Industrial School for Girls Study Report
On October 23, 2023, the Boston Landmarks Commission posted a study report on the proposed designation of the Industrial School for Girls as a Landmark under Chapter 772 of the Acts of 1975, as amended.
The Industrial School for Girls (built 1858-1859) is an early, rare, and important representation of the industrial school movement in Boston, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and perhaps in New England. The property is associated with the progressive reform movements of the 19th and early 20th centuries, which sought to address the inequities of industrialization, immigration, and urbanization through new models of education. It also vibrantly represents cultural ideals of middle-class domesticity and women’s roles in American society. In addition, the Industrial School for Girls is significant as an early example of 19th-century institutional architecture in the New England region. It is distinctive for its semi-rural, romantic character applied to mediate a distinctly urban social problem. The handsome design is notable for its clarity and simplicity. Its domestic scale and surviving historic setting are rare in buildings of this type. The building was designed by architect George Snell, whose work and practice were influential in the region during the second half of the 19th century.
Read the Industrial School for Girls Study Report
The study report and designation was affirmatively voted at a public hearing on November 28, 2023.
