Dorchester Illustration 2559 Gilbert Stuart School

The Gilbert Stuart School stood approximately where the Lower Mills branch of the Boston Public Library is located today.

The Gilbert Stuart School was opened in 1896 and closed in 1975.

The Boston Globe, July 4, 1896

“New Schoolhouse on Richmond St., Dorchester, Will be Called the Gilbert Stuart School

At the last meeting of the school board, Mr. Dunn, for the committee on schoolhouses, reported favorably on the name of Gilbert Stuart for the new school on Richmond St., Dorchester.  From Frank T. Robinson, secretary of the Gilbert Stuart Fund Association, was received a communication asking that the name of Stuart be adopted and stating that appropriate pictures would be presented to the school.

This brings to notice the name of our greatest portrait painter, the author of the well known likenesses of George Washington and his wife, beside a long list of our Revolutionary army and navy heroes.

Stuart lived for 20 years in Boston and his remains lie in the central burying ground, Boston Common.  He was born at Narragansett, R.I., in 1755 and died July 10, 1828.”

Also in July 1896, the School Committee extended thanks to the Stuart Fund Association for its gift of portraits of Gilbert Stuart and also Stuart’s portraits of George and Martha Washington for the Gilbert Stuart School.

At the left of the photograph, there is a small building at the corner of Dorchester Avenue and Richmont Street with a sign: W. A. Chamberlain, Carpenter & Builder.  William A. Chamberlain lived at 121 River Street.

This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged , , , . Bookmark the permalink.