20 Eustis Street
Roxbury, MA 02119
Tel. 617-442-1859
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hbi@historicboston.org

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Historic Boston Breaks Ground on New Headquarters

After many months of planning and preparation with the Roxbury community and many project partners, Historic Boston Incorporated launches the rehabilitation of the Eustis Street Fire House on May 15th.

Construction is expected to continue through the summer and Historic Boston will move into the building in the fall.

The first floor of the building will be leased to the Timothy Smith Network, a collaboration of 34 state-of-the-art community technology centers located throughout Roxbury launched in 1996 by Mayor Thomas Menino. The network is named for a 19th century Dudley Square merchant who left funds for the children of Roxbury.

Historic Boston will also be supporting the Boston Parks and Recreation Department with stewardship and interpretation of the 1633 Eliot Burying Ground adjacent to the firehouse.

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Over the winter, Historic Boston commissioned students in North Bennet Street School’s Preservation Carpentry Program to rebuild three rounded Italianate windows on the firehouse’s facade. They removed what remained of the windows to use as a base and, while there is not enough material to restore the windows, the students will be using existing materials as a model to fabricate what is missing.

 

“The restoration of the fire house is important to the overall revitalization of Dudley Square” said Mayor Thomas Menino, who joins HBI and project partners for May’s ground breaking. “Preserving and re-using historic places enriches communities and restores neighborhood pride.”

Historic Boston’s move into the Eustis Street Fire House is intended to spur greater interest in preservation projects as catalysts for neighborhood revitalization.