$948
Cast Iron "SCOLLAY SQUARE/PEMBERTON SQUARE" Boston Landmark Street Sign, 19th century, angled sign, ht. 9, lg. of each side 30, overall lg. 61 in. Note: Scollay Square (c. 1838-1962) was a city square in downtown Boston, Massachusetts. It was named for William Scollay, a prominent local developer and militia officer who bought a four-story brick merchant building at the intersection of Cambridge and Court Streets in 1795. Initially it was named Pemberton Square, but the name changed "Scollay Square" when Phillips Square changed its name to "Pemberton Square. The area was vibrant and home to merchants and theatres, including the Howard Theatre which offered vaudeville, Shakespearean plays, and minstrel shows. In the mid-20th century the area became increasingly seedy with several burlesque houses catering to sailors on leave, low income residents, and college students. The city planned for a renewal of the area and it eventually fell victim to the wrecking ball. The city built a new development on top of old Scollay Square, and renamed the area Government Center, which is home to city, state, and federal government buildings.
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2010-11-07
