Impromptu Walking Tour

It was with great regret that I closed my book last night to tired eyes. I awoke this morning feeling anxious because I had not yet finished Puddin'Head Wilson by Mark Twain and anticipated a class discussion in which I would not be able to participate. I was relieved when our professor decided to take us on a historical walking tour of Beacon Hill instead!

Having gone to school on Beacon Hill for years and having lived here since last May, I had no idea how little I knew about the area. The first thing that I learned this morning was that Gleason Archer (founder of Suffolk University) graduated from BU's Law School, which was located on Beacon Hill at the time. With the State House and the "LB" (the building where lawyer's offices used to be) this was "a lawyer's hangout" as Professor Allison put it.

Our class started up Beacon Street where Professor Allison stopped to mention the private library and the Congregational Building. The private library houses a collection of George Washington's books that you can actually read and touch! Their art collection initiated what is now the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. As we moved passed the State House he spoke about the placement and significance of each statue; Mary Dryer, Anne Huchinson, Daniel Webster, General Hooker, and others. Did you know that the Massachusetts State House was the first State House built after the Revolutionary War?

We moved passed the State house and traveled up Joy Street (where I live!) to discuss the racial divide that used to be Beacon Hill. I was interested to learn that the street came to be known as Joy St. only after the prominent people living on the South Side of the hill decided they didn't want to share a street name with the free Blacks living on the North side. Professor Allison discussed the many phases the neighborhood went through including thearrival of the immigrant population and the prominent White people abandoning their homes for the North Shore. Lastly, we walked the winding alleys that fugitive slaves used to flee to the African American meeting house.

Not only did I learn some interesting facts about the neighborhood I live in, but I also have some new sidenotes to add to my campus tours!

Going to school in Boston really does have its advantages...