The Beacon 8 issues, Boston 1895 [amateur journalism]

James B Ayer; M. B. Stone

Boston: Stone & Ayer, 1895.

First Edition. Softcover. Very Good Condition. Item #049738

Small journal (ca. 4 1/8" x 3 1/4") 6pp each. Apparently a sort of zine published by James B. Ayer and M.B. Stone out of the Ayer house at 518 Beacon St. Each issue has a historical or journalistic fact about Boston then riddles or jokes, a number of issues have an announcement for a fair held in aid of the Home for Aged Colored Women, 27 Myrtle St., at 518 Beacon St. or. Cost was 1 cent per week or 2 cents by post. In issue 10 they announce issue 14 as the last (because of the end of the school year - Ayer was 12 at the time and either just starting or about to start at Roxbury Latin School). Ayer's parents had recently built the house (still standing) at 518 Beacon. He was a physician from a line of Boston physicians and Ayer Jr. later went to Harvard and became a distinguished neurologist himself. He was also a rower of no mean skill - a real Boston character, apparently.

Likely printed on a small format tabletop press - probably something like a Kelsey or other novelty press.

7 issues numbered 7-14. Some stamped as if they were Ayer's file copies.

Reporting on:

Issue 10, April 1895 has facts about Boston Common and then a short cut for Beacon Hill

Issue 9 describes the meeting of the Boston Athletics Association at Mechanics Hall and issue 13 the annual Dog Show at Mechanics Hall.

Issue 14 describes the work on the subway: "they have already dug down quite a depth yet hardly anything has been done on the common except dig up the bones of the people in the Granery...and cut down some fine trees on Tremont St. mall." 14 also described the tearing down of the old Bulfinch State House "going on rapidly or slowly which ever you please" (this was an expansion begun in 1889 and finished n 1899).

An interesting look at Boston from the viewpoint of a pair of school boys and their amateur press - it's uncertain who M.B. Stone was, but a young man of the right age attended Hopkinson Latin around this time. Unrecorded.



Size: 16mo . Quantity Available: 1. Shipped Weight: Under 1 kilo. Category: Americana; Inventory No: 049738.

Price: $200.00