Boston is one of my favorite cities, and since it’s so close to my home in Connecticut I have been making an effort to get there more often. Since I often share Boston photos on my Instagram account, I applied to become a member of IGBoston, a community of photographers that share a love of the city and other parts of New England.
The four moderators of IG Boston reviewed my Instagram feed and then asked me to complete a “new member challenge” as a prerequisite to membership. My challenge was to take a “house portrait” of a home in Bay Village, a section of Boston I had never heard of. As I researched I found that Bay Village is the smallest neighborhood in Boston, claiming less than 1,500 residents.
On a map of Boston’s neighborhoods, Bay Village occupies a tiny slice of the city and includes just a few short streets. It is opposite of Beacon Hill, on the other side of Boston’s Public Garden, and shares a border with the Back Bay area. This is important as the row houses of the Bay Village neighborhood were built by many of the craftsmen who constructed the landmark homes in both the Beacon Hill and Back Bay areas.
Many consider Bay Village to be a “mini” Beacon Hill for that reason. Imagine narrow streets with sidewalks lined of brick and gas street lamps that light the streets at night. Trees planted on either side of the street arch and meet in the middle, creating a canopy that was covered with fluffy new fallen snow on the day I visited. Dreamy!
In terms of architecture, the Federal row houses are particularly charming, including those in the feature photo. Although attached, each homeowner does what they can to claim their home as their own. Hidden gardens are another feature – get a glimpse through gateways and alleyways as you walk by.
For such a tiny area, Bay Village has quite a bit of history associated with it. It is the birthplace of Edgar Allan Poe and it’s the only Boston neighborhood to have its own “castle”, originally an Armory that now houses a restaurant. It is also the location of the tragic Cocoanut Grove fire, a nightclub blaze that took the lives of 492 people in 1942, the highest death toll in the history of Boston and one of the highest in U.S. history.
Boston is the sum of all of its individual neighborhoods. Although easy to miss, it’s worth looking for Bay Village on your next visit. And by the way…the two teenagers on their phones in the picture? My daughter and niece! We enjoyed a great day of shopping, eating, and sightseeing.
[x_author title=”About the Author”]
My name is Deb Cohen, and I am a lifelong resident of Connecticut, a lover of all things historic and New England, and a realtor who helps buyers and sellers achieve their real estate goals and dreams. When I’m not working, I enjoy life with my husband, our two adult children, and our two rescue pups. Renovating and decorating our historic home, dating to 1800, is another favorite pastime.
I love the shutters on both pictures but the blue door is a complete win such a rich colour. What a beautiful place to visit. thank you for sharing.
Thanks for commenting! I’m glad you enjoyed the photo – it really is a charming area!
I like both doors, and love the shutters!
I’m so glad you were up to the challenge and not found wanting!
I’ve never been to the Northeastern States but they’re on my bucket list. Thanks for the history, and image of this little neighborhood of row houses; they’re wonderful from my chair. 🙂
Thanks so much Deborah! I hope you get to visit New England some day soon. In the meantime enjoy your armchair travel – I know I enjoy the same!
Love the crisp black door and shutters. 🙂
That’s a great challenge! Glad to hear you were accepted to IGBoston, you deserve it!
Thank you Raina! It was fun!
The homes being attached and only separated by the drainpipe, makes the photo look a bit odd, in a good way, as if it should be two halves that are the same, but aren’t. I like them both.
janet
Thanks Janet! I love how even though all of these old row houses are attached homes that people make them their own.
Great photo, Deb. I can’t decide which house I prefer either. One is quite stately (the flag helps) and the other is all quaint with a lived in look (window boxes full of flowers makes it homely).
I go back and forth too! But when I think about which one I would choose to live in, I lean towards the traditional brick.
Boston IS a great place. So walkable, friendly people, history…I really like it! Such contrast in the two homes pictured! I like them both…maybe the comfort feel of the blue one slightly better. Do you think “stately” feels threatened by “welcome here”…or vice versa?
I like them both too for different reasons! I think “stately” might think his neighbor is a bit loud ?
I like the bright blue door and weather-worn brick.
It’s a unique look, isn’t it?
I have never heard of Bay Village despite having been to Boston numerous times. I’ll definitely check it out next time I’m down that way.
My fave is the black one – there’s something very stately about that look.
Congrats and the IG Boston acceptance 🙂
Thanks Norm! I admit if forced to choose I would pick the more traditional plain brick as well. Truly a handsome home!
I loved these on Instagram, too. They’re both fabulous, and together as they are, side-by-side, the contrast makes them both a bit more fabulous. I prefer the blue, but they are both just smashing specimens! 🙂
I loved how they made each of their homes stand apart even though they are attached! The blue is definitely more welcoming and cozy looking while the plain brick is just so stately!
I love that look of the seemingly less maintained brick on the right house. It gives the house much more character than the brick on the left!
Pity I hadn’t heard of Bay Village when I was in Boston – if I ever get the chance to go again, I’ll make a point of seeing it.
It’s such a tiny area! Truly a hidden gem. The home on the right certainly seems to say “Come on in!” while the one on the left has that old money Boston feel.
I love the blue door Deb. I switch favorites between red and blue and black, but all it takes to move the needle is a door like this. Did I miss the results? Were your photos acceptable?
Yes, they were! Although I don’t think it’s much of a serious process 🙂 but fun nonetheless. The IG Boston page featured this particular photo which gained me a number of new followers on my account, so in that was a bonus in addition to finding a great new neighborhood to enjoy! In terms of door color, I can’t declare a favorite…like you, as soon as I decide I see something new and change my mind!