May 23, 2015 Preservation Month Celebrated with Tour of Roslindale Substation
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Bryan Reeves of Craft Beer Cellar and Chris Douglass
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Boston Landmarks
Commission Executive
Director Roseanne Foley
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National Historic Preservation Month is an annual celebration designed to raise awareness about the power historic preservation has to protect and enhance our historic communities. Preservation Month was established by the National Trust for Historic Preservationand is organized locally by the Boston Landmarks Commission. This year, Historic Boston along with our partners Peregrine Group LLC and Roslindale Village Main Streets, was happy to participate in Preservation Month by hosting a tour of the Roslindale Substation, which will begin construction in June. About 50 visitors stopped by the Substation to see inside of the building and learn about its history, planning process for its rehabilitation, and future uses.
The Roslindale Substation was built in 1911 for the Boston Elevated Railway Company as an electrical power conversion and transmission station. Designed in the Neo-Classical Revival style by Stone and Webster Engineering Company and architect RobertS. Peabody, the Substation converted alternating electric current (AC) transmitted from a South Boston Power Station via underground cables into direct current (DC) for use by local trolley cars. Revolutionary technology for the day, this system generated and distributed power at lower costs.
After sitting vacant for over 40 years, the rehabilitation of the Roslindale Substation is expected to take about a year to complete and will house a destination restaurant by Chef Chris Douglass, who owns Tavolo and the Ashmont Grill, on the main floor and Craft Beer Cellar, a retail beer store dedicated to promoting American craft beers, on the lower level. Craft Beer Cellar is anticipated to open in the fall, while the restaurant will open next spring.
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Former RVMS board member Steve Gag and current board president Jennifer Madar
talk with HBI?s Jeff Morgan and a guest