Sunday, January 20, 2019

Johann Friedrich - Dye Works and Home in Jamaica Plain

Frederick's family settled in Jamaica Plain in the 1860's, eventually establishing permanent roots at 99 Brookside Avenue, with property also on Boylston. There are many maps of the Jamaica Plain area that show Johann Friedrich's property, with Stony Brook flowing through it. Stony Brook would have numerous adjustments made to it throughout Johann's sojourn there, some of which are captured. I have arranged the maps in a chronological order so you can see the historical metamorphosis of the property and its surroundings.

1874: You can see Johann's property "F. Kohlepp," with property on both sides of Stony Brook. The long building by the brook would have been the dye works. His home would have been the building south of it on his property. It's interesting to the see the businesses that were near the Dye Works, such as the Eagle Rubber company to the west and the ETNA Rubber Mills to the east.


1884: Noted here as "F. Kohlhopp." The Dye Works is prominently called out, with the family property still to the south. There are now 2 structures on the other side of Stony Brook. Stony Brook below the south side of Brookside looks to have been built over.


1886: Just 2 years later, while there is still a structure on the south side of Stony Brook, it no longer appears to be the Dye Works. This structure looks to have been demolished. Johann still has properties on either side of Stony Brook. We can still see the Rubber Mills to the east, and around the corner we observe a Carriage Factory.


1891: A bird's eye view map of Jamaica Plain is produced. This one is not easily labeled with names, and so it becomes somewhat a process of deduction to determine where Johann's home would have been located. The artist took liberties in "condensing" the buildings and roads in Jamaica Plain. The factory noted in number 19 is the Cable Rubber Company, which was on the other side of Cornwall street, but not depicted here. We see Stony Brook cutting across the land. Johann's home would have been present amongst the artist's row of homes along Brookside Avenue, but due to his condensing of buildings, it's hard to consult an earlier or prior map and determine which it would have been, and if it would have appeared at all. If it portrayed, my best guess would be the properties noted in red.


1896: Another 5 years has past; in this case, there is little variation from the 1886 map. This time property is noted by Fred. Kohlhepp (2 P's on north property, 1 on the south).


1899: 3 years later, there appears to have been some construction on the property near Stony Brook.


1905: The structures near Stony Brook have completely disappear. Likewise, Stony Brook has been built over completely. It is likely in this city improvement project that the structures right there would have been demolished.


1914: We see that the northern property off of Amory has been sold to someone else, just the south property remains. Noted as "Fredk Kohlhepp."

 

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