also vital in emergencies. Similar to Daniel’s experience on his father’s delivery route, in East Boston, resident

Horses were valuable allies in other City projects as well. As Boston’s neighborhoods grew and expanded, residents not only built houses but also moved them. Roslindale resident, Philip Pofcher describes the experience of watching a team of two horses help move an entire house! The process may seem slow by our modern standards, but nevertheless paints a picture of how humans and horses worked together to successfully complete big projects.

Horses were valuable allies in other City projects as well. As Boston’s neighborhoods grew and expanded, residents not only built houses but also moved them. Roslindale resident, Moving a house with horse and capson, location unknown, circa 1890-1920, Historic New England Just as horse-drawn vehicles expanded business opportunities in Boston’s streets, the City’s ferry system created a spot for commerce in the waters of Boston Harbor. Continuing his oral history,

, the Boston, Revere Beach, and Lynn Railroad, known as the Narrow Gauge, began transporting passengers to regions of East Boston as well locations outside of the City. North End resident

Pietrina loved the railroad and remembers trips her mother took to visit her sister and the kindness displayed by the Narrow Gauge’s conductors. Dartmouth, Winthrop, Revere Beach, and Lynn Ferry Boat, circa 1890-1920, Historic New England

The Narrow Gauge railroad was 10 miles long. After its tracks weaved through East Boston, the railroad extended beyond Boston to cities and towns along the Massachusetts coastline. This provided Bostonians with an easy, accessible way to travel to stops, such as Revere Beach and Point of Pines.

The Narrow Gauge railroad was In the late 1930s, East Boston resident

Boston’s legendary winters certainly put the usability of the City’s streets to the test as extensive snow plowing is often necessary. While plowing creates access to roads, for a certain group of Bostonians, it also created new ways to explore their neighborhoods! 

Richard also describes how snow removal in Boston evolved and details how he and his friends later hitched rides on the back of V-shaped plow trucks as they zig-zagged the streets. Snow plow on Berkeley Street, 1916, Boston City Archives

As Boston has grown, the transportation needs of residents have evolved. Horse-drawn vehicles, and the Narrow Gauge railroad are no longer used by busy Bostonians, but they remain an important part of the City’s transit history. For generations of residents, these modes of transportation were an important part of daily life, providing them with goods and services and connecting them with their City and each other.  

As Boston has grown, the transportation needs of residents have evolved. Horse-drawn vehicles, and the Narrow Gauge railroad are no longer used by busy Bostonians, but they remain an important part of the City’s transit history. For generations of residents, these modes of transportation were an important part of daily life, providing them with goods and services and connecting them with their City and each other.   Emma Horning is a Master of Library and Information Science candidate at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee where she is concentrating in Archival Studies.

This press release was produced by the City of Boston. The views expressed here are the author’s own.