Cornhill (Government Center, Boston)

Cornhill was a street that existed in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, between the 18th and 20th centuries. It was located on the site of the current City Hall Plaza in Government Center. It was named in 1829; previously it was known as Market Street (1807–1828). In its time, it comprised a busy part of the city near Brattle Street, Court Street and Scollay Square. In the 19th century, it was the home of many bookstores and publishing companies. As of 1969, Cornhill exists as 144 feet along the edge of City Hall Plaza.

See also

• Sears' Crescent building (built 1816) 100 City Hall Plaza; formerly 38–68 Cornhill)
• Sears' Block (built 1848) corner Court + Washington St., formerly 70–72 Cornhill

Previous tenants of Cornhill

• Annin & Smith, 19th-century engravers
• Iver Johnson Sporting Goods Company, located in the Iver Johnson Building, corner of Washington Street and Cornhill
• Daniel Clement Colesworthy, bookseller, c. 1850s
• Frost & Adams, art supplies
• The Liberator, published by Isaac Knapp, Cornhill, c. 1837
• Bela Marsh, 19th-century publisher
• F. T. Somerby, painter

References

Further reading

• "Old Boston Booksellers: The Three Burnham Brothers and Their Antecedents". The New York Times, July 21, 1893. p. 6, col. 3. (Mentions Samuel B. Drake and Burnham Brothers, booksellers.)
• "Booksellers of Cornhill: 1828–1865" by Alan Seaburg. Published by The Anne Miniver Press (2017). On-line Dropbox edition can be accessed at: anneminiverpress.com

External links

• Bostonian Society has materials related to the street.
• G. Kepes. Photo of Scollay Square from Pemberton Square Looking Across to Cornhill Street, 1957.
• Flickr. Sears Crescent, 1999
• Flickr. Sears Crescent, 2008
• Flickr. Photo, 2009