Court Street (Boston) Explained

Court Street
Location:	Boston
Commissioning Date:	July 4, 1788
Direction A:	West
Terminus A:	State Street / Washington Street
Direction B:	East
Terminus B:	Tremont Street / Cambridge Street

Court Street (est. July 4, 1788) is located in the Financial District of Boston, Massachusetts. Prior to 1788, it was called Prison Lane (1634–1708) and then Queen Street (1708–1788). In the 19th century it extended beyond its current length, to Bowdoin Square. In the 1960s most of Court Street was demolished to make way for the construction of Government Center. The remaining street extends a few blocks, near the Old State House on State Street.^[1]

Tenants of Court Street

• Ames Building

Former tenants

• American Magazine of Useful and Entertaining Knowledge
• Annin & Smith, 19th-century engravers
• Boston Daily Advertiser
• Boston Gaol (Massachusetts), 1635–1822^[2]
• Concert Hall (Boston, Massachusetts)
• S.H. Gregory & Co., wallpaper, 1840s–1870s
• Elias Howe Company
• Independent Chronicle
• Charles H. Keith, music & umbrellas, 1840s–1850s
• Munroe & Francis, publishers
• The New-England Courant
• Palace Theatre
• S.S. Pierce, grocer, 19th century
• Henry Prentiss, music & umbrellas, 1830s–1850s
• New-England Museum (Boston)
• N.S. Simpkins' bookshop, 1820s
• William Tudor
• Young's Hotel (Boston)

Further reading

• Book: No.47 Court Street, Boston . John T. Hassam . 1903 . David Clapp & Son . Boston . . ("Reprinted with additions from Notes and Queries of the Boston Transcript of Oct. 25, 1902")

External links

• Bostonian Society. Photos:
  • Franklin celebration, Court Street, 1856
  • Intersection of Court and Tremont Streets, c. 1860
  • 79-81 Court Street, c. 1870
  • 89-81 Court Street, c. 1870
  • Court Street at Scollay Square, c. 1870
  • Corner of Court Street and Cornhill, c. 1875
  • Cobb's Boston Tea Company at 71 and 73 Court Street, c. 1890
  • Court Square and Court Street, January 9, 1919
  • Crawford House at 17 Court Street in Scollay Square, c. 1925
  • Court and Tremont Streets, Scollay Square, August 12, 1934
  • Court Street and Scollay Square, c. 1955
  • Cornhill and Court Street, c. 1955-65
  • Intersection of Court, Cambridge and Tremont Streets, 1967
  • Pilgrim Lounge at Court Street, c. 1968
• Flickr. 2005
• Flickr. 2005.
• Flickr. 2006.
• Flickr. 2006
• Flickr. Ames Building, 2007
• Flickr. 26 Court St., 2008
• Flickr. Corner of Tremont and Court, 2009
• Flickr. Corner of Tremont and Court, 2009

Notes and References

1. Web site: Street Book . City of Boston . 7 March 2010 .
2. Book: Printed by order of the City council . Boston . Re-dedication of the Old State House . Boston (Mass.) . 1887 . 4 . 1745196. 7013624M .