From Dave Brigham:
Stepping off the Orange line train at Sullivan Square station, I thought I was in Somerville. This isn't uncommon. Traveling around the Boston area as much as I do with my son, Owen, I'm not always sure which of the city's neighborhoods I'm in, or, in this case, which municipality. Turns out I was in Charlestown, Boston's oldest neighborhood. We got into Somerville for just a little bit on this quick trip.
If you're like me, your first thought upon seeing the sign on this building on Cambridge Street was, "Why on Earth does Wile E. Coyote need bookbinding?" While maniacally chasing down the Roadrunner, Mr. Coyote availed himself of all sorts of gadgets and gear from Acme Corporation, ranging from giant rubber bands to jet-propelled tennis shoes, invisible paint to an instant icicle maker. Maybe the bookbinding is to keep his mortal enemy locked into one place, between the pages of Mr. Coyote's favorite tome.
Acme Bookbinding is located in Charlestown in the shadow of Interstate 93. Founded in 1958 in Waltham, Mass., Acme has acquired numerous competitors over the years, and in 2012 merged with The HF Group out of Ohio.
Here's the building at 100 School Street in Waltham that served as Acme's first home:
(100 School Street, Waltham, Mass., first home to Acme Bookbinding.)
After just one year in business, things were going so well, according to this history of Acme, that the company moved into a 7,000-square foot space on the fourth floor of 300 Summer Street in Boston (see building below).
(300 Summer Street, Boston, second home to Acme Bookbinding. A future post here on the blog will cover this building and many others in what was once the center of Boston's Wool Trade.)
With its acquisition in 1983 of Northeast Library Binding, Acme connected with a company founded in 1821 as J.G. Robert in downtown Boston, at 6 Water Street.
(6 Water Street, Boston, one-time home of J.G. Robert, which was acquired by Acme Bookbinding in 1983.)
With that deal, Acme claims to be the oldest continuously operating bookbinding company in the world. Here's an interview with Paul Parisi, president of Acme Bookbinding, from a March 2017 Boston Globe article. I like this article because I can sense the love of the craft that Parisi brings to his business.
Not gonna lie to you: when I took that picture that's at the top of this post, I never figured I'd be providing my wonderful readers with that much information about this company.
Here's the backside of the Harcourt Bindery, part of Acme's business, located next to Acme's building.
And here's a photo of the front of the Harcourt building.
I took the shot because I found the words "REPAIR" and "BIBLE" next to each other kinda funny, in my usual sacrilegious way. Then I thought perhaps they were referring to a book, you know, a "Repair bible" for some line of products. I really have no idea. Any help is appreciated.
OK, moving along.
Located directly behind the Acme/Harcourt complex is the former Crosby Steam & Gage building (go here for old pictures/drawings of the building). Maker of steam whistles, clocks, gages of all sorts and much more, Crosby merged with Ashton Valve Co. in 1948. Now home to Raybern Decorative Hardware and wedding photographers Hitched Studios, the building dates to 1904, I believe.
Acme isn't the only company in this area that deals with dead trees.
Built in 1920, this manufacturing facility appears to have closed up shop. Boston Paper Board's web site has been, well, papered over. I've been unable to find out anything about when the company started or when it went out of business. I'd love to get on this property.
Right across the street from Boston Paper Board is the backside of the Puritan Garage.
Built in 1920, the garage is currently home to Uno Auto Center, which does repairs and sells used cars. Here's the front.
Based on a bit of online research, I've learned that the garage is also a practice / recording space for local bands, including Jessica Rabbit Syndrome, Quilt and, per my buddy Jay Breitling's blog, Hallelujah the Hills.
A little further down Washington Street, over the line in Somerville, sits this colorful little place.
United Divers calls itself Boston's oldest dive shop. It specializes in classes and equipment.
Heading back to the train after our short walk -- as usual this past fall, the weather was cold, cloudy and a bit rainy -- I spied this beautiful piece of graffiti, back in Charlestown.
Parked on freight tracks adjacent to the MBTA's Orange line, these cars have probably been there quite some time.
Heading back into the train station, I couldn't resist shooting the Encore Boston Harbor casino, in neighboring Everett.
Slated to open in June, the casino is being built by Wynn Resorts, and will be the first full-blown casino in eastern Massachusetts. I recently visited the area around the casino; stay tuned for a long write-up and tons of photos.
Last, but certainly not least, is another great work of graffiti.
It's the Power Puff Girls!
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