The History of Back Bay's 103 Beacon Street

In case you didn’t know, the first block of Beacon in Back Bay (100-147, between Arlington and Berkeley) is my favorite.  Well actually, the A-B blocks of any street in Back Bay are my favorite blocks.  But for this post, we’re sticking to Beacon.  First off, it’s one of the oldest blocks.  It’s where the fill-in began, and slowly worked its way to Kenmore.

This section of Beacon is particularly nice for many reasons.  Right around the corner is the Public Garden.  Just cross the street, and you’re at the Arthur Fiedler bridge leading you to the Esplanade.  Walk fewer than 1,000 feet south and you’re at the Commonwealth Avenue Mall.  The accessibility to green space alone should be enough to make you want to live here!

Like many homes in the Back Bay, 103 Beacon was originally constructed as a single family home.  The home was commissioned by Samuel Tilton and his wife Helen Tilton around 1862.  The Tiltons only lived in the home for 5 or so years before moving out.

They retained ownership and leased the home to Theron J. Dale and his brother, who were textile manufacturers and dry goods dealers.  They lived in 103 Beacon unto 1872, when the Tiltons move back in to the home.  However, the Tiltons shared the home with Joseph Lover, his wife Mary and his brother Charles.  That seems like an odd arrangement, but wasn’t too out of the ordinary for the time.  

In 1877, the Tiltons moved to Paris, transferring the property to Joseph Churchill as trustee for his wife, Helen.  Joseph managed the property in their absence, leasing it to a variety of people.  It seems he rented out as a seasonal home, later turning into more of a boarding house.  The first tenants were Gilman Bradford Dubois, his wife, Ellen and their Son Loren who lived at 103 during the winter of 1876-77.

For the next winter, 1877-78, Percival Lowell Everett and his three children moved in.  Percival had worked in international trade, and founded the Third National Bank of Boston.  Interesting side note, the Third National Bank of Boston was founded in 1864, just after the National Banking Act of 1863.  At the time, banks were chartered and The Third National Bank was charter number 359.  Between 1864 and 1901, it printed $5,272,840 dollars, some of which you can still find today.  Percival and his children lived in the home until 1880.

Subsequently, the home was rented to Henry Martyn Clarke and his wife, Jane, who leased it until 1886.  They also maintained homes in Belmont and Pepperell.  The Tilton’s returned to 103 Beacon in 1886-87 and lived there until 1893 when Mary Tappen leased the property.

In 1900, the home is rented out to Ellen Estes.  Interestingly enough, Helen Tilton moved back into the home at the same time, where she died the following year.  The Tilton’s daughter Grace  and her husband inherited the home.  They did not live there, and it was run as a boarding house.

One notable boarder was Samuel Hooper Hooper, and not just because of his name.  Samuel Hooper Hooper was a society man, and eventually founded The Tennis and Racquet Club at 925 Boylston St.  (Are you a member?  Maybe I’ll see you there!) He actually moved into the T&R in 1905.

In 1916, Grace gave the property to her daughter, Gertrude and her husband.  They eventually moved into the home in 1918-19.  After a year or so, they moved to New York City and the property became a boarding house again.

Gertrude sold the property in 1925 to a couple from Chestnut street, who very soon after divorced and sold the property to Marie Elise Bordeau.  Marie owned several properties that operated as lodging houses, including 495-497 Beacon and 119 Beacon.

The home was sold in 1947 to Edith Kurciviez, who continued to use the property as a lodging house.  She was given permission in 1951 to legally designate the property as a lodging home.

103 Beacon switched hands two more times, until 1977 when Keevin Geller and John Wise purchased the building and turned it into seven condominiums.  In 1982, the owner of the top floor unit raised the roof by two feet.  In 1986-87, units six and seven were combined.

And that brings us to where we are today.  If those walls could talk!  Thank you to BackBayHouses.org for being such a great resource, and to the Boston Athenaeum for preserving neighborhood photos for out continued enjoyment!

If you have any questions about real estate or any article on my site, reach out!  You can call or text me at 617 528 8461, or email me at willy.charleton@nemoves.com.