Gaslights in Jamaica Plain

Gaslights once lined most of the streets in Jamaica Plain. Originally, lamplighters went around to light them each night and then extinguish them in the morning. Later, gaslights became automated and the lamplighters were charged with maintaining all the lamps on their assigned routes - as explained in this article: The Old Lamplighter.

Meehan Place gaslight (Feb 2021)

In Jamaica Plain in 2021, we have just a few of these sentinels of the past left:

Burroughs Street - 3 lights can be found on Burroughs:

One is at the intersection with the Jamaicaway.

One is at Regent Circle

One’s whereabouts is not known (possibly Agassiz Park?)

31 Jamaica Street

2 Paul Gore Terrace

Meehan Place (this street runs off of Green Street)

10 Union Avenue (rear)

Forest Hills Street - 2 lights can be found on Forest Hills St:

Two different types at #327 (the Pole Yard)

165 Allandale Street (two here!)

90 Allandale Street

Thanks to long-term JPHS member and supporter Sarah Freeman for finding this list of gaslights and sharing it. She provided this image of a stack of several lights the City left behind at 500 Arborway.

Lights being stored at the Arborway Yard in January 2021