Bill Warner's Blog

Movie: Rory on the Morphing Handcycle - this is an amazing machine; watch this video! #morphhc

Rory McCarthy is the inventor of the Morphing Handcycle, which converts from a maneuverable, indoor vehicle that's as tall as a bar stool, to a low, fast, racing handcycle that will take you home twenty miles away.

Check out www.movewithfreedom.org

Rory and I are meeting today at the shop in Derry, NH, working with George Reynolds, who is buildiing the new Morph III design. (See below)

Download P1040928_Rory_Morphs_for_Lydia.m4v

One of the main improvements in the Morph III prototype is to make the low rider mode much lower to the ground, for better stability. Here is the side view in Powerpoint for Morph II, using the original design Solidworks files created by Graham Butler of Intrepid Equipment:

Download Morph_II_side_view_animation_o.ppt

And here is the latest design, Morph III:

Download Morph_III_Side_View_Animation.pptx

Interview: Lokomat Inventor Gery Golombo, PhD Visits Spaulding Rehab

Dr. Gery Colombo, inventor of the Lokomat visited Spaulding Rehab on December 18, 2008. I was invited to meet him by Paolo Bonato, Spaulding's Director of the Motion Analysis Lab.

Dr. Gery Colombo, PhD (left), Bill Warner (right)

Download Gery1.m4v

I did a series of interviews with Dr. Colombo, starting with how the Lokomat came about.

Download Gery2.m4v

Gery talks about what was hard and what turned out to be easy in building the Lokomat. It always seems to be different than what you think when you get started.

Download gery3.m4v

Dr. Colombo gives us a little tour of the Lokomat, and a look at the cuff system that turned out to be one of the hardest parts to get right in the design.

Download gery4.m4v

One of the key elements of the Lokomat is the system that "unweights" the person walking. Since I had worked way back in the '80s with mechanical pen plotters, I was very interested in the details of how the unweighting system works. When I walked on the machine, I could tell that something pretty clever was going on, since the machine always seemed to "know" what to do to have the harness hold you up just the right amount. Dr. Colombo explains how their spring and actuator system works.

In all, I had about 15 sessions on the Lokomat. The improvement was tremendous. On my first day on the machine, I walked about 600 meters, at a speed of about 1.8 km/hour. By my last session, I walked for 32 minutes, covered 1400 meters, and reached a speed of 3.0 km/hour. I also began carrying more of my own weight as I progressed. At the last session, I carried on my own legs about 80 kg out of my total 100 kg weight. The machine compensated for the remaining 20 kg.

I still walk with crutches, but my speed is faster, and my range is longer. I find I'm much more willing to venture farther using my crutches, and I also find that my back no longer hurts when I walk.

The Lokomat has been the best piece of rehab equipment that I have experienced since I got hurt 34 years ago, in 1974.

An Anti-Gravity Treadmill ... Some Elements of Lokomat

On Dec 10, 2008, at 12:17 AM, Yonald Chery wrote:
>
> Which reminds me, have you seen this?
>
> http://www.alter-g.com/alterg/
>
> It was originally invented/designed by some NASA folks I know.

>>
>> -- Bill

Using the Lokomat: A Robotic Walking Machine that Retrains Your Brain and Your Muscles

For the last three months, I've been training on the Locomat, a revolutionary robotic walking system at Spaulding Rehab in Boston, MA. I have a T12 spinal cord injury that is incomplete, so its equivalent to an L4 spinal injury. This means I have some strength in my upper leg, but nothing below the knee. I normally walk with crutches.

Check out the two movies below, as well as the manufacturer's website.

http://www.hocoma.ch/en/products/lokomat/

This movie is from my third day on the machine. I'm already getting pretty comfortable.

Download Video_of_Bill_on_Lokomat_for_M.m4v

Now check out the video from today, December 9, 2008. Today, I walked 1400 meters. I reached a top speed of 3.0 kM/h. (The machine only goes up to 3.2!). I walked for 32 minutes.

The machine has a computerized "unweighting" system that hold you up. When you start, you're totally suspended by the harness, with legs off the treadmill. Then as you go, the therapist can increase the weight you are carrying. I weigh about 100Kg (220 lbs). By this last training session, I was carrying up to 80 Kg (176 lbs) of my own weight. And I was doing that at the 3.0 km/h speed.

The improvement from the Lokomat is significant. Off the machine (still with crutches!), my walking speed is higher. My range is significantly higher. And I no longer have any back pain from standing or walking. The other day I went to the Museum of Fine Arts, and walked from the parking lot, and walked throughout the exhibits. In the past, I would have used wheelchair. This is, by far, the best piece of equipment I have used in my (now) 34 year career as a person with a handicap!

Many thanks to my physical therapist, Urvashi, who was at the main controls, and to Jody, handled the machine and also took the movies. I've never had so much fun, and improved so fast!

Download 12-09-2008_Bills_last_day_on_l.m4v

This is the screen the therapist uses.

Cool Details of All Buildings in Larches Neighborhood, Cambridge, MA

Harvard/Radcliffe Online Historical Reference Shelf

Cambridge Buildings and Architects
by Christopher Hail

Harvard has some great information about the lineage of each house in our neighborhood.

Here are the links:

MAIN SITE: http://hul.harvard.edu/huarc/refshelf/cba/l.html

MEADOW WAY: http://hul.harvard.edu/huarc/refshelf/cba/m.html#meadowway

FRESH POND LANE: http://hul.harvard.edu/huarc/refshelf/cba/f.html#freshpondln

OLD DEE ROAD: http://hul.harvard.edu/huarc/refshelf/cba/o.html#olddeerd

LARCHWOOD DRIVE: http://hul.harvard.edu/huarc/refshelf/cba/l.html#larchwooddr

Here is the text as of 12/09/2008:

MEADOW WAY through street 1915

.....1915 laid out 11 Larchwood Dr -- 67 Larchwood Dr & named

•3 house 2½-st 1915

.....1915 house 2-st permit 16857 larchwood+meadow way (o) Babcock W W (a & b) McPherson John R.

.....1916 Bromley atlas

..........•garage 1-st permit 17537 meadow way (o) Babcock W W (a & b) McPherson J R

.....1917 house altered 2-st permit 18024 larchwood rd (o) Babcock Wm W (b) Harriman const co

.....1973 house altered permit 71677 3 (b) McGonagle const co

4 see 17 Larchwood dr 1915

•7 house 2-st 1919

.....1919 house 1½-st permit 19316 meadoway 8 (o) Fresh Pond Parkway realty (a) Mass.engineering co

.....1920 •garage permit 19892 7 (o) Whitney H E (b) Ryan Martin W

.....1930 Bromley atlas

•14 (Fresh pond lane 36) house 2-st 1919

.....1919 house 2½-st permit 19178 meadoway 20 (o) Fresh Pond Parkway realty (a) Mass.engineering co

.....1920 deed 4378,241 (o) Fresh Pond Parkway realty to (o) Butler Agnes M / E

.....1925 house altered permit 26516 [& •garage 1930 atlas] 14 (o) Butler Agnes M (b) Brundage & Baker

.....1930 Bromley atlas

•22 house 2-st 1916

.....181- (?) see also 42r Fresh pond lane [possibly incorporated into this house]

.....1916 Bromley atlas

..........house brick [& stucco veneer] 2-st permit 17054 larchwood lot 34 (o) Fresh Pond Parkway realty (a) Ritchie Jas.H.

.....1918 •garage permit 18807 34 (o) Benedict Edward B (b) Ryan Martin W

.....1919 deed 4237,192 (o) Fresh Pond Parkway realty to (o) Benedict Edward

.....1922 house adds permit 22427 22 (o) Benedict Edward B (b) Hawkins H H & sons

•25 house 2-st 1926

.....1926 house permit 27996 lot 28 (o) Brown T H (a) Frost & Raymond

.....1930 Bromley atlas

•28 house 2-st 1920

.....1920 house permit 20387 28 (o) Fresh Pond Parkway realty (a) Whitten R.B.

.....1923 •garage permit 23386 28 (o) Snow Wm B (b) Brooks, Skinner co

.....1925 house altered permit 26574 78 (o) Snow W B (b) Lavash A

.....1930 Bromley atlas

.....1936 house altered permit 37035 28 (o) Raymond F E (b) Greenwood Wm

•39 house 2-st 1916

.....1916 Bromley atlas

..........house 2-st permit 17050 larchwood (o) Fresh Pond Parkway realty (a) Ritchie Jas.H.

.....1919 deed 4250,447 (o) Fresh Pond Parkway realty to (o) Whittemore W St

..........•garage 1-st permit 19595 meadoway 44 (b) Ryan M W (o) Fresh Pond Parkway realty (a) Mass.engineering co

.....1923 deed 4603,245 (o) Whittemore Alice S from (o) Whittemore W St

.....1925 deed 4897,067 (o) Whittemore Alice S from (o) Fresh Pond Parkway realty

.....1928 house adds permit 30781 39 (o) Whittemore Alice (b) Fogelin J E

•40 house 2-st 1930

.....1930 Bromley atlas

..........house permit 32877 (b) Guiney Joseph 40 (o) Naumburg Robt F [a] Kaufman Gerald Lynton

.....1931 •garage permit 33461 40 (o) Naumburg Robt E (b) Guiney Joseph

FRESH POND LANE through street 1691; 1915

.....1691- laid out Brattle St -- Fresh Pond

.....1848 Camb directory (name) Fresh Pond Lane [Road: 1850-1861 dirs]

.....1863 see FRESH POND PARKWAY

.....1915 laid out again 241 Brattle St -- 90 Fresh Pond Parkway; route changed

.....1918 Camb directory numbers even on west side

•5 house 2-st 1922

.....1922 house permit 22628; •garage permit 22902 c brattle (o) Moshier S P ms [a] Whitten R.B.

.....1930 Bromley atlas

•8 house 2-st 1928

.....1928 house permit 30768; •garage 31114 8 (o) Murray James H [a] Buckley E.

.....1930 Bromley atlas

•11 house 2½-st 1916

.....1916 house & •[attached] garage 2½-st permit 17085 fresh pond ln (o) Trenholm Chas E (a) Grandgent & Elwell

.....1930 Bromley atlas

•12 house 2-st 1928

.....1928 house permit 30837; •garage 31115 12 (o) Murray James H [a] Buckley E.

.....1930 Bromley atlas

•15 house 2-st 1925

.....1925 house permit 27144 15 (o) Crocker Percy G (a) Jackson Robert Fuller

.....1928 •garage permit 30734 15 (o) Crocker Elsie A (b) Sheridan F J

.....1930 Bromley atlas

.....1966 garage razed permit 65193 [not razed as of 1992] 15

•16 house 2½-st 1916

.....1916 Bromley atlas

..........house 2-st permit 17055 larchwood (o) Fresh Pond Parkway realty (a) Ritchie Jas.H.

.....1917 •garage permit 18204 fresh pond ln [lot] 90 (o) Fresh Pond Parkway realty (a) Mass.engineering co

.....1918 deed 4220,261 (o) Fresh pond parkway realty to (o) Schiffmacher Sadie

•22 house 2-st 1929

.....1929 house permit 32163 22 (o) Lynch Hannah (b) Lonergan T.

.....1930 •garage Bromley atlas

•25 (35) house 2-st 1925

.....1925 house permit 27242 c meadow way (o) Rowell Geo B [a] Clark F.Alton

.....1930 Bromley atlas

.....1995 adds & alts permit 35

•28 house 2-st 1920

.....1920 house permit 19772 larchwood dr+fresh pond parkway (o) Bennink Ethel S mrs (a) Mass.engineering co

.....1929 •garage permit 32236 33 (o) Bennink Ethel (b) Ryan Martin W inc

.....1930 Bromley atlas

36 see 14 Meadow way 1919

•41 house 2-st 1927

.....1920 deed 4339,575 (o) Fresh pond parkway realty to (o) Butler Agnes M

.....1927 house permit 29116 c meadow way; •garage permit 29314 41 (o) Whitney Horace E (a) Brown Chester A (Boston)

.....1930 Bromley atlas

•42 house 2-st 1917

.....1917 house permit 18130 larchwood dr [lot] 27 (o) Fresh Pond realty (a) Mass.engineering co

.....1919 garage permit 18898 42 (o) Coolidge A[lbert] Sprague [1920 dir]

.....1926 •garage permit 28624 42 (o) Goodale Susan B (b) Santini F const co

.....1930 Bromley atlas

.....1936 house adds permit 37234 42 (o) Goodale Robt L [a] Wetherell D.B.

42r (Mt Auburn st 565) farmhouse 2-st 181-; razed 1916-

.....see also Larchwood dr 36; (?) see also Meadow way 22

.....1823 house tax : farm h+green h+3 stb+b 81>Dee w0 : brattle: 223+fresh pond ln (o) Gray John C.

.....1854 Walling map

.....1882 farmhouse tax & 3 greenhouses [+7: new] 91 ThosW w1 mt auburn [w/ larchwood 36] (o) Dee Sarah H

•45 house 2-st 1929

.....1929 house permit 31632 Fresh pond lane 25 (o & b) Lonergan Thos.D.

.....1930 •garage Bromley atlas

•47 house 2-st 1919

.....1919 house 2½-st permit 19356 fresh pond parkway 24 (o) Fresh Pond Parkway realty (a) Mass.engineering co

.....1929 •garage permit 32080 47 (o) Wetherell Daniel B (b) D'Orsi N

.....1930 Bromley atlas

•48 house 2-st 1925

.....1925 house permit 27026 48 (o) Davis Catherine F [a] Ramsay H.M.

.....1926 •garage permit 27409 48 (o) Davis Franklin B (b) McLellan J G

.....1930 Bromley atlas

.....1959 garage permit 58834 [?rebuilt; 1969 atlas: unchanged from earlier atlases] 48 (b) Walsh Thos J

•53 house 2-st 1929

.....1929 house permit 31396 larchwood dr 23 (o & b) Lonergan Thos D (a) Miller & Levi

.....1930 •garage Bromley atlas

•54 house 2-st 1928

.....1928 house permit 30509 [& •attached garage] 54 (o) Rueter John L (a) Kilham Hopkins & Greeley

.....1930 Bromley atlas

•57 house 2-st 1924

.....1924 house permit 24678 lot 22 (o) Preble Helen Elizabeth (a & b) McLellan O.D.

..........•garage permit 25137

.....1930 Bromley atlas

•59 house 2-st 1927

.....1927 house permit 29450 59 (o) Whouley John M (b) Powers Wm T co

.....1930 Bromley atlas

•63 house 2-st 1939

.....1939 house permit 39910 63 (o) Downey Lucy (a & b) Silvester[Silvestri] A. & sons

.....1949 Sanborn atlas v.2

•66 house 2-st 1924

.....1924 house permit 24609 66 (o) Froland Leonard T (a) Springall & co.(Boston)

.....1930 Bromley atlas

.....1971 house adds & alts permit 69368 fresh pond ln 223 [1972 dir: 66] (o) Bird David (b) Carey John F

•71 house 2-st 1915

.....1915 2-st permit 16625 larch rd (o) Norris F W (a) Greco C.R.

.....1916 Bromley atlas

..........deed 4106,560 (o) Norris Forris W to (o) Bangs Outram

.....1922 •garage permit 22188 71 (o) Bangs Outram (b) Sherburne & Fogelin

.....1949 house altered permit 49090 fresh pond av 71 (o) Rockland [Rochlin] dr (b) Whynot R C

.....1956 house adds & alts permit 55723 71 (b) Cohen Harry

•72 house 2-st 1928

.....1928 house permit 30162 72 (b) Hebb Lawrence B (o) Murray James H [a] Buckley E.

..........•garage permit 30462 72 (o & b) Murray James H.

.....1930 Bromley atlas

•76 duplex house 2-st 1928

.....1928 two-family house permit 30201 76 (b) Hebb Lawrence B (o) Murray James H [a] Home service co.

.....1930 •garage Bromley atlas

•78 house 2-st 1928

.....1928 house permit 30163 78 (b) Hebb Lawrence B (o) Murray James H (a) Buckley E.

..........•garage permit 30463 78 (o & b) Murray James H.

.....1930 Bromley atlas

OLD DEE ROAD dead-end street 1937

.....1937 laid out 36 Larchwood Dr -- south & named; named for Dee Sarah H

..........deed plan 937,695 (o) Ryan Harold A (surveyor) Selwyn Joseph

.....1940 (permit) numbers even on west side

6 house 2-st 1948; razed 1994?

.....1948 house permit 47852 6 (o & b) Moulton Henry J (a) Sullivan J Donnell

.....1949 Sanborn atlas v.2

•6 house 1½-st 1994

.....1994 permit new 6

•7 house 2-st 1937

.....1937 house permit 38234 Old Dee rd (b) Surette Zacharie (o) Ryan Harold A inc [a] Duguid & Martin

.....1949 Sanborn atlas v.2

•11 house 1-st 1950

.....1950 house permit 50297 11 (o) Skinner B F (a) Brooks Arthur H

.....1959 Sanborn atlas v.2

•12 house 2-st 1948

.....1948 house permit 47853 12 (o & b) Moulton Henry J (a) Sullivan J Donnell

.....1949 Sanborn atlas v.2

•14 house 2-st 1937

.....1937 house permit 38057 old dee 6 (b) Johnson & Tyler (o) Ryan H.A. [a] Duguid & Martin

.....1940 •garage permit 40528 14 (o) Ryan Harold A. (b) Brooks, Skinner co

.....1949 Sanborn atlas v.2

•18 house 1-st 1947

.....1924 •? garage moved permit 25478 mt auburn 581 (o) Ryan Harold A.inc (b) Stewart Daniel

.....1947 house permit 45644 18 (o) Ryan H A jr (a) Architects collaborative

.....1949 Sanborn atlas v.2

•19 house 2-st 1940

.....1940 house & garage permit 40101 lot 4 (o) Sweeney Robt [a] Wills R.B.

.....1949 Sanborn atlas v.2

LARCHWOOD DRIVE through street 1915

.....1915 laid out 54 Fresh Pond Parkway -- 550 Huron Ave & named

..........buildings deed plan 239,8 (o) Fresh Pond Parkway Reaty (surveyor) [& landsc a] Pray Hubbard & White

•2 (Fresh pond parkway 54) house 2-st 1920

.....1920 house permit 20220-1 fresh pond parkway (o) Wisham Mary L E (a) Grandgent & Elwell

.....1930 Bromley atlas

.....1934 house altered permit 35682 2 (o) Hood H P (b) McPhail R L

•10 house 2-st 1924

.....1924 house permit 25023 10 (o & b) Smith Donald B (a) Maher & Winchester

..........•garage permit 25508 10 (o & b) Sterritt Edith M

.....1930 Bromley atlas

.....1938 house altered permit 38607 10 (o) Blodgett Geo R (b) Fulton C C & son

•17 (Meadow way 4) house 2-st 1915

.....1915 house brick 2-st permit 16601 brattle+larch rd (o) Norris F W (a) Greco Chas.R.

..........•garage 2-st permit 16655 larch rd (o) Norris F W (a) Greco C.R.

.....1916 Bromley atlas

.....1939 apartments adds permit 39788 17 (o) Newbury F Ware (b) Cann Wm A co

•20 house 2-st 1919

.....1919 house permit 18977 larchwood dr [lot] 101 (o) Fresh Pond Parkway realty (a) Mass.engineering co

..........•? garage 1-st permit 19493 larchwood dr lot 101 (o) Browne A (a) Mass.engineering co

.....1930 Bromley atlas

.....1973 garage altered to studio permit 71216 20 (o) Peretz Martin (b) Ryan Richard

.....1994 adds & alts permit 20

•24 house 2-st 1925

.....1925 house permit 25890 c fresh pond dr (o) Morton Marcus jr. (a) [Read & Everett]

.....1926 newspaper &c CC Aug 12 ill larchwood dr (o) Morton Marcus jr (a) Read Edward Sears & Everett Chas

..........garage permit 27652 24 (o) Morton Marcus jr. (b) Brooks, Skinner co

.....1930 Bromley atlas

.....1960 house altered permit 60004-5 : garage razed 24 (b) Brisson N F co

.....1997 permit altered

•27 house 2-st 1924

.....1924 house permit 25321 27 (o) Ammidon Philip R (a) Greco C.R.

.....1928 •garage permit 31145 27 (o) Ammidon Philip R (b) Guerin Israel

.....1930 Bromley atlas

•34 house 2-st 1929

.....1929 house permit 32347 fresh pond lane 34 (o) Duguid W M (b) Duguid & Martin

.....1930 Bromley atlas

..........•garage permit 32613 fresh pond lane 34 (o) Duguid W M (b) Duguid & Martin

•36 house 3-st 1882

.....181- see also 42r Fresh pond lane

.....1882 buildings deed 1592,031 brattle nwc proposed 50' st 316x1156 wMcDonald:1093' n:proposed 0'st:405' (o) Dee Sarah H. from (o) Gray John C.

..........mansion [mansard] tax new 91ThosW [w/ fresh pond ln 42r] w1 mt auburn : nr.fresh pond (o) Dee Sarah H

.....1886 Hopkins atlas

.....1903 stable 1-st permit 10029 brattle 223 [fresh pond ln 42r] (b) Power W H (o) Gearing [Gearan 1903 atlas] Mary D[ee]

.....1924 •garage permit 25598 36 (o) Briggs Walter B (b) Mulcare Thos

•37 house 2-st 1922

.....1922 house permit 22126 37 (o) Gonterman M G mrs (b) Skelton Geo.J.

.....1930 Bromley atlas

•40 house 1½-st 1926

.....1926 house permit 28439 40 (o) Schiffmacher Sadie G [a] Schiffmacher F.M.

.....1930 Bromley atlas

•43 house 2-st 1920

.....1920 house permit 20388 43 (o) Fresh Pond Parkway realty (a) Whitten R.B.

.....1930 Bromley atlas

•44 house 1-st 1928

.....1928 house permit 30680 44 (o) Smith Donald B [a] Maher Ripley & LeBoutillier

..........•garage permit 30762 44 (o) Sterritt Frederick (b) Burns D F & W G co

.....1930 Bromley atlas

.....1936 house altered permit 37526 44 (o) Deutsch Felix mrs (b) Burke & Chambers

•54 house 2-st 1919

.....1919 house permit 19536 larchwood dr [lot] 82 (o) Fresh Pond Parkway realty (a) Mass.engineering co

.....1921 •garage permit 20967 larchwood dr (o) Marvin Frank W [x 1923 dir] (b) Davis Franklin M

.....1922 house adds permit 22175 Larchwood dr 84? (o) Marvin dr (b) Cox J M

.....1930 Bromley atlas 64 (o) Walker Irving J; 1928 deed grantor index Marvin to Walker

.....1972 house ell at back extended permit 70677 54 (b) Peterson Fredk J

•57 (47) house 2-st 1923

.....1923 house permit 24495 57 (o) Reilly R G (b) Powers J.J.

.....1925 •garage permit 27162 57 (o) Mabry Alton W (b) McKenzie Forbes L

.....1930 Bromley atlas

•59 house 2-st 1923

.....1923 house permit 24496 59 (o) Reilly R G (b) Powers J.J.

.....1925 •garage permit 27005 59 (o) Pape Piedad (b) Wester John

.....1930 Bromley atlas

•60 house 2-st 1921

.....1921 house permit 21367 larchwood (o) Mercier A G (b) Gray & Gates

.....1922 •garage permit 22115 larchwood dr 60r (o) Mercer A G (b) Brooks-Skinner co

.....1930 Bromley atlas

•61 house 2-st 1924

.....1924 house permit 24517 (o) Reilly R G (b) Powers J J

.....1926 •garage permit 28549 61 (o) Smith Chas Putnam (b) Wester John

.....1930 Bromley atlas

Cambridge, MA, Larches Neighborhood: 1937 Aerial Photo

Hi All,

Margaret Loss was interested in seeing the 1937 Aerial Photo that was on the map I sent around.

I thought it might be of general interest, so here is the aerial, along with one that also shows the lot lines overlaid.

You can see that Old Dee Road didn't exist yet... it was still the plant nursery.

Also, look where the Star Market is now. That was a street car yard, if I'm not mistaken.

-- Bill

Some Beautiful Maps of the Larches Neighborhood in Cambridge, MA From 1886 to 2008

Hi All,

I found a treasure trove of old Cambridge Maps, mostly on Harvard's online map collection.

They tell an interesting story of our neighborhood.

Each map includes a link that will take you to that map at its source.

We start in 1886 With a map that shows the ice houses on Fresh Pond. Ice from Fresh Pond was actually shipped to India as part of the "Ice Trade"

See: http://www.curledup.com/frozen.htm.

http://pds.lib.harvard.edu/pds/view/6740211?action=jp2rotate&rotdir=plus&imagesize=1200&pvHeight=1200&pvWidth=1200&jp2x=0&jp2y=0&jp2Res=0.25&rotation=0&n=8&op=j&bbx1=0&bby1=0&bbx2=66&bby2=66&rotateplus.x=15&rotateplus.y=12

Most of the maps have a "graphic index" that lets you find the part of Cambridge you'd like to see. In this 1894 map, we're on Plate 30.

http://pds.lib.harvard.edu/pds/view/6153011?n=4&imagesize=1200&jp2Res=.125

Our neighborhood in 1894: You can see the nursery that is where Old Dee Road is now. The West End Rail Road is where Star Market is now.

http://pds.lib.harvard.edu/pds/view/6153011?action=jp2resize&op=j&imagesize=1200&pvHeight=2400&pvWidth=2400&n=34&rotation=0&bbx1=31&bby1=7&bbx2=99&bby2=75&jp2Res=0.25&pres=0.5&jp2x=1069&jp2y=243&large.x=10&large.y=6

Look at the road called Hawthorne. By 1902, Fresh Pond Parkway will take over that area.

http://pds.lib.harvard.edu/pds/view/6153011?n=34&imagesize=1200&jp2Res=.125

Now, in 1902, Fresh Pond Parkway is in place. But it couldn't have been made for automobiles. Rather, it must have been one of those grand avenues that would be filled with horses and carriages. And it looks like the destination truly was, well, Fresh Pond! Also, Aberdeen is now in place.

http://pds.lib.harvard.edu/pds/view/6153086?action=jp2resize&op=j&imagesize=1200&pvHeight=2400&pvWidth=2400&n=36&rotation=0&bbx1=0&bby1=0&bbx2=128&bby2=84&jp2Res=0.125&pres=0.25&jp2x=0&jp2y=0&large.x=9&large.y=9

By 1916, our neighborhood is in place, and a few houses are built. The Hunt's house is there, as is the Albrights (originally Norris, who developed the Larches)

Also, it looks like Ed and Karen Crawley's lot has a house on it. But it shows up as yellow, which means a wood structure. Givne that the current house is brick, maybe that original house is gone.

http://pds.lib.harvard.edu/pds/view/6592027?action=jp2resize&op=j&imagesize=2400&pvHeight=600&pvWidth=600&n=36&rotation=0&bbx1=0&bby1=0&bbx2=118&bby2=89&jp2Res=0.25&pres=0.0625&jp2x=-1&jp2y=-1&maximum.x=5&maximum.y=5

By 1930, most of the neighborhood is built. And yes, Ed and Karen's house is now brick.

This 1930 map isn't available online from Harvard. But this company called www.wardmaps.com has the 1930 map, and the 1916 map.

They will make reproductions, and even make mugs, bags, coasters, etc.

http://wardmaps.com/viewasset.php?aid=460

Here is a 2005 Aerial photo of the neighborhood. (Usually taken from an airplane at about 8000')

http://www.mapjunction.com/places/Open_BRA/flash/flash4.pl?save=billwarner77,1226982406

Here is the exact same area in a 1937 aerial photo. It looks like the heavily treed area just north of Huron Ave used to be part of Fresh Pond. Or was it just that the trees were thick and showed up black in this old photo?

http://www.mapjunction.com/places/Open_BRA/flash/flash4.pl?save=billwarner77,1226982506

And here's the neighborhood today, from Google Maps:

Well, that's what I was able to find online, and I think it tells an interesting visual story of our neighborhood.

I hope you've enjoyed this tour through time. Note that the Harvard site has a button to "create printable version" which makes a PDF. So you can make your own prints of any area of Cambridge using these tools.

-- Bill

Maps of the Larches from 1886 to 2008

Hi All,

I found a treasure trove of old Cambridge Maps, mostly on Harvard's online map collection.

They tell an interesting story of our neighborhood.

Each map includes a link that will take you to that map at its source.

We start in 1886 With a map that shows the ice houses on Fresh Pond. Ice from Fresh Pond was actually shipped to India as part of the "Ice Trade"

See: http://www.curledup.com/frozen.htm.

http://pds.lib.harvard.edu/pds/view/6740211?action=jp2rotate&rotdir=plus&imagesize=1200&pvHeight=1200&pvWidth=1200&jp2x=0&jp2y=0&jp2Res=0.25&rotation=0&n=8&op=j&bbx1=0&bby1=0&bbx2=66&bby2=66&rotateplus.x=15&rotateplus.y=12

Most of the maps have a "graphic index" that lets you find the part of Cambridge you'd like to see. In this 1894 map, we're on Plate 30.

http://pds.lib.harvard.edu/pds/view/6153011?n=4&imagesize=1200&jp2Res=.125

Our neighborhood in 1894: You can see the nursery that is where Old Dee Road is now. The West End Rail Road is where Star Market is now.

http://pds.lib.harvard.edu/pds/view/6153011?action=jp2resize&op=j&imagesize=1200&pvHeight=2400&pvWidth=2400&n=34&rotation=0&bbx1=31&bby1=7&bbx2=99&bby2=75&jp2Res=0.25&pres=0.5&jp2x=1069&jp2y=243&large.x=10&large.y=6

Look at the road called Hawthorne. By 1902, Fresh Pond Parkway will take over that area.

http://pds.lib.harvard.edu/pds/view/6153011?n=34&imagesize=1200&jp2Res=.125

Now, in 1902, Fresh Pond Parkway is in place. But it couldn't have been made for automobiles. Rather, it must have been one of those grand avenues that would be filled with horses and carriages. And it looks like the destination truly was, well, Fresh Pond! Also, Aberdeen is now in place.

http://pds.lib.harvard.edu/pds/view/6153086?action=jp2resize&op=j&imagesize=1200&pvHeight=2400&pvWidth=2400&n=36&rotation=0&bbx1=0&bby1=0&bbx2=128&bby2=84&jp2Res=0.125&pres=0.25&jp2x=0&jp2y=0&large.x=9&large.y=9

By 1916, our neighborhood is in place, and a few houses are built. The Hunt's house is there, as is the Albrights (originally Norris, who developed the Larches)

Also, it looks like Ed and Karen Crawley's lot has a house on it. But it shows up as yellow, which means a wood structure. Givne that the current house is brick, maybe that original house is gone.

http://pds.lib.harvard.edu/pds/view/6592027?action=jp2resize&op=j&imagesize=2400&pvHeight=600&pvWidth=600&n=36&rotation=0&bbx1=0&bby1=0&bbx2=118&bby2=89&jp2Res=0.25&pres=0.0625&jp2x=-1&jp2y=-1&maximum.x=5&maximum.y=5

By 1930, most of the neighborhood is built. And yes, Ed and Karen's house is now brick.

This 1930 map isn't available online from Harvard. But this company called www.wardmaps.com has the 1930 map, and the 1916 map.

They will make reproductions, and even make mugs, bags, coasters, etc.

http://wardmaps.com/viewasset.php?aid=460

Here is a 2005 Aerial photo of the neighborhood. (Usually taken from an airplane at about 8000')

http://www.mapjunction.com/places/Open_BRA/flash/flash4.pl?save=billwarner77,1226982406

Here is the exact same area in a 1937 aerial photo. It looks like the heavily treed area just north of Huron Ave used to be part of Fresh Pond. Or was it just that the trees were thick and showed up black in this old photo?

http://www.mapjunction.com/places/Open_BRA/flash/flash4.pl?save=billwarner77,1226982506

And here's the neighborhood today, from Google Maps:

Well, that's what I was able to find online, and I think it tells an interesting visual story of our neighborhood.

I hope you've enjoyed this tour through time. Note that the Harvard site has a button to "create printable version" which makes a PDF. So you can make your own prints of any area of Cambridge using these tools.

-- Bill

Maps of the Larches from 1886 to 2008

RESEND: Without 21MB of image attachments! Sorry if the one with all the pictures clogged up your email! I got carried away and didn't realize I had loaded up so many big images.

Your email server may have rejected the earlier, bigger message. But if you click on the links you'll see the maps.

-- Bill

EARLIER MESSAGE WITHOUT THE MAP IMAGES (You can still see the maps by clicking on the links)

Hi All,

I found a treasure trove of old Cambridge Maps, mostly on Harvard's online map collection.

They tell an interesting story of our neighborhood.

Each map includes a link that will take you to that map at its source.

We start in 1886 With a map that shows the ice houses on Fresh Pond. Ice from Fresh Pond was actually shipped to India as part of the "Ice Trade"

See: http://www.curledup.com/frozen.htm.

http://pds.lib.harvard.edu/pds/view/6740211?action=jp2rotate&rotdir=plus&imagesize=1200&pvHeight=1200&pvWidth=1200&jp2x=0&jp2y=0&jp2Res=0.25&rotation=0&n=8&op=j&bbx1=0&bby1=0&bbx2=66&bby2=66&rotateplus.x=15&rotateplus.y=12

Most of the maps have a "graphic index" that lets you find the part of Cambridge you'd like to see. In this 1894 map, we're on Plate 30.

http://pds.lib.harvard.edu/pds/view/6153011?n=4&imagesize=1200&jp2Res=.125

Our neighborhood in 1894: You can see the nursery that is where Old Dee Road is now. The West End Rail Road is where Star Market is now.

http://pds.lib.harvard.edu/pds/view/6153011?action=jp2resize&op=j&imagesize=1200&pvHeight=2400&pvWidth=2400&n=34&rotation=0&bbx1=31&bby1=7&bbx2=99&bby2=75&jp2Res=0.25&pres=0.5&jp2x=1069&jp2y=243&large.x=10&large.y=6

Look at the road called Hawthorne. By 1902, Fresh Pond Parkway will take over that area.

http://pds.lib.harvard.edu/pds/view/6153011?n=34&imagesize=1200&jp2Res=.125

Now, in 1902, Fresh Pond Parkway is in place. But it couldn't have been made for automobiles. Rather, it must have been one of those grand avenues that would be filled with horses and carriages. And it looks like the destination truly was, well, Fresh Pond! Also, Aberdeen is now in place.

http://pds.lib.harvard.edu/pds/view/6153086?action=jp2resize&op=j&imagesize=1200&pvHeight=2400&pvWidth=2400&n=36&rotation=0&bbx1=0&bby1=0&bbx2=128&bby2=84&jp2Res=0.125&pres=0.25&jp2x=0&jp2y=0&large.x=9&large.y=9

By 1916, our neighborhood is in place, and a few houses are built. The Hunt's house is there, as is the Albrights (originally Norris, who developed the Larches)

Also, it looks like Ed and Karen Crawley's lot has a house on it. But it shows up as yellow, which means a wood structure. Givne that the current house is brick, maybe that original house is gone.

http://pds.lib.harvard.edu/pds/view/6592027?action=jp2resize&op=j&imagesize=2400&pvHeight=600&pvWidth=600&n=36&rotation=0&bbx1=0&bby1=0&bbx2=118&bby2=89&jp2Res=0.25&pres=0.0625&jp2x=-1&jp2y=-1&maximum.x=5&maximum.y=5

By 1930, most of the neighborhood is built. And yes, Ed and Karen's house is now brick.

This 1930 map isn't available online from Harvard. But this company called www.wardmaps.com has the 1930 map, and the 1916 map.

They will make reproductions, and even make mugs, bags, coasters, etc.

http://wardmaps.com/viewasset.php?aid=460

Here is a 2005 Aerial photo of the neighborhood. (Usually taken from an airplane at about 8000')

http://www.mapjunction.com/places/Open_BRA/flash/flash4.pl?save=billwarner77,1226982406

Here is the exact same area in a 1937 aerial photo. It looks like the heavily treed area just north of Huron Ave used to be part of Fresh Pond. Or was it just that the trees were thick and showed up black in this old photo?

http://www.mapjunction.com/places/Open_BRA/flash/flash4.pl?save=billwarner77,1226982506

And here's the neighborhood today, from Google Maps:

Well, that's what I was able to find online, and I think it tells an interesting visual story of our neighborhood.

I hope you've enjoyed this tour through time. Note that the Harvard site has a button to "create printable version" which makes a PDF. So you can make your own prints of any area of Cambridge using these tools.

-- Bill

Alexander Graham Bell Used to be Our Neighbor

Hi All,

While looking around the Internet, I found some nice links to Cambridge maps, including maps of our neighborhood. (next message)

When I started Wildfire, which was in the phone technology business, I got interested in the story of Alexander Graham Bell. Well, it turns out he was a neighbor. (sort of) Before he began his telephone experiments, he was a tutor to the deaf. He tutored the 16-year-old deaf daughter of Gardiner Hubbard, who was a wealthy businessman from Cambridge.

The 1894 map below shows the size of the Hubbard estate. I see 15 homes owned by him in the area between Lowell and Sparks Streets.

Bell fell in love with Mabel, and even though he was 27 at the time, he pursued her and eventually married her. Before and during the courtship, Hubbard became Bell's backer in research to create a "multiple telegraph" which would use frequencies to allow a single telegraph line to carry multiple telegraph signals. Bell failed at the multiple telegraph, but managed instead to invent and patent the telephone. (Edison actually perfected the multiple telegraph, and he also invented the carbon microphone which was what eventually made the telephone practical.)

Bell's lab was in Boston, just a block from City Hall at 109 Court Street (no longer there). But when you travel down Brattle Street, you can imagine a young, love-struck Bell visiting his in-laws-to-be at their estate in Cambridge.

Hubbard went on to found New England Telephone, and he also founded the National Geographic Society. In phone circles, there's talk that "Ma Bell" got its name because of Bell's wife, Mabel.

http://pds.lib.harvard.edu/pds/view/6153011?n=24&imagesize=2400&jp2Res=0.25

Here is the current map overlaid on 1894. You can see why Hubbard Park Road got its name. It went right through the estate. Hubbard died in the 1890s, and Mabel died in 1923. The area was re-developed by the 1930's

By 1930, the traces of the Hubbards seem to be gone.

http://wardmaps.com/viewasset.php?aid=451

Bill Warner’s Blog

Thoughts on the Boston scene: Technology, Angel Investing, History, Videos and Photography

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Maps of the Larches from 1886 to 2008

Maps of the Larches from 1886 to 2008

Alexander Graham Bell Used to be Our Neighbor