This little lane was created in 1872 out of land from the Greenough estate. Most likely it started out being simply an entrance drive for 1 Greenough Place which was here by 1856.
1 and 2 Greenough Place
This house was built in 2 stages; the first part dates from 1856.That date makes it one of the oldest houses in Sumner Hill. It’s #2, the half toward the street with the porch entrance. The other half dates from 1884 (it’s #1). #2 is built in a plain style with a lack of decorative details. However, #1 is in the Queen Anne style (which was most popular in the 1880s) and which we’ve already discussed. This building gives us an idea of the changes in Jamaica Plain (and Boston) over the course of 30 years. Rather than plain houses, people could afford to build in the popular Victorian styles of the era.
5 Greenough Place
This house was built in 1893 for Nathan Stone. It’s another Queen Anne: asymmetrical, clapboard on the first story, shingles on upper levels and projecting gables. Note the saw-tooth motif on the bottom row of shingles at several levels, which add to the decorative enhancement.
Many of the houses on this lane were the rental property of David Keazer at one point. Mr. Keazer was a greengrocer who ran his shop on the corner of Burroughs and Centre Street (where Sweet Rice is today). Now we will walk around onto Alveston Street to look at his house.