Two views of Pinebank, an old estate overlooking Jamaica Pond. It was actually the third mansion built on this spot by the Perkins family, who had made their money in the China trade. When the area was purchased by the city as part of the Emerald Necklace, Olmstead felt that the look of the mansion fit in well with his designs for the parks. So the building remained.
Over the years it housed the Childrens Museum, administrative offices, and a recreation center for Boston Parks Dept. Unfortunately, a fire damaged the building in the 70's, leaving it the wreck it is today. Though it's been declared an historical landmark, and there has been much discussion over the years of fixing the place up, nobody could ever come to any agreement of who is responsible for Pinebank, or how it should be used if it is ever repaired. And so it continues to rot, boarded up, hidden behind overgrown trees and briars, attracting only the attention of the occasional passerby who meanders off the the path around the pond.
Here's an older photo.
Submission for Photo Friday 3-26: Neglect
It's a beautiful building. I hope somebody decides to take care of it. It looks like it's becoming part of the woods.
Posted by: Amy | March 20, 2004 at 04:55 PM
I'm afraid that is what is going to happen to it. The longer it takes them for them to make a decision about it, the more prohibitive the cost of renovating it.
(I should have taken a close up of one of the boarded up windows, which, ironically, used an old sign that said "Boston, getting the job done.")
Posted by: Joe | March 20, 2004 at 06:19 PM
that's such a shame.
Posted by: Kathleen | March 20, 2004 at 07:16 PM
What an incredible old house - and the tree, amazing...
Posted by: kara | March 27, 2004 at 01:44 PM
Press Release
On Tuesday, October 19, the Friends of Pinebank are sponsoring a walking tour of the Pinebank area at Jamaica Pond. Local historian Michael Reiskind will lead the tour, starting at the corner of Chestnut and Perkins Streets, at 5:00pm. All are welcome. Rain date is Wednesday, October 20.
Learn about Pinebank, the historic country estate of Edward Newton Perkins. Commanding a panoramic view of Jamaica Pond, Pinebank is the only remaining building that pre-dates Olmsted’s Emerald Necklace. It served for many years in the 20’s and 30’s as the first Children’s Museum. Although severely deteriorated, restoration could provide many amenities to the Jamaica Plain/Brookline area. Call Hugh Mattison at (617) 232-6083, email Hmattison@aol.com or see the website at http://www.pinebank.org for further information.
Posted by: Hugh Mattison | September 27, 2004 at 09:34 PM