The Complete History of 126-128-130 Beacon Street

I’m a Back Bay guy.  It’s my stomping ground.  It’s a great place to live and I have no plans of leaving.  The community is strong and the history is endless.  Just think, its roots go back to the early 1600s.  Well, Boston’s roots.  Back Bay was actually man made, starting in 1859.  The Charles River Basin was filled in, starting by the Public Garden.  By 1882, the Back Bay existed as we know it. Well the outline anyway.  By 1890, Kenmore was completed.  Thankfully, the community has come together over the years to preserve the history.  That means no street side window air conditioners in the winter, among other things.

My favorite block, to no one’s surprise, is my block.  Beacon between Arlington and Berkeley.  Here’s why it’s the best.  It’s nestled right between the Charles River Esplanade and the Public Garden, two of Boston’s best and most desirable green spaces.  It’s also a short jaunt to the Comm Ave Mall and Newbury Street, but that’s not unique about this block.  The green and red lines are a quick walk away.  It’s flanked by Back Street, which beats an alley for shortcuts every time.  It’s also very easy to get on and off Storrow Drive.

So now that you know why you want to live on Beacon between Arlington and Berkeley, I’m going to highlight one of the most prominent buildings.  It’s actually three buildings.  126-128-130 Beacon.  And just like every other building in Back Bay, it’s got a unique and interesting history revolving around some of the most prominent names in New England.

It looks like I’m at 126-128-130 Beacon, but I’m not even close. I’m all the way at 124.

Let’s start at the beginning.  This was the first block of Back Bay to be filled.  126, 128 and 130 were originally built as separate single family homes, which was common.

126 Beacon was built between 1859 and 1860 as the home of John Jeffries Jr. and his wife Anna Lloyd Greene, of the Rhode Island Greenes.  John Jeffries Jr. was (unsurprisingly) the son of John Jeffries, Revolutionary War surgeon and co-pilot of a balloon flight across the English Channel in 1785.  He was also called as a witness to the defense for the Boston Massacre.  He also co-founded what today is known as Mass Eye and Ear.  Enough about him.

John Jeffries Jr. lived in 126 with his wife and three sons until his death in 1897.  The home stayed in the family until Anna’s death and was acquired by Horatio Appleton Lamb in 1902.  Horatio was a merchant and treasurer of Simmons College.  He left his mark by adding an “automobile house” in the rear in 1902.

He died in 1926, but his wife occupied the home until 1943 when it was purchased by Emerson College.  Emerson College had already owned 128 and 130, and subsequently combined the buildings.  More on this shortly

Let’s move down to 128 Beacon.  Built by the same masons as 126, it was also completed in 1860 for Francis Cogswell Manning, his wife Abby Howard Manning and their three children. In 1869, Francis died and his family divided and moved all the way to Charles Street and Commonwealth Avenue.

The home was sold to Albert Thompson (not to be confused with the local child murderer) and his wife Lucy Hopkins Thompson.  Their notable improvement was the addition of a stable.  In 1888, the home was sold to Daniel Lake Demmon.  He also had a home in Weston that ties him to Regis College.  He was a widower and lived in the home with his three daughters.

Daniel died in 1908, at which point the home was purchased by Marion Wells Cumings Bemis.  She was the wife of Frank Brewer Bemis, banker and book collector.  They moved to Beverly Farms full time in 1919, but maintained ownership and leased the property out.

In 1928, the home was purchased by Almeda Bagley Myers.  She and her husband lived in the home until 1931.  Emerson College acquired the home in 1934 and combined it with 130, which had been purchased by Emerson College the year prior.  128 was used for classrooms and offices, but also home to Jessie Eldrige Southwick, the widow of the Henry Lawrence Southwick, the third president of Emerson College.

Last, but not least, we have 130 Beacon which was the last to be built.  Construction began in 1860 and was completed in 1862.  The home was built for Horatio Hollis Hunnewell and his wife Isabella Pratt Welles Hunnewell.  You may know Horatio by his nickname, H. H. Hunnewell.    He and his wife lived between 130 Beacon and their home Indian Farm in Wellesley.  After his wife’s death in 1888, the home was occupied but a rotating cast of family members.  Horatio died in 1902, when the home was sold to Julia Gardner Coolidge, sister in law of Thomas Jefferson Coolidge.

The home remained in the family, until 1928 when Archibald Coolidge died.  His entire estate was bequeathed to Harvard University.  Harvard owned the home until 1933 when it was purchased by Emerson College.

So here we are.  In 1933, 130 Beacon became the property of Emerson College, and in 1934 128 Beacon was also acquired by Emerson.  The carriage house behind the two building was converted into a theatre.  And lastly in 1934 126 Beacon was purchased by Emerson.  Now all three buildings were combined.

The end!

Just kidding.  Emerson owned and operated the (now) building until 2003, when it was sold off to investor/developer Rockwood/Beal LLC.  The building was converted into 11 spacious condos.  The carriage houses/theatre were converted into garage parking.

Which brings us to one of my favorite highlights of this building.  Above the garage, is all private outdoorspace.  Tons and tons of private patio, overlooking the Charles River Esplanade.  What I would do to get invited to their 4th of July party.

Here’s some good news, as of my writing this, two of the 11 condos are for sale.  And boy are they nice!  Ok, I’ve only been in one of them, but it was gorgeous and has a grand private entrance.  The other I’ve only seen in photos, but also looks like a magnificent home.  It also has a private entrance. 

It has its own private entrance, and includes two garaged parking spaces.

Asking price is $6,990,000. The condo fee is $4,276.43. This does include a doorman, along with more standard water, sewer and the like. Taxes are going to run you just shy of $70,000 a year.

This is a 4,100+ square foot three bedroom, three and a half bathroom condo. It’s two floors and has very high ceilings. You can tell walking through that the craftsmanship is top notch.

The master bedroom includes a large master bath. It also has a large walk in closet. Maybe even two! I can’t remember.

Private Entrance for the other unit currently for sale.

If you’d like more information about either unit for sale in this building, or if you’d like help finding something similar, I’d be happy to help! Call, text or email me anytime at 617 528 8461 or willy.charleton@nemoves.com .

Here’s a fun fact.  All the building originally had staircase entrances, but in the early 1900s, 126 and 128 were taken down to sidewalk level.

126-130 Beacon (ca. 1867), composite of two photographs by Josiah Johnson Hawes, originals courtesy of the Boston Athenaeum (from BackBayHouses.org) That’s my building all the way on the right!

Big thanks to

BackBayHouses.org for supplying the bulk of the information and a few photos. You can click through the older photos to their website.

Also thanks to Historic New England and The Boston Athenaeum!