Dock Square (Boston)

The Dock Square is a public square in Boston's Government Center in the state of Massachusetts in the United States. It is located right next to Faneuil Hall and is bordered by the streets of Congress, North and Union Street.

The name dates from the 17th century, when there was the place right on the shoreline and from the 1630s to the early 19th century ships in Boston Harbor as a " common -used jetty " served. "Around the dock, the city's main shops were done. "

Even after the coastline has been postponed due to land reclamation in the early 19th century, the place was still used for some years as a commercial center. With the development of the district government center in the 1960s, however, the size and character of the place have been changed so that he transformed from a center of urban life to a place that ignore only fleetingly over the pedestrian.

Since the 1950s, the place is mainly a tourist attraction because of him the Freedom Trail runs.

History

From the 17th to the 19th century

The Dock Square was an important trade center in Boston for much of its long history. In particular, were the 17th and 18th centuries there in the open air as well as on market stalls variety of goods - including slaves - each. In 1733 there opened a market building, which was, however, associated with protests, as his critics rejected regulations of any kind. Only a few years later, the sentiment towards the building had reached its climax: " In 1737 appeared in a winter's night a mob of disguised as clergy persons [ ... ] and destroyed the market house on Dock Square completely. "

In 1742, finally opened - again accompanied with many concerns - Faneuil Hall. " In the records of the city, there are numerous complaints that the Dock Square and other areas near Faneuil Hall with carts, wagons and various utensils were crammed market. In addition, the market people 1764 preferably stood outside the market place in order to avoid state fees and avoid the prevailing regulations and provisions. " Finally stabling of horses, carts, merchandise, market stalls, benches, boxes, etc. were explained to the court to be illegal and asked the citizens not to buy goods from people who sell on the Dock Square or in the surrounding streets.

Over time, opened and closed a number of different retail shops and things on Dock Square. Is typical for this time newspaper ad from 1723 reads: " Just arrived from London and in the business of Mr. John Williams, right next to the Golden Ball Tavern on Dock Square for sale: Chosen Bohea tea to twenty shillings the pound, very good Chester cheese as well as other European trade goods. " In the early 19th century was one of the tenants at the Dock Square Samuel Eliot, the father of the future mayor of Boston Samuel Atkins Eliot. He ran there a department store, " where he sold everything from diapers to grave stones ."

From the 20th to the 21st century

In the mid-20th century, the building density increased around the place strongly, and also the traffic density increased continuously. With Interstate 93, a large highway was built very close, which was postponed to the year 2007 by the Big Dig in the underground. In the 1960s, some of the smaller roads and pedestrian walkways were demolished, including the Brattle Street and Cornhill. The Dock Square was thereby greatly reduced in size to make room for the built in the style of Brutalist Boston City Hall and other buildings in the Government Center.