No. 5186 Dorchester Athenaeum, painting on brick.
Edward A. Huebener, a former Board member of the Dorchester Historical Society, was a collector of materials relating to Dorchester history including a very large collection of graphic materials, including prints and photographs, now owned by the Society. His very own contribution to this group of materials was the idea of taking a brick from a house that had been demolished and asking a local illustrator to paint a picture of the house upon the brick. The painted bricks may be viewed at the Dorchester Historical Society.
Organized in 1856 and incorporated in 1857 the Dorchester Atheneum was a private subscription library located at the corner of East Cottage Pleasant and Pond Streets.
The organization issued a catalog of books owned in 1857 and again in 1870. The 1889 Bromley atlas shows that the building was at that time no longer owned by the Athenaeum.
The 1859 History of Dorchester says: In March, 1856, several gentlemen in the north part of the town suggested the idea of a society for the promotion of social intercourse and mutual improvement. Among the most active were John J. May, Ambrose H. White, and Amasa Pray. A public meeting was called, and such progress was made that the old Everett school-house was soon purchased and removed from Sumner Street to the Junction of Pleasant, Cottage and Pond streets, and remodelled to suit the purpose of an Athenaeum and a library. Its first officers were John G. Nazro, President; John J. May, Secretary; Ambrose H. White, Treasurer; Amasa Pray, Jacob Davis, Ebenezer Clap, Jr., and Michael O. Barry, Trustees. March 14th, 1857, it was incorporated, for “the purpose of establishing a library and a reading room, and for advancing useful arts, science, &c.” (1859 History of Dorchester)
No. 2085 Plan dated 1870 in the collection of the Dorchester Historical Society. The church next door is the group that later became the Pilgrim Church on Columbia Road.
No. 5349 Note that in 1856 a new building for the Everett School had been dedicated. The 1858 Walling map of Norfolk County shows both the new Everett School and the Dorchester Athaeneum.
No. 2362 Photograph in the collection of the Dorchester Historical Society, probably used as a model for the brick painting.
No. 2099 Photograph dated 1909 in the collection of the Dorchester Historical Society.