Ann/North Street, Boston's original Combat Zone

[czsz]

Came across this:

Among the modern manuscript collections found in the Special Collections department are the records from the Wood Detective Agency. Founded in 1879, by James Rodney Wood, Sr., it was the first private detective agency in New England. Before founding the agency, Wood served as a member of the Boston police. Wood wrote, “In February, 1865, I was appointed as a member of the Boston police force by Frederick W. Lincoln, Mayor, and was assigned to Station One in Hanover Street.” He would remain connected with this station for five years.

Wood was tasked with patrolling North Street (previously Ann Street), which at the time he described as “the rendezvous of the sailors and the bad home element of Boston.” North Street was home to thirteen dance halls, about 25 “bar-rooms,” and “thirty to fifty houses of ill-fame.” Among the thieves and sailors that frequented the street were also Harvard College students, who according to Wood, didn’t always stay out of trouble.

http://etseq.law.harvard.edu/index.p...150_years_ago/

Anyone have any other info/photos?

[bbfen]

Originally Posted by czsz

Came across this:



http://etseq.law.harvard.edu/index.p...150_years_ago/

Anyone have any other info/photos?

THOSE DAMN STUDENTS. Michael Ross should write some legislation to deal with this issue.

[ablarc]

Wood was tasked with patrolling North Street (previously Ann Street), which at the time he described as “the rendezvous of the sailors and the bad home element of Boston.” North Street was home to thirteen dance halls, about 25 “bar-rooms,” and “thirty to fifty houses of ill-fame.” Among the thieves and sailors that frequented the street were also Harvard College students, who according to Wood, didn’t always stay out of trouble.

Truly the Stone Age.

Way before Andrew Puopolo.

[JohnCostello]

Even before Ann Street there was Mount Whoredom up on what is now Joy Street and the abutting streets on Beacon Hill.