Millennium Tower (Filene's) | 426 Washington Street | Downtown

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DZH22 said:
There is now 1 more floor of cladding in this view, the first residential. Saw it lit up at night, and that floor looks tiny compared to the ones below it! I wonder when they will clad more on that side than just the corner.
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I like that antebellum [WWII] look of elegance afforded by the canopy over the T entrance -- they should leave it :)
 
DZH22 said:
There is now 1 more floor of cladding in this view, the first residential. Saw it lit up at night, and that floor looks tiny compared to the ones below it! I wonder when they will clad more on that side than just the corner.
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Seems to be going up rather fast, considering that it is being built using an entirely concrete frame!!! :cool:
 
They've opened the T entrance at the corner of the Burnham building:

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This photo is from yesterday evening. I came into my office yesterday morning from a different direction, so I didn't see whether they opened it over the weekend or during the day yesterday. Probably over the weekend.
 
At the far right of the picture above, you can see one of the entrances into what will be Primack's space.

you can now catch a glimpse inside. A ways to go yet.

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West said:
They've opened the T entrance at the corner of the Burnham building:

(image removed)

This photo is from yesterday evening. I came into my office yesterday morning from a different direction, so I didn't see whether they opened it over the weekend or during the day yesterday. Probably over the weekend.
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I notice that that fire alarm doesn't have the red glowing ball on it, something I've always associated with Boston. Are they phasing those out, or is it just that that one is in a pedestrian-only area?
 
statler said:
End of an era.... :(

mRuEBpP.jpg
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I think we all knew a Primark sign was going in there.

It was always going to be replaced.

It's good to move on, Filenes was always going to be replaced, it went from a failed department store to a signify a hole in the ground. It's good that it's going away.
 
Mongo said:
It's good to move on, Filenes was always going to be replaced, it went from a failed department store to a signify a hole in the ground. It's good that it's going away.
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Sorry, but excuse you. Filene's was not a failed department store. It was a Boston staple for 125 years (1881-2006)*. Macy*s ate it up, closed it, and sold it to the City. There's a huge difference.

*94 years in the Burnham Building itself (1912-2006)
 
And for those not in the know, it will be referred to as the Filene's building for sometime, much like many still refer to Jordan Marsh. Most out there have no idea who or what Burnham is, and would have no reason to call the building that.
 
Filene's is not the only local department store Macy's has bought - they bought up Marshall Field's in Chicago, much to the locals chagrin.


Question - does the snow causes any major issues for this type of construction?
 
mass88 said:
Filene's is not the only local department store Macy's has bought - they bought up Marshall Field's in Chicago, much to the locals chagrin.


Question - does the snow causes any major issues for this type of construction?
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Snow can cause delays (while you clear off the snow). The bigger issue is cold. They're probably paying a premium right now to have the concrete mixed with warm water and then they'll need to keep it warm as it cures. Not tough to do (since concrete gives off heat as it cures), but can cost some money (to buy and move around heated blankets, for example).
 
AmericanFolkLegend said:
Snow can cause delays (while you clear off the snow). The bigger issue is cold. They're probably paying a premium right now to have the concrete mixed with warm water and then they'll need to keep it warm as it cures. Not tough to do (since concrete gives off heat as it cures), but can cost some money (to buy and move around heated blankets, for example).
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I was delayed crossing Franklin Street this morning while the crew from J. Derenzo was payloading snow out of the construction site, so it looked to me they were itching to get back to work.
 
mass88 said:
Filene's is not the only local department store Macy's has bought - they bought up Marshall Field's in Chicago, much to the locals chagrin.
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Macy's is also in the Wanamaker building in Philadelphia, another Burnham building.
 
markhb said:
I notice that that fire alarm doesn't have the red glowing ball on it, something I've always associated with Boston. Are they phasing those out, or is it just that that one is in a pedestrian-only area?
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I had some friends in the mid-90s who had moved to Boston from Kearney, Nebraska. While driving around on the first few days they were here, they would stop at every intersection with an alarm box that was topped by a fire globe, thinking at first that the fire globes were red traffic signals.
 
datadyne007 said:
Sorry, but excuse you. Filene's was not a failed department store. It was a Boston staple for 125 years (1881-2006)*. Macy*s ate it up, closed it, and sold it to the City. There's a huge difference.

*94 years in the Burnham Building itself (1912-2006)
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Actually as was discussed in some length in the past on AB Forum -- by the time that jordans / Macy's "ate" Filenes -- none was the original department store of fame from the early 20th C

Each had been bought and sold so many times that the final combination could be considered incestuous as Federated and May -- the successors to the original department stores merged with Federated adopting the name of its most famous component Macy's

Here's how Filene's and Jordan's began and existed until the mergers ended them:

  • 1851, Eben Jordan and Benjamin Marsh had gone into business together selling linen, silk, and other dry goods
  • 1861 Jordan and Marsh acquired a brownstone building @ 450 Washington
  • 1873 ornate brownstone edifice with a landmark corner clock tower designed by Bradlees, Winslow and Wetherell -- demolished in 1975 for Lafayette Place
  • Jordan, Marsh and Company many different departments displaying wares from around the world, the store drew shoppers from the city as well from the growing "streetcar suburbs." Once at the store, consumers could do more than just shop. Jordan Marsh offered fashion shows, a bakery famous for its blueberry muffins, art exhibitions, even afternoon concerts. (Jordan Hall is named for its greatest benefactor, Eben Jordan Jr., who was a lover of classical music; he also built the Boston Opera House.)

    Jordan Marsh also pioneered new services for shoppers not available in more traditional specialty shops. Most important, it offered credit, usually in the form of charge accounts. It introduced the customer-is-always right policy, and offered money-back guarantees when most other retailers predicted the practice would lead to bankruptcy.

    Jordan Marsh was also quick to implement new technology. The store was one of the first to be electrically lighted; other innovations included glass showcases, telephones, elevators, and pneumatic tubes that delivered cash and credit information to individual departments. As it grew and continued to upgrade its amenities, Jordan Marsh became an exciting destination for shoppers......
    Jordan Marsh featured many amenities, including cozy waiting rooms where ladies could use store stationery to send notes to friends. Managers stocked shelves with items as common as sewing thread and as fine as silk ribbon imported from France. Jordan's devoted an entire department to "Sporting Outfits for Polo, Lawn Tennis, Yachting, Base Ball, Lacrosse, and Rowing."
    ..... At the end of the war[Civil War], Jordan Marsh presented a National Peace Jubilee — one of the grandest spectacles the city had ever seen.....
    After World War II ,,, the management of Jordan Marsh announced that it would build a new store in downtown Boston -- [tooks 3 years to finish]

    Jordan's five older buildings would give way to a new building that would take up a full city block. Covering an area larger than Harvard Stadium, it would have two stories under ground; another 14 would rise into the air. It would have all the latest technology, including air conditioning, automatic doorways, block-long show windows, and radiant-heated sidewalks.....
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    1.7 M sq. ft. total -- comparable to the Hancock Tower
  • 1881 Filene’s was founded by William Filene as Filene’s Sons and Co.
  • 1891 Edward and Lincoln assume management of the store
  • 1901 Edward and Lincoln inherit store upon their father’s death
  • 1908 Edward Filene opened the automatic bargain annex aka Filene's Basement to sell excess merchandise from the upstairs department store
  • 1912 Filene's flagship Department Store, on the corner of Washington and Summer streets, Chicago architect Daniel Burnham's last major project was completed
  • 1929 Filene’s expanded the flagship building, converting the block around Washington, Summer, Hawley and Franklin streets into one department store
  • 1928 Hahn, Department Stores, Inc. formed from the merger of 22 department stores — including Boston's Jordan Marsh
  • 1948 - 1951 Jordan Marsh consolidates and expands into new building designed by Perry, Shaw, and Hepburn -- Summer St -- Washington to Chauncy--- today occupied on the lower levels by Macy's and telecommunications on the upper floors
  • 26 November 1948 -- 57 Polaroid land Cameras were put up for sale at Boston's Jordan Marsh for $89.75 -- All 57 cameras and all of the film were sold on the first day
  • 1992 Filene's operated as division of May and absorbs G. Fox & Co. of Hartford, Connecticut, and later Steiger's and Kaufmann's
  • 1992 Jordan Marsh merged with Federated's Abraham & Straus to become A&S/Jordan Marsh
  • 1994 A&S/Jordan Marsh Merged into Macy's and renamed Macy's in 1996 -- End

Here's an abridged part of the May story:
  • 1877: Founded in Leadville CO. during the silver rush
  • 1889: Headquarters moved to Denver
  • 1905: Headquarters moved to St. Louis
  • 1910: re-incorporated as The May Department Stores Company
  • ...
  • 1965: May acquires G. Fox & Co. of Hartford
  • ....
  • 1986: May acquires the Associated Dry Goods holding company and its chains (including Loehmann's, Lord & Taylor, and Caldor), the largest-ever retail acquisition in history at that time
  • 1988: May acquires Foley's in Houston and Filene's in Boston from Federated Department Stores
  • 1992 Filene's operated as division of May and absorbs G. Fox & Co. of Hartford, Connecticut, and later Steiger's and Kaufmann's
  • ....
  • 2004: May Department Stores takes over the Marshall Field's chain from Target Corporation
  • 2005: May is purchased by Federated Department Stores for $11 billion in stock, with all former May divisions being folded into Federated's various Macy's branches
  • 2006: Over 400 former May stores, with their wide variety of long-standing brand names, are consolidated and renamed as Macy's. In addition, Federated sells off three former May chains (David's Bridal, Lord & Taylor and Priscilla of Boston)

and a similar abridged history of Federated
  • 1851: F & R Lazarus men's clothing store is founded by Fred Lazarus.
  • ....
  • 1928 Hahn's Department Stores, a holding company founded
  • 1935 Hahn's & Jordan Marsh reorganized into Allied Stores
  • ....
  • 1981, Allied Stores acquires Garfinckel, Brooks Brothers, Miller & Rhoads, Inc. for $228 million. With that transaction they acquired 178 department stores and 48 specialty shops in 28 states
  • 1986 Allied acquired by Robert Campeau
  • 1988 Allied it merged with Federated Department Stores (now known as Macy's, Inc.)
    In 1986 the chain was acquired by Canadian entrepreneur Robert Campeau. In 1988 it merged with Federated Department Stores (now known as Macy's, Inc.), and the chains were consolidated in 1990 under the Federated name after Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
    Jordan Marsh founded in 1841, acquired by Hahn's in 1928, retained by Campeau.
  • 1929 Federated Department Stores incorporated as a holding company for Filene’s, Abraham & Straus and Lazarus
    1930: Bloomingdale's enters the Federated group
  • ....
  • 1988 Federated is acquired by Campeau Corporation
  • 1988 Filene's & Foley's of Houston sold to May
  • 1988 Filene's Basement becomes independent were disassociated
  • ...
  • 1989: Campeau files for bankruptcy and reorganizes -- completed in 1992
  • 1994: Federated acquires R.H. Macy & Co.
  • June 1, 2007 Federated Department Stores renames itself Macy's, Inc. -- all earlier names became either Macy's or Bloomingdale's
Partial list of references:
 
Roxxma said:
I had some friends in the mid-90s who had moved to Boston from Kearney, Nebraska. While driving around on the first few days they were here, they would stop at every intersection with an alarm box that was topped by a fire globe, thinking at first that the fire globes were red traffic signals.
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Roxx -- The remnants of the Fire Alarm Telegraph -- one of Boston's most important innovations -- probably responsible for saving more lives than anything until the introduction of the 911 telephone exchange

Invented by Channing and Farmer and fabricated by Thomas Watson [of Mr Watson come here....] at the Charles Williams Company at 109 Court St.

http://www.ieeeghn.org/wiki/index.php/Milestones:Electric_Fire_Alarm_System,_1852

Electric Fire Alarm System, 1852
IEEE Boston Section, Dedication: 1 October 2004

On 28 April 1852 the first municipal electric fire alarm system using call boxes with automatic signaling to indicate the location of a fire was placed into operation in Boston. Invented by William Channing and Moses Farmer, this system was highly successful in reducing property loss and deaths due to fire and was subsequently adopted throughout the United States and in Canada.

The plaque can be viewed at the Boston Fire Department office at 59 the Fenway, Boston, MA, U.S.A.

Fire Alarm Office
The first fire alarm telegraph system in the world was invented, constructed and placed in operation in Boston, Massachusetts, on April 28, 1852. The first alarm was received over the system on April 29, 1852 at 8:25 p.m.

The original system was invented by Dr. William F. Channing, who was assisted in its development and construction by Moses G. Farmer, one of the foremost electrical engineers of the day and who later became the first superintendent of fire alarm telegraph. The system then consisted of three box circuits, three bell circuits, forty boxes, sixteen alarm bells, and crude central office apparatus housed in a building which was exposed to serious fire hazards.

The present office is housed in a beautiful building which was opened in 1925 and located in the Fenway, a part of Boston's park system, 250 feet away from the nearest building and nothing will ever be built nearer. The building is of fire-resistant construction and of sufficient size to take care of the city's natural growth. A special Act of the Legislature was passed giving the city the right to use a section of the park system for this purpose.
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