"Scollay Under" Mosiac | 24" Metal Sign

We are more than a bit obsessed with Boston's West End and the tragedy of its comprehensive destruction during urban renewal madness in the 1960s. Scollay Square was the most legendary (some would say "notorious") from this vibrant, diverse section of the city with its bars, restaurants, tattoo shops, entertainment halls, burlesque, and thoroughfares packed with people and streetcars.

Discovered in one of the original subway tunnels, the “Scollay Under” mosaic was not only reflective of Boston's pioneering transit system, but it is also one of the very few surviving artifacts from the original Scollay Sq. station and the neighborhood’s past.

To pay homage to this incredible mosaic - we designed a striking metal rendition. Its dimensions are 24"L x 6"H and perfect for loyal Bostonians.

A few notes on the West End, Urban Renewal and Demolition.
In the early 1960s, Boston undertook a massive urban renewal project that demolished Scollay Square entirely. More than 1,000 buildings were removed and roughly 20,000 residents displaced to make way for the new Government Center complex. After this horror of a demolition, and reconfiguration of the existing streets, almost all physical traces of the neighborhood disappeared.

If you would like to learn more - I HIGHLY recommend visiting the incredible work of the crew at The West End Museum (WEM) - from which, the above postcard was sourced.