Brookline Boulevard and West Liberty Ave - 1909

Brookline Boulevard and West Liberty Avenue - August 1909

This is the corner of Brookline Boulevard and West Liberty Avenue on August 24, 1909. Work has begun on the paving of the lower portion of the boulevard (what is now Bodkin Street). The sewer and water lines were being installed and the street paved in Belgian blocks, which are still present on Bodkin Street today.

Brookline Map from 1928, showing the old traffic pattern. In 1935 the Boulevard was rerouted onto the railway line right-of-way.

From 1909 until 1935, Bodkin Street was part of Brookline Boulevard, stretching from Pioneer Avenue to West Liberty Avenue. The trolley right-of-way that looped from West Liberty up the hill to Brookline Boulevard was an unpaved path and not used for vehicular traffic until the Boulevard was realigned in 1935. As for vehicular traffic, it looks like the horse and wagon was the main mode of transport back in these early days of the Brookline community.

Brookline Boulevard looking towards Pioneer Avenue - August 1909

Here is another photo from August 24, 1909, heading up Brookline Boulevard (now Bodkin Street) towards Pioneer Avenue at the top of the hill. It is interesting to see the Belgian blocks that will make up the roadway and curbs in their original state, the way they often arrived from the local quarry.

Brookline Boulevard and West Liberty Avenue - October 1909

This photo is from October 1, 1909, looking from the curve at the lower end of Brookline Boulevard (now Bodkin Street) across West Liberty Avenue. The path in the background is Wenzell Avenue.

Brookline Boulevard looking up the hill towards Pioneer Avenue and the business district - Oct 1909

This photo is from October 1, 1909, looking up Brookline Boulevard (now Bodkin Street) towards the intersection with Plainview Avenue on the left and Pioneer Avenue at the top of the hill. The original St. Mark Church stands on the hillside to the left. Built in 1907, the church was one of the original structures on this part of Brookline Boulevard and served the Lutheran congregation until 1928.

Brookline Boulevard looking across West Liberty Avenue towards Dormont and Beechview on the far hillside. The hillside path across the valley is Wenzell Ave - Oct 1909

This photo is from October 1, 1909, looking across the valley from Brookline Boulevard (now Bodkin Street) towards Dormont (left) and Beechview (right) on the opposite hill in the background. The path up the hill is Wenzell Avenue. The path in the left center of the photo is the trolley right-of-way that leads from West Liberty up to Brookline Boulevard.

Brookline Boulevard looking uphill towards Pioneer Avenue and the business district - December 1909

This final photo is from December, 1909, looking up Brookline Boulevard (now Bodkin Street) from the intersection with Plainview Avenue towards Pioneer Avenue at the top of the hill. The Belgian block roadway has been completed, with sand covering the bricks to fill in the gaps. This roadway still in us

Click on images for larger pictures.

* Photos provided by Dr. Michael Brendel *

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