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The transformation of a Common men's room into a sandwich stand

By adamg on Fri, 12/29/2023 - 9:19am

Aline Kaplan recounts the transformation of what had been a way for men to relieve themselves in private rather than in the Frog Pond into today's Earl of Sandwich.

Neighborhoods: 
Beacon Hill
Topics: 
History
Free tagging: 
Boston Common


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Comments

By Irma la Douce on Fri, 12/29/2023 - 10:06am.

Charles Hammond Gibson Jr. (who created the Gibson House Museum in Back Bay) designed the comfort station during his tenure as Boston Parks Commissioner (which began in 1914).

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By xyz on Fri, 12/29/2023 - 11:46am.

I've passed by said sandwich stand/former public lavatory many times myself, but never tried their food. Is it any good?

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By MrDines on Fri, 12/29/2023 - 1:13pm.

…it’s wicked pissah.

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By Don't Panic on Mon, 01/01/2024 - 1:42am.

It's not bad. I liked the original menu that included Hot Dogs but last time I was there it just served "traditional" sandwiches. I got a grilled chicken sandwich that was okay.

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By Rwgfy on Fri, 12/29/2023 - 5:54pm.

Public urination is the least of Boston Common problems.

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By Bob Leponge on Sat, 12/30/2023 - 4:05pm.

I use Boston Common daily. I think on the whole it’s a pretty high quality park. How often do you use it?

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By BostonDog on Sat, 12/30/2023 - 10:06am.

That was an interesting read.

I had been annoyed they didn't restore it to being a restroom but after reading that, perhaps it's for the best. Still, making public facilities in the Common (and elsewhere) would be money well spent.

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By JohnAKeith on Sat, 12/30/2023 - 12:35pm.

Yes, men used to relieve themselves there all the time.

...

..

.

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By Don't Panic on Mon, 01/01/2024 - 2:02am.

On August 19,2017 the "Earl of Sandwich" closed when the Free Speech Rally
https://www.wbur.org/news/2017/08/19/boston-free-speech-rally-updates
on the Boston Common started. Surprisingly the manager and staff were outside the building watching the ongoing situation

I had just gotten out of a movie at the AMC theater with my nephew from out of town and he was absolutely freaked out about the large crowds on the Common. I told him this kind of stuff happens all the time. Although when we got to the "Earl of Sandwich" and found it closed I told him, "Now this is unusual".

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