Page 69 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Boston

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Alexander Graham Bell (1847–1922)
A native of Edinburgh, Scotland, and son of a
deaf mother, Bell moved to Boston in 1871 to
embark on a career of teaching speech to the
deaf. It led to his appoint ment, two years later,
as professor of vocal physiology at Boston
University. In a rented fifth-floor garret assisted
by young repair mechanic and model maker
Thomas Watson, Bell worked in his spare time
on an apparatus for transmitting sound by
electrical current. Initial success came on June 3,
1875, when the barely intelligible utterings of a human voice
(his own) traveled over a laboratory wire. History was made
on March 17, 1876, when Bell, while experimenting on voice
transmission, upset a battery, spilling acid on his clothing. He
called to another room: “Mr. Watson, come here. I want you.” With
each of those seven words reaching Watson clearly and distinctly,
the “electrical speech machine” was invented. In August that year,
Bell proved its practical value by sending messages over Canadian
telegraph wires. By 1878, he had set up the first public telephone
exchange in New Haven, Connecticut. Six years later, long-distance
calls were being made between Boston and New York City.
Distinctive, Art Deco-style Verizon Building,
a landmark of Boston
founder of the Massachusetts’ One Post Office Square, which
Society for the Prevention offers great views over Boston y Verizon Building
of Cruelty to Animals. Some Harbor and Downtown. These 185 Franklin St. Map 2 D4. Tel (617)
of the most important views can be seen from the 743-9340.  State, Aquarium.
buildings overlooking the atrium at the top of the Museum: Closed to the public. 7
square and plaza include the building, which, not strictly
New England Telephone open to the public, may be Dating from 1947 and
Building and the John W. accessible through polite overlooking the south side
McCormack court house inquiry. A focal point for the of Post Office Square, this Art
building, which formerly whole district, the grassy space Deco building, formerly the
housed downtown’s main of the square comes into its New England Telephone
post office. Other important own during the warmer months Building, is still in use today.
buildings include the Langham of the year, when office workers Dean Cornwell’s monumental
Boston hotel (see p137) – this can be seen sprawling across its 160-ft (49-m) long Telephone
classic Renaissance Revival well-kept lawns – a great place Men and Women at Work
show piece was completed in for visitors to rest their weary mural – populated by 197
1922 and was originally the feet and watch Bostonians life-size figures – encircled
Federal Reserve Bank – and take a few minutes out. the lobby for over five
decades, a truly remarkable
work of art. Unfortunately,
the mural has now been
removed and the building is
closed to the public. Despite
this the building remains an
iconic Boston landmark in
light of its impressive history.
The building, one of the
best examples of Art Deco
remaining in the city, provides
an attractive backdrop for
area workers having lunch
on Post Office Square. Some
of the interior’s original
elements – high ceilings and
stately hallways made from
Marine granite – remain in
place, while others (floral
drapes and orange carpeting)
became dated and were
Post Office Square is a popular lunchtime spot for Financial District workers removed over time.

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