Old Corner Bookstore
| Company type | Historic building |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (historically bookstore) |
| Founded | 1718 |
| Headquarters | Boston , United States |
| Products | Books (historically) |
The Old Corner Bookstore stands as a significant historic commercial edifice located at 283 Washington Street and School Street within Boston's historic district. Originally constructed in 1718 serving as both a residence and an apothecary, it transitioned into a bookstore by 1828. This building is included in Boston’s Freedom Trail, Literary Trail, and the Women's Heritage Trail.
Recognized on the National Register of Historic Places since 1973, the structure is under review for designation as a Boston Landmark by the Boston Landmarks Commission as of 2025.
History
The property was once owned by Anne Hutchinson, who was banished from Massachusetts in 1638. Thomas Crease acquired the land in 1708, but the original structure was destroyed during the Great Boston Fire of 1711. In 1718, Crease reconstructed the building to serve as both a home and an apothecary, with commercial operations on the ground floor and living quarters above. Dr. Samuel Clarke became the owner in 1817.
In 1828, Timothy Harrington Carter leased what was then known as 135 Washington Street, investing $7,000 to convert it into a bookstore, including the addition of unique window designs. Around this period, two additional three-story buildings were erected along School Street.
Between 1832 and 1865, the premises were occupied by Ticknor and Fields, a prominent American publishing firm founded by William Ticknor and later joined by James T. Fields. The Old Corner Bookstore evolved into a literary center frequented by notable authors such as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Charles Dickens. Although Ticknor and Fields leased the entire building, their retail operations were confined to the corner space, with other areas sublet.
Following Ticknor’s passing, Fields sold the property to E. P. Dutton in 1864 to concentrate on publishing activities; Ticknor and Fields subsequently moved to Tremont Street. The location continued to house various publishers and booksellers thereafter.
Reflecting its literary significance, during the 1890s the bookstore stocked many leading periodicals including Arena, Argosy, The Atlantic, The Century Magazine, Harper's Weekly, Ladies' Home Journal, Scientific American, Scribner's Magazine, Vogue, and Yale Review.
Preservation
In 1960, the building narrowly avoided demolition after being acquired for $100,000 by Historic Boston, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring historic Boston properties for modern use. It remains listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been designated a Boston Landmark by the Boston Landmarks Commission.
Occupants of 76 Cornhill
- 1718: Thomas Crease
- 1789: Herman Brimmer (merchant); John Jackson (broker); Samuel and Minott Thayer (shopkeepers)
- 1807: John West
- 1817: Dr. Samuel Clarke (apothecary)
Occupants of 135 Washington Street
- 1828: Carter & Hendee (Richard B. Carter, Charles J. Hendee)
- 1829: Benjamin Perkins & Co.
- 1830: Gray and Bowen (Frederick T. Gray, Charles Bowen)
- 1833: Allen & Ticknor (John Allen, William D. Ticknor)
- 1838: Samuel H. Parker
- 1840: Parker & Ditson (S.H. Parker, Oliver Ditson)
- 1841: William D. Ticknor
- 1844: Oliver Ditson
- 1847: William D. Ticknor & Co. (William D. Ticknor, John Reed Jr., James T. Fields)
- 1853–1854: Ticknor, Reed, and Fields; Ticknor and Fields
- 1868: E.P. Dutton & Co. (Edward Payson Dutton, Charles A. Clapp) and H.O. Houghton & Co.
- 1869: A. Williams & Co. (Alexander Williams)
Recent
Between 1982 and 1997, the retail area of the Old Corner Bookstore was occupied by the Globe Corner Bookstore, a subsidiary of Old Corner Bookstore, Inc., which focused on travel literature and cartographic materials. Following this period, from 1998 until 2002, the premises served as a company store for the Boston Globe, offering Boston Globe merchandise alongside tourist souvenirs.
From 2005 until its closure due to bankruptcy in 2009, the space was leased by Ultra Diamonds, a nationwide discount jewelry retailer. Subsequently, it functioned temporarily as a display area for crafts created by students and instructors from the North Bennet Street School. Presently, the site accommodates a Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurant as well as an entertainment venue.
See also
References
Notes
Further reading
- Nathaniel Bradstreet Shurtleff. "Old Corner Bookstore." A topographical and historical description of Boston, Part 1, 2nd ed. Boston: Printed by request of the City Council, 1871
- "Old Corner Bookstore", New England Magazine, Nov. 1903.
External links
- Official listing on City of Boston website
- Freedom Trail official page
- Boston Public Library. Collection of images related to the bookstore, various dates
- Bostonian Society. Photographs:
- Old Corner Bookstore, located at Washington and School Streets, circa 1870-85
- Old Corner Bookstore, corner of School and Washington Streets, circa 1880-85
- Old Corner Bookstore, Washington Street, circa 1884; photo by Boston Camera Club
- Old Corner Bookstore at 283 Washington Street, approximately 1890
- Old Corner Bookstore at 283 Washington Street, around 1900
- Old Corner Bookstore, October 1960
- Old Corner Bookstore at 285 Washington Street, 1964
- Globe Corner Bookstore at 285 Washington Street, circa 1970
