Instructions: Print on both sides with “flip on long side” set. Cut pages into quadrants along lines. Keep the title card (the card to the left of this one) and this instructions card separate, and shuffle the rest.

Place the title card on top.

If possible, punch a hole in the top-left corner of all cards, and put on a key- ring to read.

Otherwise, read starting from the top.

Charlie on the MBTA Throw away this card, or keep it for sentimental purposes.

Kendall

MBTA, 1969

These are the times that try men’s souls. In the course of our nation’s history, the people of Boston have rallied bravely whenever the rights of men have been threatened. MBTA maps derived from the “Rapid Transit/Key Bus Routes Map” from the Today, a new crisis has arisen. The MBTA website. Metropolitan Transit Authority, better known as the MTA, is attempting to Information used to create historical levy a burdensome tax on the maps derived from “An Animated population in the form of a subway fare History of the MBTA” on increase. vanshnookenraggen.com. Citizens, hear me out, this could happen to you!

“(Charlie on the) M.T.A.”, The Kingston Trio, 1949

“It seems to me, my love, that the terror of this new Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority grows “I saw Charlie this morning for the first stronger each year. It has only time in a few months. He was heading been around for five years, and it inbound from Kendall Square at the has already caused irreparable same time as I was. Must’ve finally damage by closing streetcar gotten a new job, though I feel for the service to Watertown, not to guy—three weeks without work can’t mention the horrendous color be good for the wallet, especially with scheme it has imposed on us. I two kids at such a young age.” shudder to think what should happen next.” —Michael Murphy diary entry, 1949 —Charlie Adams letter to wife, 1969

Green Street

MBTA, 2004

Scollay Square

MTA, 1949 “I was on the same train as my cousin “My beloved, I have heard the most [Charlie] that morning, fortunately—I wonderous news. Soon, they will still vividly remember getting to Green replace the fare machines at our Street and asking Charlie if he’d stations with these ‘CharlieCards’, brought an extra nickel for the fare removing exit fares and finally allowing increase. When he realized that he me to return to you. I thank you for hadn’t, a kind of panic overtook him, your faithful companionship through and he told me to run over to his these troubling years, and for never house that night and ask his wife to failing to come through with a bring him a nickel and a sandwich to sandwich, whether at Scollay Square Scollay Square the next day at noon.” or Government Center.” —Mark “Muddy” Adams —Charlie Adams, interview with the Boston Globe, letter to wife, 2004 “How’s Charlie Doing After 10 Years?”, 1959

“My dear, it has only been five months “I am very disappointed in the City of since this rude charade by the MTA Boston and its intent to demolish started, but it feels like it has been Scollay Square. Although the area has years. I am glad to see you each never been known to be an area of day—it seems to be my only solace in great repute, its denizens are still a this underground palace of misery. I core part of Boston’s culture. The am glad to hear that Mark has given refurbishing of the associated MTA you a job in Scollay Square, and stations also makes it unnecessarily although I cannot approve of your difficult for individuals to access public working, I understand its necessity. I transportation in the area, which is hope that this situation is resolved frankly unacceptable." soon, so that I may see Brooke and

Stony again.” —Mystic Adams,

letters to the editor, Boston Herald, —Charlie Adams, 1960 letter to wife, 1949

Lechmere Harvard

Cambridge Center/MIT

MBTA, 1990 “I had the pleasure of talking to a “I got into Harvard today! Hopefully I’ll somewhat older gentleman this get to see you up at Harvard station on morning at Lechmere about the evenings when I’m not stuck in my MBTA’s commitment to extend the room studying. Mom’s a little worried Green Line into Somerville and about paying tuition, but hopefully Medford: he said that he was glad that things will work out. I can’t imagine the MBTA was finally opening stations what it’s been like to see me grow up for once and not just closing them. He from afar, but I hope I’ve made you then went on to rail against the exit proud, and I’m glad to have had a fare using fairly colorful language that I father with such a strong sense of won’t repeat here, before getting on justice.” the in-bound train towards Heath.”

—Brooke Adams, — Hingham O’Sullivan letter to father, 1960 reporter, WGBH, 1990

“The 1980’s were a time of great change for the MBTA. The Red Line “I’m finally back in Cambridge. I’m sure was extended past Harvard to Alewife, you already know this, but they the line to Arborway was closed as renamed the stop in Kendall to was the Washington Street Elevated, Cambridge Center/MIT, which is just a and, on the whole, it seemed like the T horrible choice, but I see it every day was changing its focus on who it now that I’ve started my assistant served. I celebrated my sixtieth professorship here. I hope mom has birthday by making sure I had visited been treating you well, or, at the very all of the old stations before they least, as well as she normally does, closed.” and I hope to see you again soon. Keep fighting the good fight.” —Charlie Adams, History of the MBTA: —Brooke Adams, A Rider’s Perspective letter to father, 1982 (unpublished manuscript), 2009

State

Forest Hills

Government Center

Dudley Square “As you well know, they are closing down Scollay Square and demolishing “We’re here today with Charlie Adams, Adams Square, but Mark somehow who after fifty-seven years of living on managed to get me a job in City Hall the MBTA has finally been allowed to down by State Street, on Route 3. exit in Jamaica Plain, now that the new Hopefully, I’ll be able to keep it when CharlieCard fare gates have been Government Center opens, and we activated—and his fate is no longer can keep our tradition of having lunch unlearned.” together. I do miss you an awful lot

though.” — Ryan Neponset

reporter, WHDH, 2006 —Mystic Adams, letter to husband, 1961

“It has been almost twenty years, and I “Mystic told me not to send along any still do not understand why you do not money, because you wanted to make simply ask me for a nickel when I a statement about the exit fares on the come and see you. I thought the MBTA. I think it’s a noble cause, protest was fine and good for the first although I’m not sure I understand the few months, but now it has been means of protest myself. I’m glad that I awfully long without you at home. can at least see you in Dudley Putting Brooke and Stony through occasionally—but it must be hard to college has been costly, but not so get to see your sister in Chelsea. You much that I could not spare five cents should check in on her sometime. Stay for your recovery. Regardless, I will strong, and best of luck.” continue to support you, come what may.” — Sandra Wards, letter to nephew, 1951 — Mystic Adams, letter to husband, 1968