Louisburg Square

Louisburg Square is a private square located in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts that is maintained by the Louisburg Square Proprietors. While the Proprietors pay taxes to the City of Boston, the city does not own the square or its garden. It was named for the 1745 Battle of Louisbourg, in which Massachusetts militiamen led by William Pepperrell, who was made the first American baronet for his role, sacked the French Fortress of Louisbourg.

Houses on Louisburg Square, Beacon Hill

Description

The square itself is a small grassy oval surrounded by a wrought-iron fence; access is generally not available. There is a statue of Christopher Columbus at the north end and of Aristides the Just at the south end.[1]

History and residents

The Greek Revival houses around the square reflect the rarefied privilege enjoyed by the 19th century upper class in Beacon Hill. One of the last private residences built on Louisburg Square was 2 Louisburg Square, built in 1847 for wealthy merchant and philanthropist Thomas Handasyd Perkins Jr., known as "Short-Arm Tom", who lived at 1 Joy Street. Among the famous people who lived there in the 19th Century were Atlantic Monthly editor William Dean Howells, architect Charles Bulfinch, painter John Singleton Copley, and teacher A. Bronson Alcott and his daughter, author Louisa May Alcott (who died there).[1] Jenny Lind was married in the parlor of a house on Louisburg Square.[1]

As of 2014, it is one of the most expensive residential neighborhoods in the USA; townhouses on Louisburg Square sold for $11.5 million in 2011[2] and $11 million in 2012,[3] for instance. The square is often included in walking tours and guidebooks. Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry owns a townhouse on Louisburg Square.[4] As of December 2019, 17 Louisburg Square is listed for sale at $20 million.

  • c. 1880s
  • c. 1930
  • c. 1930
  • 2009
  • 2013

References
  1. "Louisburg Square Review". Boston Sights. Fodor's Travel. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  2. "20 Louisburg Sq, Boston, MA 02108". Zillow. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  3. Tom Acitelli (April 17, 2012). "$11M for 3 Louisburg Square: Boston's 2nd-Biggest Deal of '12". Curbed Boston. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  4. "Boston's Modern Must-Sees". The Boston Globe. Boston Visitor's Guide. Retrieved January 5, 2014.

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