72 Kneeland: A Site Through Time

72 Kneeland Street is today the site of a seven story building at the corner of Tyler Street, built in 1915 for garment manufacturing. When the garment industry declined the building was purchased in 1987 and incrementally partitioned into use for shops, offices and eventually apartments. The businesses are mostly Chinese owned and serving the Chinatown community, and vary from health services, insurance and accounting, herbs and dry foods, sewing and alterations, bubble tea and electronics. The apartments are increasingly occupied by non-Asian medical professionals who work at Tufts Medical Center across the street, and AirBnB. The fifth floor was occupied by a Piano School from 1995-2010, when the top three floors were converted to apartments. In 2013 I moved into an apartment on the fifth floor and lived there until the summer of 2017.

This project was born out of my own curiousity to understand the origins of my environment and the rich architectural and societal fabric of the very resilient Chinatown community.

in 1630 the area that is today Chinatown and the Leather District was water and became a working harbor during the early colonial period called the South Cove. After being cut-off from shipping lanes by the South Boston bridge the South Cove was filled-in in 1835 and developed for housing and railroad terminals. By 1856 72 Kneeland was established and occupied by rowhomes similiar to what is seen today on Tyler and Hudson Streets. While quickly becoming an immigrant area of a variety of different groups, 72 Kneeland was occupied in 1867 by a Christian Church. On account of the Great Fire of 1872 which devastated the Central Business District, changes to tenement garment production and other market developments the garment industry began to infiltrate into the residential South Cove. in 1915 the building that exists today at 72 Kneeland was built, but it was wider than it is today. In 1927 Kneeland Street was widened to accomodate larger automobile traffic and to serve as a major city artery. Buildings on Kneeland st were either demolished or truncated. 72 Kneeland was cut almost in half, but others were demolished and replaced with auto services. Next to 72 Kneeland was a gas station, the building still exists today and is occupied by the Clay Pot Cafe. Garment production continued in 72 Kneeland with different small businesses operating on each floor. in 1956 the building was threatened with destruction from the initial proposed Central Artery highway route, but was salvaged when the route was pushed over by one block. Garment production slowly declined though the next few decades, with most of the larger buildings on the other side of Kneeland Street being re-used by Tufts Medical Center for labratory use. The garment buildings north of Kneeland (including 72 Kneeland) were incorporated into Chinatown as a wide variety of uses, from Dim Sum halls to offices, apartments or kung-fu spaces. 72 Kneeland was occupied by garment production until 1986, after a brief period of vacany in the 1970s.

Tom Hilsee, 2017

1994: Southern portion of downtown Boston, 72 Kneeland highlighted - Olde South Publishing

Tyler Street Elevation: Showing development over time in relation to Kneeland Street. Notice street widening between 1920 and 1930, truncating 72 Kneeland and the construction of the Hudson Building.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Proin ac mi elit. In vestibulum nibh eget risus ultrices malesuada. Maecenas varius nibh lobortis tortor molestie pellentesque. Aenean malesuada ex eget convallis hendrerit. Integer hendrerit arcu ut accumsan convallis. Vivamus justo leo, molestie a risus at, rhoncus posuere ante. Duis at dapibus velit, et placerat dui. Praesent sagittis facilisis egestas. Nullam suscipit ex quis urna blandit vestibulum. Nulla molestie tortor felis, a euismod risus vestibulum commodo.

Integer ut enim ut mi blandit lacinia eget et nisi. Aliquam suscipit metus vel convallis ornare. Vivamus vel eros vitae enim blandit aliquet id sit amet ligula. Duis vulputate hendrerit elit eget posuere. Cras a ultrices enim.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Proin ac mi elit. In vestibulum nibh eget risus ultrices malesuada. Maecenas varius nibh lobortis tortor molestie pellentesque. Aenean malesuada ex eget convallis hendrerit. Integer hendrerit arcu ut accumsan convallis. Vivamus justo leo, molestie a risus at, rhoncus posuere ante. Duis at dapibus velit, et placerat dui. Praesent sagittis facilisis egestas. Nullam suscipit ex quis urna blandit vestibulum. Nulla molestie tortor felis, a euismod risus vestibulum commodo.

Integer ut enim ut mi blandit lacinia eget et nisi. Aliquam suscipit metus vel convallis ornare. Vivamus vel eros vitae enim blandit aliquet id sit amet ligula. Duis vulputate hendrerit elit eget posuere. Cras a ultrices enim.

1775: View of Boston from Dorchester Neck (South Boston) - Boston Public Library

1774: Corner of Orange (Washington) and Essex
- Boston Public Library

1828: View from South Boston Bridge - Boston Public Library

1820: Hales map of Boston, showing the inner South Cove; todays footprints of 72 Kneeland and St. James Church (125 Harrison Ave) highlighted - Boston Public Library

1630/1880: Original shoreline overlaid over 1880 map; extent of map above (South Cove) outlined - Boston Public Library

1835: Plan for the South Cove; todays footprints of 72 Kneeland and St. James Church highlighted - Boston Public Library

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Proin ac mi elit. In vestibulum nibh eget risus ultrices malesuada. Maecenas varius nibh lobortis tortor molestie pellentesque. Aenean malesuada ex eget convallis hendrerit. Integer hendrerit arcu ut accumsan convallis. Vivamus justo leo, molestie a risus at, rhoncus posuere ante. Duis at dapibus velit, et placerat dui. Praesent sagittis facilisis egestas. Nullam suscipit ex quis urna blandit vestibulum. Nulla molestie tortor felis, a euismod risus vestibulum commodo.

Integer ut enim ut mi blandit lacinia eget et nisi. Aliquam suscipit metus vel convallis ornare. Vivamus vel eros vitae enim blandit aliquet id sit amet ligula. Duis vulputate hendrerit elit eget posuere. Cras a ultrices enim.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Proin ac mi elit. In vestibulum nibh eget risus ultrices malesuada. Maecenas varius nibh lobortis tortor molestie pellentesque. Aenean malesuada ex eget convallis hendrerit. Integer hendrerit arcu ut accumsan convallis. Vivamus justo leo, molestie a risus at, rhoncus posuere ante. Duis at dapibus velit, et placerat dui. Praesent sagittis facilisis egestas. Nullam suscipit ex quis urna blandit vestibulum. Nulla molestie tortor felis, a euismod risus vestibulum commodo.

Integer ut enim ut mi blandit lacinia eget et nisi. Aliquam suscipit metus vel convallis ornare. Vivamus vel eros vitae enim blandit aliquet id sit amet ligula. Duis vulputate hendrerit elit eget posuere. Cras a ultrices enim.

ca 1880: Original middle-class rowhouses on Tyler Street - Chinese Historical Society New England

ca 1900: Tyler Street
- Chinese Historical Society New England

1852: Slatter/Callahan map of Boston; todays footprints of 72 Kneeland and St. James Church (125 Harrison Ave) highlighted - Boston Public Library

1866: B.F. Nutting birdseye of Boston, showing South Cove area; highlighted are locations of 72 Kneeland and St. James Church (although church at 72 Kneeland has just been built) - Boston Public Library

1837: Parcel plan for laying out of South Cove; todays footprints of 72 Kneeland and St. James Church highlighted - Boston Public Library

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Proin ac mi elit. In vestibulum nibh eget risus ultrices malesuada. Maecenas varius nibh lobortis tortor molestie pellentesque. Aenean malesuada ex eget convallis hendrerit. Integer hendrerit arcu ut accumsan convallis. Vivamus justo leo, molestie a risus at, rhoncus posuere ante. Duis at dapibus velit, et placerat dui. Praesent sagittis facilisis egestas. Nullam suscipit ex quis urna blandit vestibulum. Nulla molestie tortor felis, a euismod risus vestibulum commodo.

Integer ut enim ut mi blandit lacinia eget et nisi. Aliquam suscipit metus vel convallis ornare. Vivamus vel eros vitae enim blandit aliquet id sit amet ligula. Duis vulputate hendrerit elit eget posuere. Cras a ultrices enim.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Proin ac mi elit. In vestibulum nibh eget risus ultrices malesuada. Maecenas varius nibh lobortis tortor molestie pellentesque. Aenean malesuada ex eget convallis hendrerit. Integer hendrerit arcu ut accumsan convallis. Vivamus justo leo, molestie a risus at, rhoncus posuere ante. Duis at dapibus velit, et placerat dui. Praesent sagittis facilisis egestas. Nullam suscipit ex quis urna blandit vestibulum. Nulla molestie tortor felis, a euismod risus vestibulum commodo.

Integer ut enim ut mi blandit lacinia eget et nisi. Aliquam suscipit metus vel convallis ornare. Vivamus vel eros vitae enim blandit aliquet id sit amet ligula. Duis vulputate hendrerit elit eget posuere. Cras a ultrices enim.

ca 1880: First Christian Church; 72 Kneeland
- Bostonian Society

1901: Harrison Ave & Harvard St; St. James Church on right - Tufts University

1910: Tyler Street Nursery, at 62-64 Tyler, an affiliate of Boston Dispensary
- Tufts University

1895: Bromley Atlas of Boston; todays footprints of 72 Kneeland and St. James Church (125 Harrison Ave) highlighted - State Library of Massachusetts

1899: A.E. downs birdseye of Boston, showing South Cove area; highlighted are locations of church at 72 Kneeland and St. James Church - Boston Public Library

1898: Freight trains approaching Albany & Boston Kneeland St depot, looking down Utica St - Boston City Archives

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Proin ac mi elit. In vestibulum nibh eget risus ultrices malesuada. Maecenas varius nibh lobortis tortor molestie pellentesque. Aenean malesuada ex eget convallis hendrerit. Integer hendrerit arcu ut accumsan convallis. Vivamus justo leo, molestie a risus at, rhoncus posuere ante. Duis at dapibus velit, et placerat dui. Praesent sagittis facilisis egestas. Nullam suscipit ex quis urna blandit vestibulum. Nulla molestie tortor felis, a euismod risus vestibulum commodo.

Integer ut enim ut mi blandit lacinia eget et nisi. Aliquam suscipit metus vel convallis ornare. Vivamus vel eros vitae enim blandit aliquet id sit amet ligula. Duis vulputate hendrerit elit eget posuere. Cras a ultrices enim.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Proin ac mi elit. In vestibulum nibh eget risus ultrices malesuada. Maecenas varius nibh lobortis tortor molestie pellentesque. Aenean malesuada ex eget convallis hendrerit. Integer hendrerit arcu ut accumsan convallis. Vivamus justo leo, molestie a risus at, rhoncus posuere ante. Duis at dapibus velit, et placerat dui. Praesent sagittis facilisis egestas. Nullam suscipit ex quis urna blandit vestibulum. Nulla molestie tortor felis, a euismod risus vestibulum commodo.

Integer ut enim ut mi blandit lacinia eget et nisi. Aliquam suscipit metus vel convallis ornare. Vivamus vel eros vitae enim blandit aliquet id sit amet ligula. Duis vulputate hendrerit elit eget posuere. Cras a ultrices enim.

1915: 7-story Garment building erected at 72 Kneeland - Axonometric drawing by Tom Hilsee

1925: Looking down Kneeland St; Garment buildings on right, Elevated transit over Harrison Ave. - Chinese Historical Society New England

1875: Typical early loft-building garment factory; Washington St - Bostonian Society

1917: Bromley Atlas of Boston; todays footprints of 72 Kneeland and St. James Church (125 Harrison Ave) highlighted - State Library of Massachusetts

1890-1920: David Ward study of shifting locations of Bostons Central Business District, upper South Cove area highlighted - Clark University

1925: Tyler St, looking towards Beach St from 72 Kneeland - Chinese Historical Society New England

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Proin ac mi elit. In vestibulum nibh eget risus ultrices malesuada. Maecenas varius nibh lobortis tortor molestie pellentesque. Aenean malesuada ex eget convallis hendrerit. Integer hendrerit arcu ut accumsan convallis. Vivamus justo leo, molestie a risus at, rhoncus posuere ante. Duis at dapibus velit, et placerat dui. Praesent sagittis facilisis egestas. Nullam suscipit ex quis urna blandit vestibulum. Nulla molestie tortor felis, a euismod risus vestibulum commodo.

Integer ut enim ut mi blandit lacinia eget et nisi. Aliquam suscipit metus vel convallis ornare. Vivamus vel eros vitae enim blandit aliquet id sit amet ligula. Duis vulputate hendrerit elit eget posuere. Cras a ultrices enim.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Proin ac mi elit. In vestibulum nibh eget risus ultrices malesuada. Maecenas varius nibh lobortis tortor molestie pellentesque. Aenean malesuada ex eget convallis hendrerit. Integer hendrerit arcu ut accumsan convallis. Vivamus justo leo, molestie a risus at, rhoncus posuere ante. Duis at dapibus velit, et placerat dui. Praesent sagittis facilisis egestas. Nullam suscipit ex quis urna blandit vestibulum. Nulla molestie tortor felis, a euismod risus vestibulum commodo.

Integer ut enim ut mi blandit lacinia eget et nisi. Aliquam suscipit metus vel convallis ornare. Vivamus vel eros vitae enim blandit aliquet id sit amet ligula. Duis vulputate hendrerit elit eget posuere. Cras a ultrices enim.

1927: Garment bldg at 72 Kneeland truncated for widening; highlight showing cut-off section (facade re-built after)
- Historic New England

1926: Rowhouses on Kneeland dismantled for widening, Hudson-Albany Sts - Historic New England

ca 1930: Auto repair opens on empty lots of former row-homes, Harrison-Tyler Sts
- Jeffrey Wong

1924: Survey plans for widening of Kneeland Street, red line indicates where buildings will have to be cut-back to; footprint of 72 Kneeland highlighted - Boston Public Works Department Records

1928: Aerial after widening; 72 Kneeland and St. James church highlighted in red, orphan vacant lots in teal - Boston Public Library

1926: Construction floor plan for cutting back building at 72 Kneeland; red shows remaining, blue shows section removed
- Boston Inspectional Services Dept. Records

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Proin ac mi elit. In vestibulum nibh eget risus ultrices malesuada. Maecenas varius nibh lobortis tortor molestie pellentesque. Aenean malesuada ex eget convallis hendrerit. Integer hendrerit arcu ut accumsan convallis. Vivamus justo leo, molestie a risus at, rhoncus posuere ante. Duis at dapibus velit, et placerat dui. Praesent sagittis facilisis egestas. Nullam suscipit ex quis urna blandit vestibulum. Nulla molestie tortor felis, a euismod risus vestibulum commodo.

Integer ut enim ut mi blandit lacinia eget et nisi. Aliquam suscipit metus vel convallis ornare. Vivamus vel eros vitae enim blandit aliquet id sit amet ligula. Duis vulputate hendrerit elit eget posuere. Cras a ultrices enim.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Proin ac mi elit. In vestibulum nibh eget risus ultrices malesuada. Maecenas varius nibh lobortis tortor molestie pellentesque. Aenean malesuada ex eget convallis hendrerit. Integer hendrerit arcu ut accumsan convallis. Vivamus justo leo, molestie a risus at, rhoncus posuere ante. Duis at dapibus velit, et placerat dui. Praesent sagittis facilisis egestas. Nullam suscipit ex quis urna blandit vestibulum. Nulla molestie tortor felis, a euismod risus vestibulum commodo.

Integer ut enim ut mi blandit lacinia eget et nisi. Aliquam suscipit metus vel convallis ornare. Vivamus vel eros vitae enim blandit aliquet id sit amet ligula. Duis vulputate hendrerit elit eget posuere. Cras a ultrices enim.

1954: 72 Kneeland silouette in center; gas station at 74 now a travel agency; Chinese Merch. Assoc. Bldg. far right
- M.I.T. (Kevin Lynch)

1940s: Chinese women working in sewing factory in Chinatown - Chinese Historical Society New England

ca 1950: Lion Dance in parking lot of 74 Kneeland, Hudson Bldg in background - Chinese Historical Society New England

1938: Bromley Atlas of Boston; todays footprints of 72 Kneeland and St. James Church (125 Harrison Ave) highlighted - State Library of Massachusetts

1953: First proposal for Central Artery Highway would have demolished 72 Kneeland - Boston Globe Article

1951: Traffic light added to Kneeland & Tyler intersection, signifying increasing Chinese population south of Kneeland
- Boston City Archives

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Proin ac mi elit. In vestibulum nibh eget risus ultrices malesuada. Maecenas varius nibh lobortis tortor molestie pellentesque. Aenean malesuada ex eget convallis hendrerit. Integer hendrerit arcu ut accumsan convallis. Vivamus justo leo, molestie a risus at, rhoncus posuere ante. Duis at dapibus velit, et placerat dui. Praesent sagittis facilisis egestas. Nullam suscipit ex quis urna blandit vestibulum. Nulla molestie tortor felis, a euismod risus vestibulum commodo.

Integer ut enim ut mi blandit lacinia eget et nisi. Aliquam suscipit metus vel convallis ornare. Vivamus vel eros vitae enim blandit aliquet id sit amet ligula. Duis vulputate hendrerit elit eget posuere. Cras a ultrices enim.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Proin ac mi elit. In vestibulum nibh eget risus ultrices malesuada. Maecenas varius nibh lobortis tortor molestie pellentesque. Aenean malesuada ex eget convallis hendrerit. Integer hendrerit arcu ut accumsan convallis. Vivamus justo leo, molestie a risus at, rhoncus posuere ante. Duis at dapibus velit, et placerat dui. Praesent sagittis facilisis egestas. Nullam suscipit ex quis urna blandit vestibulum. Nulla molestie tortor felis, a euismod risus vestibulum commodo.

Integer ut enim ut mi blandit lacinia eget et nisi. Aliquam suscipit metus vel convallis ornare. Vivamus vel eros vitae enim blandit aliquet id sit amet ligula. Duis vulputate hendrerit elit eget posuere. Cras a ultrices enim.

1964: Looking east down Kneeland; 72 highlighted
- Tufts University

1962: Looking down Tyler (Chinese rest.) from Kneeland (garment mnfr.) - Tufts University

ca 1980: Asian Arts store takes over former garment mnfr. at Kneeland & Tyler - Chinese Historical Society New England

1962: Sanborn Atlas of Boston; todays footprints of 72 Kneeland and St. James Church (125 Harrison Ave) highlighted - M.I.T. Libraries

1971: Garment workers in buildings on south side of Kneeland St, which transitioned to use by Tufts Medical/University - Boston Public Library

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Proin ac mi elit. In vestibulum nibh eget risus ultrices malesuada. Maecenas varius nibh lobortis tortor molestie pellentesque. Aenean malesuada ex eget convallis hendrerit. Integer hendrerit arcu ut accumsan convallis. Vivamus justo leo, molestie a risus at, rhoncus posuere ante. Duis at dapibus velit, et placerat dui. Praesent sagittis facilisis egestas. Nullam suscipit ex quis urna blandit vestibulum. Nulla molestie tortor felis, a euismod risus vestibulum commodo.

Integer ut enim ut mi blandit lacinia eget et nisi. Aliquam suscipit metus vel convallis ornare. Vivamus vel eros vitae enim blandit aliquet id sit amet ligula. Duis vulputate hendrerit elit eget posuere. Cras a ultrices enim.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Proin ac mi elit. In vestibulum nibh eget risus ultrices malesuada. Maecenas varius nibh lobortis tortor molestie pellentesque. Aenean malesuada ex eget convallis hendrerit. Integer hendrerit arcu ut accumsan convallis. Vivamus justo leo, molestie a risus at, rhoncus posuere ante. Duis at dapibus velit, et placerat dui. Praesent sagittis facilisis egestas. Nullam suscipit ex quis urna blandit vestibulum. Nulla molestie tortor felis, a euismod risus vestibulum commodo.

Integer ut enim ut mi blandit lacinia eget et nisi. Aliquam suscipit metus vel convallis ornare. Vivamus vel eros vitae enim blandit aliquet id sit amet ligula. Duis vulputate hendrerit elit eget posuere. Cras a ultrices enim.