The 26th season of the free Jamaica Plain Historical Society neighborhood tours are kicking off May 22. The tours are a great way to learn more about Monument Square, the Woodbourne neighborhood, Jamaica Pond, and more. "I like helping people discover more about the history of the places they visit each day. People pass by the colonial milestones in JP zillions of times without knowing they are there and what they are," said JPHS President Gretchen Grozier. "But once someone takes a tour they learn more, and hopefully, are curious to continue learning more about the rich and wonderful history of Jamaica Plain."
Join the Jamaica Plain Historical Society to tour this part of the JP neighborhood which developed from 19th-century summer estates into a model suburban enclave. It contains examples representative of New England architecture with designs by local architects and builders. It also contains an unusual garden city model housing development by the Boston Dwelling House Company which was founded in 1912. All tours are free to the public and are offered on dates shown. Tours last between 60 and 90 minutes and are canceled in case of heavy rain.
Twenty-three years ago the then president of the Jamaica Plain Historical Society, Rhea Becker, had an idea. Why not conduct a series of walking tours during the summer months as a way to highlight the rich history of JP for people? The JPHS has been conducting historic walking tours of Jamaica Plain tours ever since. From the four tours that debuted on the schedule in 1995, the offerings have now expanded to include seven different tours. Each tour lasts between 60 and 90 minutes.
An SUV plowed into the front stoop of a Meyer Street home on Thursday afternoon. The incident took place about 3:40 p.m., according to Boston Police Officer Rachel McGuire. One person sustained non life-threatening injuries, McGuire said, but it wasn't clear whether that person was in the vehicle. A WHDH photo of the scene shows extensive damage to the front steps and vestibule. McGuire said the Boston Fire Department, Emergency Medical Services and a building inspector came to the 36 Meyer St.
Sendie Dorcelly and Whitney Brice of Mattapan and Rachel St. Fleurose of Roslindale enjoy the Tchaka Festival on Memorial Day 2015. Credit: Richard Heath. A week after their grand Independence Day parade down Blue Hill Avenue, the Haitian community gathered in the hundreds at Jamaica Plain's Pagel Playground in the Woodbourne neighborhood for the third annual Tchaka Fest on Memorial Day. Organized in part by Bel Mizik FM, the Haitian radio station out of Hyde Park (91.3 FM), family and friends flocked from Salem, Lynn, Everett, Mattapan, Hyde Park and Dorchester to hear DJs blast out the latest sounds, compete in soccer matches, sack races and even play musical chairs.
As neighborhood residents continue to report going days without mail, a Post Office spokesperson said all the routes in JP are being delivered to. Melissa Lohnes of the U.S. Postal Service on Monday wrote in an email to Jamaica Plain News that, "our carriers are on the road today delivering mail to 100 percent of our routes in Jamaica Plain. Safety and service are top priorities for the Postal Service and we are very proud that our employees are making every effort to deliver the mail in very challenging conditions." Residents of Woodbourne, especially, are reporting long delays. Across the neighborhood on Perkins Street, Polly Puner reports finally getting at least some of her mail on Tuesday after four days of no mail.
Boston Police say armed robbers entered a Woodbourne home Sunday night, made the victims get on the floor at gunpoint and took watches, cash and cell phones from them. The targets chased the home invaders until the men opened fire. No one was hit. The incident took place about 8 p.m. Sunday at 280 Hyde Park Ave. Police say they broadcast descriptions of the suspects and officers found someone matching one of the descriptions.
Several residents have told Jamaica Plain News that they've received no mail for three or more days. "I don't know what the problem is," said Polly Puner of Perkins Street, who hasn't had mail delivered since Wednesday. Puner, who lives across from the MSPCA, said her newspaper gets delivered every day, so why not the U.S. mail? A Bourne neighborhood resident, who did not want to give her name, has stopped relying on the Post Office for delivery of her medications. Instead, she picks them up in person now.
Undead shoveler, Bourne and Catherine, February 2015. Credit: Peg Preble
Peg Preble photographed this poor fellow at the corner of Bourne and Catherine. We ran a caption contest on the Jamaica Plain News Facebook page. We had lots of inventive ideas, but Audrey White's caption "You can have this parking space over my dead body" was the winner. Hat tip to Andree Zalesk (of JP Green House) for letting us know about this great photo!
The driver of an SUV that hit a parked car and flipped onto its roof on Hyde Park Avenue Saturday night was taken to Brigham & Women's hospital for non life-threatening injuries. The crash took place at 311 Hyde Park Ave. going outbound, said Boston Police Officer Rachel McGuire. The initial police report did not indicate whether the driver will face any charges. Resident Craig Burlingame caught photos of the vehicle turned turtle:
@7News car accident on hyde park ave in Jp tonight around 12:15 am pic.twitter.com/lueHTRgky7— Craig Burlingame (@craigburlingame) August 10, 2014
It isn't clear whether speed was a factor in the crash, but commenters over at Universal Hub have a thread about speeding along Hyde Park Avenue and elsewhere in JP.