In 1894, a stately brick building arose on Walnut Street, a testament to the enduring power of the press. This is the Somerville Journal Building, a place where the written word came to life for over half a century. The Somerville Journal, a weekly publication founded in 1870, had outgrown its previous home. The newspaper needed a space to accommodate its new printing equipment, a space that would reflect its growing influence in the community. William H. Gerrish, a Lowell engineer, designed the building, imbuing it with the typical charm of late 19th-century commercial architecture. Its round-arch windows, once filled with sash windows and later updated in 2012, gaze out onto the bustling street below. The Somerville Journal Building became the heart of the newspaper’s operations. The first floor housed the administrative and editorial offices, where writers crafted stories that captured the pulse of Somerville. Upstairs, on the second floor, the clatter of typesetting machines filled the air. In the basement, the massive printing presses roared to life, churning out the weekly edition that landed on doorsteps throughout the city. The Somerville Journal called this building home until the 1950s. After the Journal’s departure, the building took on new roles. It served as a Kodak facility, offering developing, printing, and enlarging services. In the 1970s, it was transformed into a youth recreation center, providing a space for the city’s young people to gather and connect. Since the 1970s, the building has been a haven for artists, their studios filling the spaces once occupied by journalists and printers. Today, the Somerville Journal Building stands as a reminder of Somerville’s vibrant past. It is a testament to the power of the press, a place where stories were born and shared with the world. The building’s legacy continues, not in ink and paper, but in the creative energy of the artists who now call it home. It stands as a symbol of the ever-evolving spirit of Somerville, a city where history and creativity intertwine.
Rumney Marsh Burial Ground
A chill wind whispers through the aged headstones. This is Rumney Marsh Burial Ground. This historic cemetery dates back to