Matthew Nash

Meditations on Franklin Park: Winter

It’s been a while since I last wrote about Franklin Park in Boston, but the weather has been so cold and miserable that I haven’t had any chance to wander in the Park and find new things to rant about. So I thought I’d share a few old photographs I found in my online meanderings of winter views from Franklin Park’s past. All the joys of winter fun in the Park without leaving the warmth of your computer.

First up I have two photos from 1923 of a toboggan run on the slopes of Schoolmaster Hill. Today there is a golf tee-off area (do those have names?) here so it looks a little different, but not much. My neighbor said she remembers doing this as a kid, so I guess they had these until the late-70s or early-80s.

A 1923 view of the toboggan run on Schoolmaster Hill. Via the Boston Public Library's Flicker stream.

A 1923 view of the toboggan run on Schoolmaster Hill. Via the Boston Public Library’s Flicker stream.

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Another 1923 view of the toboggan run on Schoolmaster Hill. Via the Boston Public Library’s Flicker stream.

Next I found this cool shot from atop Rock Milton (or is it Rock Morton?) looking down at the Carriage Bridge of Scarborough Pond.

A view of the Carriage Bridge in winter, circa 1918.

A view of the Carriage Bridge in winter, circa 1918. Via the Boston Public Library’s Flickr stream.

My last photos of the day are a re-post of these adorable raccoons in the Raccoon Cage. The cage is now abandoned but still can be found in the Park, near the Bear Cages.

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Via the Boston Public Library.

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Via Boston Public Library

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Via Boston Public Library

I hope you’ve enjoyed these winter views, and I promise I’ll get back to original rants as soon as spring arrives.


Categorised as: Franklin Park | History | Photography



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