Building at 138-142 Portland Street (also 85 Merrimac Street) - Boston, MA
Posted by: 
NorStar
N 42° 21.807 W 071° 03.689
19T E 330244 N 4692189
This building on the edge of the Bulfinch Triangle is a late addition to a previous era of manufacturing and other commerce surrounding old North Station.
Waymark Code: WMCCEN
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 08/21/2011
Views: 6
In Boston, on the edge of an area known as the Bulfinch Triangle, is a building that is known by its addresses of either 138--142 Portland Street or 85 Merrimac Street.
The building is bounded by Merrimac St, Valenti Way, and Portland St. It is a five story brick building. There are several details in the architecture that make the building pleasing to look at. There are pilasters from the second to the fourth floors. The corner at Merrimac and Valenti is rounded, including the windows and the port window on the top floor.
I could not find much about the building itself. It is later than other buildings designed by Charles Bulfinch, who had originally designed the area, starting in the 1830s. When the millpond was filled in, new land was available to develop. The Boston and Lowell Railroad was built around 1835 and had its northern terminal at the present day TD Garden/North Station. Soon, buildings sprouted up around the station that provided manufacturing, ironworks, carpentry, and blacksmith operations. According to a web site about the building, it was built in 1896 by Stephen Codman, architect. Currently, it is an office and commercial property; one office includes the Massachusetts Republican Party.
Other Sources:
Massachusetts GOP:
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visit link)
BulfinchTriangle.com (History):
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visit link)