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Winter 2008 The Newetowne Chronicle/ 1

The Newetowne Chronicle

A publication of the Cambridge Historical Society

P E O P L E A N D P L A C E S IN THIS ISSUE Winter 2008 Volume VIII, Number 1 Arriving with Pomp and Circumstance ______By Michael Kenney

P E O P L E A N D P L A C E S Arriving with Pomp and When MIT moved across the Charles River from Boston’s Back Bay to Cam- Circumstance bridge on a June day in 1916, it did so with a ceremonial style that might have cover story befitted a Renaissance potentate.

F R O M T H E P R E S I D E N T Transition Time at CHS A procession of robed deans and faculty escorted a chest containing the school’s page 2 crest and charter from the old buildings on Boylston Street down to the riverbank, where it was placed on the Bucentaur, a replica of the barges that carried F R O M T H E D I R E C T O R the Venetian doges along their canals. Endings and Beginnings page 3 Courtesy MIT Museum MIT Courtesy

A N N U A L M E E T I N G R E P O R TS page 4, 5, 6

K E Y N O T E A D D R E S S Robert Frost page 6

R E C E N T E V E N T S Book Launch Holiday Party John Harvard Film pages 7, 8

U P C O M I N G E V E N T S page 8 The Bucentaur, designed by the master architect Ralph Adams Cram, symboli- cally carrried MIT across the Charles to Cambridge in 1916. C O L L E C T I O N S U P D A T E Portrait of Ezra Abbot page 9 Lit by searchlights, the barge was rowed across the Charles and landed at the just-completed Grand Court, where a “Masque of Power” was performed by a Managing Editor–Karen L. Davis troupe of some thousand students and faculty. To the right of the Grand Court, as Contributing Editor–Michael Kenney Copy Editor–Luise Erdmann one sees it from the river, is MIT’s Walker Memorial Building, designed as a Photography and Layout–Lewis Bushnell center of student life and chosen by the Cambridge Historical Society as the site of this year’s Spring Benefit (see page 3).

THE CAMBRIDGE HISTORICAL SOCIETY As MIT’s architecture professor Mark M. Jarzombek described the event in De- The Hooper-Lee-Nichols House signing MIT , the characters Will and Wisdom were seen guiding Man through 159 Brattle Street the ages when Greed, Selfishness, and War appeared from a darkened corner. Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138

Phone: 617-547-4252 “Just as all seems lost,” he writes, “a light bursts through a rift in the clouds, and there stand the figures Righteousness, Will, and Wisdom.” Web site: www.cambridgehistory.org E-mail: [email protected] (continued on Page 10)

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OFFICERS Theodore L. Hansen F R O M T H E P R E S I D E N T We thank them all for their contribu- President tions. Katheen Born Transition time at CHS Vice President Robert G. Crocker Last fall, executive director Karen Davis Finally, Sally Hild, our capable director Vice President and associate director Lewis Bushnell of programs and data base guru, will be Paula Paris leaving in the spring on a three-month Vice President announced their intention to resign in Andrew Leighton 2008. They set their actual resignation maternity leave for the birth of her sec- Treasurer date far enough in the future to permit ond child. Mary Webb Secretary the Society to hire and put in place their Jinny Nathans successor. Curator Roger Stacey In January, the council unanimously Editor approved the search committee’s recom-

COUNCILORS mendation to appoint Gavin Kleespies, Charlie Allen who grew up in Cambridge. Following Darleen Bonislawski college graduation in 1996, he did archi- Thomas Bracken val work for the Cambridge Historical Rebekah Kaufman Virginia Jacobsen Society and for the Cambridge Histori- cal Commission. After obtaining a mas- New council members (l–r) Rebekah Kaufman, Heli Meltsner Jinny Nathans and Virginia Jacobsen, with ter of arts degree in 1999 from the Uni- president Ted Hansen. versity of Chicago, he became executive ADVISORS director of the Historical Society in Daphne Abeel M. Wyllis Bibbins Mount Prospect, Illinois. He expects to begin work here between June 15 and Carol Cerf Welcome New Council Members Linsday Leard Coolidge July 1. Luise M. Erdmann VIRGINIA JACOBSEN grew up in New York City and Karen F. Falb Another recent transition was the elec- now lives in Cambridge, where she and her husband are George H. Hanford raising three daughters. In 2007, the Jacobsens received Chandra Harrington tion at the annual meeting of four new preservation awards from the Cambridge Historical Swanee Hunt councilors, who are profiled in the side- Commission and the Massachusetts Historical Commis- Michael Kenney bar. They replace four who will stay sion for uncovering and replicating many of the original features of their house, designed by Ralph Adams Cram. D. Eliot Klein connected to the CHS as advisors. Mike Ellen G. Moot REBEKAH KAUFMAN, a marketing director, has Larry Nathanson, M.D. Solet joined the council in 1999, serving lived in Cambridge since 2001. A dedicated volunteer, Brian Pfeiffer as secretary and vice president as well she served as chair of public relations and programs for Susan S. Poverman as on two search committees. Lindsay the Longfellow Bicentennial Committee and has com- Maxwell D. Solet Coolidge joined the council in 2001, pleted volunteer assignments for People for Riverbend Park Trust, the Longfellow National Historic Site, the becoming curator in 2003. In that post Cambridge Public Library, and the CHS. She holds STAFF she made significant contributions to degrees from Cornell University and the Simmons Karen L. Davis organizing our artifact collection. She Graduate School of Management. Executive Director also wrote and underwrote a catalogue JINNY NATHANS, curator, a lifelong resident of Cam- Lewis Bushnell for our 100th birthday that presented bridge, is the librarian and archivist for the American Associate Director Meteorological Society in Boston. She has served as Sally Purrington Hild highlights from the collections. She will president of the Harvard Square Defense Fund and was Program Director continue to serve on the collections a member of the Harvard Square Historic District Study Victoria Hickey committee. Chandra Harrington joined Committee. She has been a member of the CHS pro- Assistant the council in 2002, serving for several gram committee since 2004. Mark J. Vassar ROGER STACEY, editor, has lived in Cambridge for Resident Archivist years as chair of the nominating committee and vice president. Michael the better part of the last 40 years. Recently retired from Shane LeGault his position as an English teacher at BB&N, he is a Resident Fellow Kenney, who was editor in 2007, has former trustee of BB&N, a proprietor of the Boston written articles for our newsletter since Athenaeum, vice-president of the Boston Branch of the The Newetowne Chronicle is 2002 and will continue to do so as a English-Speaking Union, and a member of the Old published three times a year by Cambridge Shakespeare Association . the Cambridge Historical member of the publications committee. Society.

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F R O M T H E D I R E C T O R ger to continue my involvement in the CHS as Endings and Beginnings... an active member and volunteer.

…was the title of my first “From the Director” We know that you will join us in welcoming column in the fall of 2003. That title seems Gavin this summer and in doing all that we can appropriate now as Lewis and I prepare to step to ensure a smooth leadership transition and down as executive and associate directors of great future for the Cambridge Historical the Cambridge Historical Society. We were Society. hired as a team, dividing what had been one Karen L. Davis

full-time position into two part-time positions. Our decision to resign is driven by our ages and the recognition that the Society’s next Spring Benefit phase is to plan and implement a major capital

campaign. Rather than changing directors mid- campaign, we wanted the CHS to have the op- From Empty Space to Infinite Corridor: portunity to bring on a new executive director CHS Celebrates MIT at the beginning. Date: Sunday, May 18 We could not be more pleased with the Coun- Time: 2:00–4:30 p.m. cil’s decision to hire Gavin Kleespies (see page Location: Morss Hall at 2). Gavin grew up in Cambridge, attended the MIT’s Walker public schools, and started leading walking Memorial Building tours when he was 13. He has a master of arts in the social sciences with a concentration on This year’s event will spotlight one of our great American history, and he has experience in all institutions and its impact on Cambridge in the aspects of running a historical society. We will 20th century. Our speakers will include Paul tell you much more about him in our summer Gray, MIT president emeritus, Charles Sullivan, newsletter, which will come out around the executive director of the Cambridge Historical time he begins work here. Commission, Mark Jarzombek, MIT architecture professor and author of Designing MIT: Although Lewis and I will not be leaving until Bosworth’s New Tech , O. Robert Simha, direc- Gavin arrives and we have given him a com- tor of planning at MIT for 40 years, and Samuel plete orientation, I want you to know that it has Jay Keyser, MIT professor emeritus and an ex- been a privilege to be the executive director of pert on MIT’s ingenious pranks known as the Cambridge Historical Society, particularly “hacks.” during this period encompassing the Society’s centennial celebration and the publication of A They will touch on MIT’s spectacular arrival in City’s Life and Times . It has also been espe- Cambridge (see cover story), significant scien- cially satisfying to have administered two of tific and educational achievements, the impor- the largest Hooper-Lee-Nichols House preser- tance of the original architecture––Cambridge’s vation projects ever undertaken by the Society. own “White City”––the expansion of the campus, and the extraordinary student pranks that The Society’s accomplishments depend on continue to amaze and delight us. teamwork that combines the talents of the staff, council members, and volunteers, all supported The event will begin with food and music and by membership dues, grants, and contributions end with special tours of the campus led by from local institutions and businesses. Lewis Simha and Jarzombek. It promises to be an un- and I have been incredibly fortunate to work paralleled experience that should not be missed. with a wonderful team, and we thank you all Invitations will be mailed in April. Come one, for your support and encouragement. I am ea- come all.

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103 RD A N N U A L M E E T I N G As this newsletter goes to press, our 2007 annual appeal has generated more than $30,000. On January 27, President Ted Hansen presided We also received other monetary gifts that, as the Society transacted its regular business, together with the annual appeal, resulted in a including the election of councilors, officers, total of $48,000 for the calendar year. My and advisors (see page 2). Summaries of com- heartfelt thanks to you all for your loyalty and mittee reports follow: generous contributions.

Finance Committee Report As you know, the Society has been exploring Andrew Leighton, Treasurer the feasibility of a capital campaign. At the January 9, 2008 meeting of the Council, how- I am pleased to report that the Historical Soci- ever, it was voted unanimously to postpone ety enjoyed a good year financially. Total as- further action on the capital campaign until the sets increased by almost $41,000 to a little over new executive director has been installed. We $660,000. This was achieved by balancing the will, however, continue to analyze our mem- budget for operations and allowing the full bership donor base. amount of gains from the excellent investment performance to be retained. Facility Committee Report Charlie Allen, Chair The generous funding of our centennial book, A City’s Life and Times, by the Cambridge Our major project in 2007 addressed the elec- Savings Bank and an anonymous gift of about trical systems in the Hooper-Lee-Nichols $16,000 resulted in a surplus from operations House and garage. While repairing mysteri- of almost $20,000. Proceeds from the book–– ously failing electric light sconces, we had dis- far exceeding our expectations––generated covered a serious fire hazard due to our old about $4,000 over budget. The Society was wiring. It was our tremendously good fortune awarded a Cambridge Community Preserva- to receive a CPA institutional grant to rewire tion Act grant to update the electrical system in and upgrade our electrical system. Working the house (see Facility Report), and the surplus with Charles Sullivan of the Cambridge His- has been spent as part of the funds needed to torical Commission, we developed a scope of match the grant. work and put the project out for bid, selecting Patriot Electrical Contracting & Service Cor- Next year will be more challenging financially. poration to do the job. The stock markets are in trouble, and we still need to raise additional monies to take full ad- The project vantage of the Community Preservation Act started in No- grant. The Society is in good financial health, vember with and with the aid of our many friends, I am con- the installation fident we will meet the challenges ahead. of a 200A un- derground ser- Development Committee Report vice running Paula Paris, Chair from Kennedy Road and en- The Development Committee oversees and tering the supports all of the Society’s income-generating house under the activities, including membership, annual ap- west roughcast Charlie Allen of Charlie Allen Res- peal, Spring Benefit, and special campaigns. wall. This was torations and electricians Zack Dol- We are now hard at work planning our Spring accomplished, loff (standing) and Mike Homan of Benefit (see page 3). thanks to the Patriot Electrical Contracting rewir- oversight of the ing the Hooper-Lee-Nichols House.

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Cambridge Plant and Garden Club and Mi- Dana Siblings in Cambridge and New York in chael Hanlon, without damaging the plantings the Early 20th Century.” Heli Meltsner donated along the route. “An Historical and Architectural Study of 12 Chilton Street.” Esther F. McQueeney gifted a New electrical panel boxes are replacing old manuscript entitled “A History of Berkeley fuse boxes and obsolete circuit breaker panels. Street: Cambridge, Massachusetts,” by Alice The first floor has been rewired, and work is G. Allyn. under way upstairs. Our sconces have been rewired, pull chains are being replaced by Bob Crocker donated 78 photographs of Cam- switches, and outlets are being added here and bridge houses that had belonged to the real es- there. We can now remove those little notes in tate office of Dudley & Borland. Deborah the kitchen that say things like “Unplug coffee Langston donated photographs of 55 Fayer- maker before using microwave.” weather Street ca. 1910, as well as the 1905 architectural plans for the house and the reno- When the project is complete, we will still vation plans of 1936 and 1960. Mrs. Melville have windows in need of restoration, sagging Chapin donated the architectural plans of 15 shutters, antiquated plumbing—and it’s getting Traill Street, designed by Lois Lilley Howe. to be time to paint again. But I’d like to believe that with courageous leadership and the support of the members and our friends we will find ways, year by year, to maintain and upgrade this treasure that’s been entrusted to us.

It has truly been my privilege to be leading the Facility Committee and supervising this work during a time when such important and large- scale improvements to the Hooper-Lee-Nichols House are taking place. Thank you very much for your help and support.

Collections Committee 55 Fayerweather Street, ca. 1910 Lindsay Leard Coolidge, Curator

The year 2007 has been extraordinary for the The Society received gifts from other institu- Society due to the unprecedented number of tions, including the Boothbay Regional His- gifts we received. I have selected a few items torical Society, which donated two photo- that represent a cross section of these gifts. graphs of Cambridge residents, Tina Littlefield ca. 1902 and the Littlefield twin sisters ca. Family papers, books, and maps donated this 1904. year include two 1934 volumes of the Sanborn Insurance maps of Cambridge given by Our library and archives saw a large increase in Charles M. Sullivan. Jeanne A. J. and William research inquiries mostly through our Web site. M. K. Nixon gifted approximately four cubic This year, requests numbered close to 200. feet of family papers and books from the family of Francis Child. It has truly been an honor to serve as curator of the Historical Society for close to six years. As Research papers were also donated. Rosamond my term comes to a close, I want to thank the Dana, who spoke at last year’s annual meeting, staff and members of the Collections Commit- donated a copy of her master’s thesis, “Privi- tee for all their work in organizing and rejuve- leged Radicals: The Rebellious Times of Six nating the collections.

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Publications Committee Report Annual Meeting Keynote Address: Michael Kenney, Chair Robert Frost: The Cambridge Years

Your Publications Committee is pleased to re- Our speaker, Warren M. (Renny) Little, CHS

port its surprise––and delight––at the success executive director emeri- Poets and Famous Poems Courtesy of the Society’s centennial volume, A City’s tus, has a special point of Life and Times: Cambridge in the Twentieth view on the crusty, re- Century . Published in November in an edition nowned New England of 750 copies, it sold so well that we were poet. Little currently lives forced to “borrow” back copies from local on Brewster Street, in the booksellers in order to have copies available house that Frost lived in for members at the Society’s annual meeting. for 22 years until his death A second edition was swiftly ordered to ensure in 1963. a continued supply for the Society and for local Robert Frost bookstores. Frost’s roots in Cambridge stretch back to 1897, when he entered Harvard Daphne Abeel, the book’s editor, has described at age 23. He dropped out in 1899 but contin- the challenges she faced––and successfully ued an on-and-off relationship with the univer- overcame––in securing essays on all aspects of sity, writing the “Ode to Harvard” on its 300th the city’s public and private life and in prepar- birthday, giving the Norton lectures, and re- ing the book for publication (see page 10). ceiving the Ralph Waldo Emerson Fellowship. Frost became a Harvard Fellow in 1941, the Not to let this success go to its head, your Pub- same year that his secretary and friend, Kay lications Committee will be considering future Morrison, bought the Brewster Street house for projects, as well as continuing to publish The him. Newetowne Chronicle. Little regaled his audience with memories and anecdotes. Frost’s lawyer In Memoriam and neighbor, Erastus Hewett, recalled Frost in Phebe Crampton Leighton, the wife of 1965 as “a charming con- our treasurer, An- versationalist” and noted drew Leighton, that the poet loved candy passed away on and ice cream. Frost’s December 15, working hours were typi- 2007. The CHS is cally from midnight until 4 indebted to Phebe, a.m. He slept until noon a landscape de- and spent his evenings with signer and mem- fellow poets and friends. ber of the Cam- Said Little, “Kay would Renny Little bridge Plant and line up people to walk Frost home, and then he Phebe and Andy Garden Club, for Leighton at the CHS would walk them home.” Holiday Party, her years of dedi- December 2005 cation to the It was Frost who conjured up the name Brew- Hooper-Lee- ster Village for the area where he liked to walk Nichols House garden since at least his border collie, Gilly. Frost’s granddaughter 1967. The catalyst for the CP&GC’s on- told the Littles that the grand old man padded going care of our gardens, she was in- about the house in bare feet but was deathly strumental in the design and planting of afraid of splinters. Little noted that this may be our present glorious front flower beds. why Frost’s bedroom floor was covered with asphalt tile when he and his wife bought the

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house in 1994. They also found a suitcase con- R E C E N T E V E N T S taining Frost’s formal wear, which they presented to the CHS, and Frost’s keys to his Book Launch at Harvard Book Store Bread Loaf house. It was a full house on In spite of his fame, the poet lived a simple, November 7 at our kick- spartan life at 35 Brewster, said Little, making off party for A City’s do with a wood stove in the kitchen and two Life and Times: Cam- tiny bathrooms. Today, Little said that tourists bridge in the Twentieth often come by to visit the house, which is iden- Century. In remarks pre- tified by a historical marker. Little will often pared for the event, Harvard Book Store go out to talk to them and tell them what he Daphne Abeel described owner Frank Kramer knows. the publication. The fol- welcomed attendees at Daphne Abeel lowing is a condensed our publication party. version of her remarks:

I want to begin with two questions: What is Cambridge? What is history? You could describe Cambridge as a city of about 100,000 inhabitants, situated on the Charles River, that’s home to two great universities. And you could say that history is what has happened that is recorded and remembered.

Each of the contributors to this book has grasped an aspect of Cambridge to highlight Above is a section of our recent exhibition some feature of the “Cambridge Literati: Writers in Residence.” city’s complex and di- It featured photographs, quotes, and commen- verse life. No one essay tary on more than 20 writers and poets who tells the whole story. lived in Cambridge, including Anne Bradstreet, These are views and Daphne Abeel Oliver Wendell Holmes, James Russell Lowell, perspectives written by Harriet Jacobs, and Henry Wadsworth Long- your friends, your acquaintances, your fellow. Also represented were more contempo- neighbors, people you may have read about in rary figures such as the cartoonist Al Capp, the paper, or people with whom you may have chef Julia Child, novelist and poet May Sar- shared an involvement. ton,and playwright William Alfred. It was the centennial of the Cambridge Histori- Handwritten notes from Longfellow, William cal Society in 2005 that inspired this book. The Dean Howells, and John Kenneth Galbraith Society’s mission is “to collect, preserve, inter- were on display. pret, and publish the history of Cambridge.” With this book, we have done that. Also on view was Robert Frost’s tuxedo, a model of the first printing press in the colonies, The book has variety, depth, and surprises. and other items reflecting the history of pub- You will not read it through, but you will read lishing in Cambridge, including details from in and around it with pleasure and fascination. the life of the editor—and Hooper-Lee-Nichols My sincere thanks to all the contributors. House resident—George Nichols.

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Annual Holiday Party U P C O M I N G E V E N T S More than 100 people enjoyed the festive atmosphere, Sunday, May 18 seasonal music, and elegant From Empty Space to Infinite Corridor: buffet at our December 12 CHS Celebrates MIT event. We wish to thank our Time: 2:00–4:30 p.m. members and the following Place: MIT’s Walker Memorial Building local caterers, who donated Tickets: $75 food: Cuisine Chez Vous, (See page 3 for details.) East Meets West, Riley to the Rescue Catering, and Sunday, June 22 Tables of Content. Many thanks also to Ruth The Secret Gardens of Cambridge Crocker and Beth Meyer for decorating the Time: 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. house and to Jeanne Donovan and her Celtic The Cambridge Historical Society will open its ensemble. grounds and offer tours of the Hooper-Lee- Nichols House to those visiting gardens throughout the city. Sponsored by the Friends The John Harvard Film of the Cambridge Public Library.

On February 27, we held Saturdays, August 9, and 16 a screening of John Har- Cambridge Discovery Days vard , a 65-minute film Time: Citywide events run concurrently written, produced, and throughout the day. directed by Harvard Free walks, tours, and other activities organ- graduate student Michael ized by the Historic Cambridge Collaborative Van Devere will explore this year’s theme, “From Settle-

Actors Michael Laures, Elina ment to Revolution.” Watch for information on A fictional account of Kanellopoulou, Alex Breaux, the city Web site and for a flyer listing sched- the last day in the life of and Evan Siegel. Except for uled events to be mailed this summer. John Harvard—Harvard Kanellopoulou, all were Harvard students. University’s first bene- Sunday, September 14 factor—the production was filmed almost en- Collaborative Program with the Cambridge tirely in the Chandler Room at the Hooper- African American Heritage Alliance Lee-Nichols House last spring. Van Devere Time: 2:00–4:00 p.m. discussed both the man and the film project. Place: The Hooper-Lee-Nichols House Joan Qualls Harris is scheduled to speak. Dana Fellow Event Details to come.

On March 9, Larry Nathanson presented an illustrated talk on the Ongoing: Tours of the Hooper-Lee-Nichols House work of Lois Lilley Howe, Amer- Tuesday and Thursday at 2:00 and 3:00 p.m. ica’s first woman architect. The $5; free for CHS members. Please call to ar- event took place at his Gray Gar- range a group tour. dens East house, which Lois

Lilley Howe designed.

Active members make history come alive. Become a member of the Cambridge Historical Society and make the past a thing of the present! Call 617-547-4252 to request a membership form, or visit us online at www.cambridgehistory.org.

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C O L L E C T I O N S U P D A T E ated the first alphabetical card catalogue at Edwin Tryon Billings’s what was then the country’s largest library.

Portrait of Ezra Abbot Concurrently, he continued his study of theol- by Lindsay Leard Coolidge ogy and published scholarly articles on the New Testament. In 1871 he received his first In 1955 Marian S. Abbot donated a portrait of academic position at Harvard as a Lecturer of Ezra Abbot to the Cambridge Historical Soci- the Textual Criticism of the New Testament. ety. At that time, the Society did not have a In 1872 he was appointed to the newly founded permanent home, and like many works from Bussey professorship, which he maintained the collection, the portrait was loaned to Har- until his death in 1884. The half-length profile vard University. After 53 years the painting portrait of Abbot was painted by the Dorches- has returned to the Society and joins a distin- ter artist Edwin Tryon Billings, presumably at guished collection of 19th-century American the time of Abbot’s professorship. paintings that hang in the Chandler Room.

Recommended reading

During the Civil War, writes Drew Gilpin Faust, Americans “often wrote about what they called ‘the work of death,’ meaning the duties of soldiers to fight, kill, and die.” In This Republic of Suffering (Knopf), Faust, Detail of the portrait of Ezra Abbot who is Harvard’s new president, explores the attempt to reconcile the battlefield slaughter Abbot is best known as the Bussey Professor with the familiar passing of a loved one dying of New Testament Criticism and Interpretation in peace, fully prepared for life after death. at Harvard Divinity School; however, his accomplishments in Cambridge were many. When it was built in 1809 He was born in Maine, the son of a farmer, in just a block from the Old 1819 and attended Bowdoin College. He State House, the Exchange moved to Cambridge in 1847 to study theology Coffee House was “one of the tallest, strangest, most privately with Andrews Norton, a professor of talked-about buildings in sacred literature at the Divinity School. the English-speaking world,” writes Cambridge From 1847 until 1856 Abbot worked as a Historical Society member teacher and then as the principal of the Cam- Jane Kamensky. In The bridge High School. In 1853 he published A Exchange Artist (Viking), Classed Catalogue of the Library of the Cam- she traces how the funding of its construction bridge High School, which outlined an innova- with worthless paper banknotes led to the na- tive library classification system. As a result, tion’s first bank failures and the ruin of inves- Harvard College hired him as its librarian in tors and workers. . 1856, and during the next 15 years Abbot cre-

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Pomp and Circumstance But “the idea developed traction,” Simha (continued from page 1) writes, “as the Cambridge industrialist Everett

Morss, president of the Simplex Wire and Ca-

ble Company, and other MIT alumni recruited At that point appeared the event’s impresario supporters for it.” (and designer of the barge), the architecture

professor Ralph Adams Cram in the guise of Merlin, who “leads the forces of civilization… In addition, Maclaurin received “a spate of let- ters” from Cambridge officials––and a pledge to the throne of MIT’s alma mater.” of $500,000 from alumnus Coleman duPont

toward the purchase of what was called the But getting MIT from the Back Bay to that Riverbank site. “throne” along Memorial Drive was not a cer-

tain thing. But even as Maclaurin began raising funds in

1911 to build what he would describe as “a By the early 1900s, MIT’s various academic great white city,” one potential donor, an departments and laboratories were

Courtesy MIT Museum MITCourtesy Museum engineering graduate, raised con- scattered throughout the Back Bay, cerns about the “structural integ- with little room to expand or provide rity” of the site, cautioning that playing fields and other student fa- MIT would be “faced by a con- cilities. tinually increasing expense to

protect [the site] against the en- One proposal was that MIT should croachments of the sea.” merge with Harvard––and Harvard

even went so far as to acquire land These concerns and those of other for that purpose in Allston, land that critics, writes Haglund, “are now is now the site of the Harvard Busi- only curious footnotes in the story ness School. But in 1905, both MIT of MIT’s renowned riverfront alumni and faculty voted overwhelm- campus.” ingly against a merger. Ralph Adams Cram dressed as Merlin

Considering that the riverfront site was only There was even a proposal to build an selected––and fundraising begun––in 1911, it “expandable” island in the Charles, anchored is startling to realize that the centerpiece of the on the Harvard (Mass. Ave.) Bridge roughly campus, the Great Court with its central domed opposite the site MIT now occupies. Building 10, was completed in time to serve as the stage for the “Masque of Power” on that By 1909, however, MIT’s new president, Rich- June evening in 1916. ard Maclaurin, “was casting his eyes” on that

very site, writes O. R. Simha in his essay, But could MIT have stayed in Boston after all? “Town and Gown in the Twentieth Century,”

in the Society’s centennial volume, A City’s Two evenings before the move across the Life and Times . Charles, MIT held a Smoker for some 2,000

alumni and students at the Boston City Club, There were concerns that the site was too close where the featured speaker was the mayor of to nearby manufacturing plants, a factor that Boston, James Michael Curley. had prevented a proposed residential develop-

ment, and that it was too near Harvard. Curley spoke of his pride in having MIT as a

Boston institution and said: “I want you to join A site selection committee focused “largely on with me in continuing it as a Boston institu- a list of problems,” writes Karl Haglund in In- tion––by favoring the annexation of Cam- venting the Charles River , including the bridge to the old city of Boston.” It was, one “encroaching manufacturing district” and prox- might say, just another “last hurrah.” imity to Harvard. .

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We gratefully acknowledge the following businesses, foundations and individuals for their generous support of our 2007 Annual Fund

$1,000 and above $150-$249 Ken Lynch & Emily Talcott Suzanne Revaleon Green Anonymous John & Kathleen Born Dennis C. Marnon Max R. Hall Charlie Allen, Charlie Allen Christine Cowan & Mr. & Mrs. William M. W. Easley Hamner Restorations Allan Gordon Martin, III Sabina H. Harris David Altshuler, Tech Bob & Ruth Crocker Laura McGregor Jack Hertzberg, Nelson & Foundation Richard de Neufville Fred & Maria Meyer Hertzberg Orthodontics of Lindsay & Charles Coolidge Natalie Zinn Haar Helen F. Moulton Cambridge Simeon Bruner, Bruner-Cott Chandra D. Harrington Paula Paris Janet Kinasewich & Associates, Inc. William & Sheila King Jim Righter Emilieanne Koehnlein Luise M. Erdmann Marilee Meyer Harland & Ann Riker Arthur J. Krim Karen & Peter Falb Clare & Geoffrey Nunes Judith & Carl Sapers Rick & Nancy Lamb Richard & Priscilla Hunt Brian R. Pfeiffer Edgar & Mary Schein Laurence Lesser & Thomas H. Mattox Nancy & James Townsend Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Scott Masuko Ushioda Elizabeth & Jack Meyer Renata von Tscharner Tim & Martha Shaw Henry & Carol Lukas, in Charles M. Sullivan Julie & E. A. Vargas O. R. Simha memory of Marie Ukasiewski Henry K. Vandermark Mary Webb & Sean H. Prescott Smith, Pia Maybury-Lewis McDonnell SOS Security Betty Milhendler $500-$999 Maxwell & Jo Solet, in mem- John Monticone, in memory of John & Jill Avery $100-$149 ory of Phebe Leighton Phebe Leighton Thomas & Judy Bracken Daphne Abeel Roger Stacey Charlotte B. Moore Ted & Sally Hansen Dr. Robert H. Ackerman Cynthia H. Sunderland Joseph R. Moore & Harry Irwin, Louise Todd Ambler Donald J. Tripp, Dudley Annette LaMond Thoughtforms Corporation Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Bardige Borland/Ellis & Andrews Eva S. Moseley Andrew Leighton Charles & Virginia Batchelder Insurance Regina Mullen Heli & Michael Meltsner Darleen & Michael Michael L. Tushman Barbara Oldman Gail Roberts Bonislawski Bradford & Frances Wetherell John Petrowski & Tom Vise Maxwell & Jo Solet Dr. & Mrs. Berry Brazelton Louise A. Pfeiffer Mr. & Mrs. Bracebridge H. Ken & Marcia Bushnell Up to $99 Stephen D. Pratt Young Levin & Eleanor Campbell Peter Ambler & Robert B. Rettig Ollie & Tony Capizzi, Lindsay Miller Takako G. Salvi $250-$499 Capizzi & Co., Inc. Charles Bahne & Mrs. Edward J. Samp Anonymous John & Ann Cobb Virginia McVarish Leighton & Carl Scheffy, in Susan Adams & John & Sylvia Constable James & Maureen Baker memory of Phebe Leighton Stuart Taylor Richard S. Doring Richard E. Bennink Ms. Carmeline Shapiro, in Blake & Lindsay Allison Martin & Nancy Evans Stephanie Berk & Charles memory of John D. Holland Mark Boyes-Watson, Boyes- Iten N. Fales Welch Stephen Surette Watson Architects Shanti Addison Fry Jeffrey Berman & Beth Anna M. Svedrofsky Bob & Jean Bushnell Nancy Goodwin, in memory of Luchner Barbara J. Trant, in memory of Lee Campbell, Jr. Tony Platt Bill & Judy Bibbins , in Francis X. Trant Karen Davis & Mr. & Mrs. John H. Henn memory of Phebe Leighton Paul C. Vermouth Jr. Lewis Bushnell, in memory of Lawrence Hopkins John T. Blackwell, in memory F. Elisabeth Wahlen Phebe Leighton Dr. Thomas A. Horrocks of George H. Blackwell William H. Walsh, Ogunquit Ruth F. Hamlen Bob & Nancy Hurlbut F. Gorham Brigham Jr. Development Corporation George Hanford Mary Lee Ingbar Judy Carlson Raymond & Joan Walther Sigmund & Elizabeth Anna S. Jeffrey Alice & George Chen Sylvia & Peter Winn Herzstein Carol R. Johnson Alice DeLana Emmy C. Wolbach Jill Horner & Yo-Yo Ma Linda Kaboolian & Harold Elizabeth & Arthur Nancy B. Woods Gerald M. McCue Nahigian Dempster Ben & Carolyn Woznick Ellen & John Moot William & Julia Kaufmann Gertrude DiNatale Elizabeth Wylde & Dr. & Mrs. Larry Nathanson Councilor Craig A. Kelley Mason & Helen Fernald Lance Drane Joseph V. Roller, II, Michael Kenney Susan Fleischmann, Cam- Cornelia P. Zinsser Cambridge Trust Company Karl H. Klaussen bridge Community Television Robin & Laurie Young Robert L. Kleinberg Gladys P. Gifford Renny & Jean Little Rolf & Julie Goetze This list includes donations received by February 29. Please contact us if your name is missing or appears incorrectly.

The Cambridge Historical Society is a nonprofit organization that relies on membership dues, private contributions, and grants to fund its archives, projects, and programs. Every gift is important.

Winter 2008 The Newetowne Chronicle/ 12

Courtesy MIT Museum MIT Courtesy Mark your calendars: Sunday, May 18

Cambridge Historical Society Spring Benefit

From Empty Space to Infinite Corridor:

CHS Celebrates MIT

See page 3.

The Cambridge Historical Society has been the keeper of Cambridge history for more than 100 years. We are an active nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting an interest in all aspects of the history and heritage of Cambridge.

www.cambridgehistory.org

THE C AMBRIDGE H ISTORICAL S OCIETY The Hooper-Lee-Nichols House 159 Brattle Street Cambridge, MA 02138 ______

“I’m against a homogenized society because I want the cream to rise.” Robert Frost as reported in the Boston Globe , January 3, 2008