Gaining Ground: A History of Landmaking in Boston - Brief Article - Book Review

Science News, Nov 1, 2003

NANCY S. SEASHOLES

Remarkably, nearly one-sixth of Boston is built on filled-in rivers and swamps. Seasholes speculates that these 5,250-plus acres of fill are more than may be found in any other North American city. The process of building seawalls and filling tidal flats began in the 1630s in an effort to straighten out the shoreline of what became known as the Town Dock. The burgeoning China trade and an influx of Irish immigrants in the mid-19th century spurred the process. In this copiously illustrated volume, Seasholes reveals the history of land making in Boston. She traces this process geographically from each area's first permanent settlements to the present day, defining where, when, why, by whom, and with what Boston land was created. Humanmade areas include Beacon Hill, Dorchester, South Boston, Back Bay, and Charlestown. Maps show the original shoreline in relation to today's streets and track the progress of land making over time. One chapter is devoted to the technology of landmaking. MIT Pr, 2003, 532 p, b&w photos/illus., hard-cover, $4 9.95.