Boston Common
Boylston the the South, Tremont and Park to the East, Arlington to the West, and Beacon to the North. The Massachusetts State House that sits on the northernmost corner of the park surveys over Boston’s most public and green domain: Boston Common.
Founded in 1634 by Puritan founders who had boughten the property from original European settler, William Blaxton, the common was used primarily as a cow pasture in its first years of sanctioned existence. After overpasturization became a pressing issue, cows were banned in 1830 by Mayor Harrison Gray Otis.
The park was flocked with humans grazing left and right. Some settled in a static location, relaxing and enjoying the summer Boston weather. But the common was not always so harmonious.
In the years that followed the colony’s purchase of the grounds, hangings were executed from a large oak tree that was replaced by a gallows by 1760. Four Quakers were hanged in Boston Common as a result of breaking a law that disallowed Quakers in the colony between 1659 and 1661. They would be as the Boston Martyrs.
In the northwest corner of the park stands a statue of United States of America founding father George Washington, mounted on his steed. Boston Common was used as a camp for the British Army for eight years starting in 1768. They even left from the common to go fight the battles of Lexington & Concord, which are considered the first battles of the Revolutionary War.
The repeal of the Stamp Act was celebrated here in 1766 as was the victory of the states by Washington and his close comrades, John Adams and Marquis de Lafayette in 1783.
During the outbreak of the Civil War, the common provided a registration and recruitment site for Union soldiers, including those of the famous 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. This all-black unit was the first one of its kind organized in the Northern states and achieved national renown for its longer-than-two-years run of service during the bloodiest conflict in American history. In front of the statehouse is a statue commemorating the 54th, with Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, a white man who was buried in a mass grave with the black men he lead into battle as an insult, standing tall.
Thursday, November 10th, 2016, two days after Donald Trump won the presidential election, I participated in an Anti-Trump rally that gathered in Boston Common. Thousands of people marched and chanted. Police were out in force (shocker), but we stomped around the park through its various paths for a few hours. Boston Common provides such a space for opinions and perspectives to be heard and exchanged and has been for centuries.
The 20th Century saw Boston Common host rallies for the Civil Rights Movement, against the Vietnam War, and even one hosted by Martin Luther King Jr. Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass here in 1979.
Today’s visit consisted of a brief walk-through. It was on my way back from visiting the Harbor, so I decided to stop and smell the roses.
People spotted the premises with their own ideas of relaxation coming to fruition. Kids played wiffle ball on one side of the frog pond while others splashed in it for a hot day’s relief. The oak trees lines the walkways and grassy fields gave way to some hills here and there.
The sky was clear as could be, and steam seemed to singe off of the back of my neck. The humidity.
I took a seat on a dark green bench underneath some oak shade watching people go about their business and the world function around me. Squirrels scuttled up, down, and around the oaks. Pigeons went around begging for the food most of the human population did not have to give.
Vendors strategically had occupied the four corners of the park, hoping to make most business by catching visitors on their way in or out of the park. Some ice cream carts wheeled in and out through the paths. Every now and then, a little kid would stop whatever they were doing and run to a parent to plead for ice cream. And I didn’t blame them.
The heat was sweltering. Standing in the sun felt like I was standing in front of an open microwave set to defrost. I had not experienced a day quite like this at the common until today. I had a new reason to go to the common every time, and today was no different.
I first visited in 2016 as part of the FYSOP excursions into the city. This was also in the summer, but thankfully, the overcast saved us. After the Patriots came back to beat the Falcons in Super Bowl LI after being down 28–3, I joined the student celebration that started on Commonwealth Avenue and followed it all the way past Copley Square until we reached the common. Some were so joyous that they continued their partying on top of the thin sheath of ice that had formed over the frog pond. Needless to say, a few dopes fell through the cracks.
Boston Common is simply a space meant for anybody to use to enjoy the day. Every border of the park provides a new scene of Boston and every corner provides a new piece of history of the city. It has endured since before this city was established and has flourished in the modern era as a space open to anybody to use it. The world is our oyster, and Boston Common is our clam.
