Streetcar Suburbs: The Process of Growth in Boston, 1870-1900 by sam bass warner jr.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I wholeheartedly agree with the previous reviews that have pointed out the astonishing progressiveness of this book.

I discovered that the study of growth in Boston is extremely comprehensive. It skillfully weaves together centuries of trends into a volume that is easily understandable.

However, the book could have been enhanced in several ways. Firstly, it would have benefited from more clearly distinguishable maps and figures. The marvels of modern-day color printing would have been very useful in this regard. Secondly, as mentioned in an earlier review, there could have been more interaction with the graphics that the author chose to include.

References to the current state of Boston would also have been highly appreciated. What is the condition of the "towns" today? How is the city divided at present? (For example, the different officially designated neighborhoods, many of which have their roots in the historical processes described in this work.)

I am also curious as to why Hyde Park was not mentioned in any detail. Although the town joined Boston in 1912, it surely went through some of the same processes as the other three former towns.

Now, I have a strong desire to read his unpublished thesis.

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Saucinator

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

In "Streetcar Suburbs: The Process of Growth in Boston, 1870 - 1900", Sam B. Warner, Jr. provides a detailed account of the growth of suburban housing developments in the Boston area during the late 19th century.

He focuses on three towns - Dorchester, Roxbury, and West Roxbury - and uses maps, photographs, and statistics to show how new transportation technologies, especially streetcar routes, transformed the landscape.

The streetcar lines allowed the middle and upper classes to live in a more rural setting while still being able to commute to the city center.

This led to a significant expansion of the city's radius and a dramatic change in its physical layout.

Warner also notes that without zoning regulations, a de facto residential zoning pattern emerged based on the cost and style of houses.

The result was a functionally split Boston, with an industrial and commercial center and a large outer suburban ring.

However, the book has some limitations. The chapter on "A Selective Melting Pot" seems limited in its analysis of social exclusion, and the use of photos could have been more engaging.

Despite these critiques, "Streetcar Suburbs" remains an important work that reveals how the modern American suburban landscape developed.

It also provides a cautionary tale about the negative consequences of suburban sprawl and the need for more thoughtful planning.

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HaXXspetten

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Actually, it is a fairly detailed local history that delves into the development of neighborhoods and suburbs. The content is a bit dry and academic in nature, but it offers solid knowledge that can be gained. Warner emphasizes the crucial role of class, society, and the natural surroundings in determining the ultimate development of a neighborhood.

Moreover, this history also serves as a record of the real estate situation during a very specific period in Bostonian history, specifically the transition into the industrial revolution. It provides valuable insights into how the real estate market evolved during this time.

Furthermore, it can serve as a model for how research can be effectively performed at a local level. By closely examining the local context, including the social, economic, and environmental factors, researchers can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the development and transformation of a particular area.

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Bronos23

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I really enjoyed this book.

It has made me become completely fascinated with the history of our 1918 house. I am intrigued by how it came to be built in the specific location and at the exact time that it was constructed.

This book provided a great deal more context around that. It detailed the phenomenal amounts of growth that occurred in Boston in the 50 years leading up to the first World War.

The read was truly interesting, enhanced by the great illustrations and photos that accompanied the text.

It was a pleasure to explore the historical background and gain a deeper understanding of the forces that shaped the construction of our house.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in local history or architecture.

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crystalpucca

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

This book had been sitting in my personal transit-and-urban-studies library for approximately six months before I ultimately found the time to read it.

However, when I finally did manage to pick it up and start reading, it proved to be every bit as excellent as I had anticipated. Admittedly, a portion of my interest stems from the fact that I resided in Boston for five-and-a-half years and have a specific fascination with the city.

I gleaned a great deal of knowledge about the particular history of Boston neighborhoods and certain aspects of the city's street grid. It would have been really interesting if the author had concentrated on areas that I was more familiar with, such as Somerville and Cambridge. But the truth is that people tend to overlook Dorchester and the Roxburies (his study area) far too often.

As a more comprehensive study of the streetcar suburb phenomenon, I also believed that the book was very good. Nevertheless, I'm not entirely certain how well the effects discussed within its pages would have been applicable in other cities that lack Boston's unique geography and cultural background.

I would be intrigued to see similar studies conducted on the suburbs of Chicago, or perhaps Philadelphia or Baltimore, for instance. All in all, it is a truly wonderful book.

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xcatss_

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

This book is straightforward.

Warner describes the process of suburbanization between 1870 - 1900 in Boston, Mass. He focuses on a time period that most contemporary Americans would not associate with the process of "suburbanization". However, it is precisely this approach that makes "Street Car Suburbs" so interesting.

Warner shows that both street cars and suburbs were linked to the increasing wealth in the Boston area after the civil war. Capital was seeking places to be invested, and both the wealthy and middle class saw it in their interest to lay the foundation for suburban growth. The wealthy developed street car lines, and in response, many middle-class members engaged in small-scale suburban "developments". Perhaps it is the small scale of the street car suburb that will most fascinate the modern reader.

For the most part, the builders of street cars did not develop the housing market. One explanation for this seeming discrepancy is that the mortgage market for residences was extremely primitive during this time period. Warner reveals that most of the small-scale "developers" carried the mortgages of the buyers of their newly developed properties! This is a far cry from our world today.

Warner's photos of various homes are excellent and serve as a fine counterpoint to the text. This book offers an interesting treatment of a little-known period of American suburban development.

It provides valuable insights into the historical context and the factors that contributed to the growth of suburbs during that time.

Overall, "Street Car Suburbs" is a must-read for those interested in the history of American urban and suburban development.

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DDGG

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

A detailed study of Boston's growth pattern from 1870 to 1900 was conducted.

The book, which was originally written in the 1960s and revised in 1978, has a distinct 1970s social scientific feel.

It is filled with an abundance of data and numbers that serve to strengthen the qualitative claims made within.

I found this book to be highly enjoyable and would love nothing more than to carry it around Boston as I study the various housing types described within its pages.

This would allow me to gain a more in-depth understanding of how Boston's housing landscape evolved during this crucial period of growth.

The combination of detailed research and a vivid description of the housing makes this book a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history of Boston's development.

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Zizike

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

This is an excellent book that provides a great understanding of the development of Dorchester and Roxbury in the late 19th century.

It makes good use of photos and maps, which vividly illustrate the historical scenes and geographical locations.

The information on using early census data is also very useful, as it helps to uncover the social and economic conditions of that time.

Whether you are a history enthusiast or a researcher, this book is definitely worth reading. It offers a comprehensive and detailed account of the area's development, and will surely enhance your knowledge and understanding.

Overall, it is a great resource for anyone interested in the history of Dorchester and Roxbury.

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Streetcar Suburbs: The Process of Growth in Boston, 1870-1900

sam bass warner jr. sam b. warner

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