Today’s vintage illustration is from Picturesque Boston Highlands, Jamaica Plain and Dorchester. (1895). The color photograph is from 2003.
In 1883, Arthur Horace Littlefield and Warren Herbert. Littlefield went into business together as grocers in the building at 2286 Dorchester Avenue, also known as 1213-1215 Adams Street, Dorchester, Lower Mills. They were born to Horace and Eliza Littlefield , Arthur in 1857 and Warren in 1859. The family lived at 68 River Street, approximately where the Sunoco station is now at the corner of River Street and Central Avenue.
Arthur had been a tin smith, and Warren had started as a clerk in a in the grocery store of Joseph E. Hall. Hall took an interest in Warrren and sold him the business in 1883. Arthur and Warren went into business and operated as the Littlefield Brothers in the first floor of the building pictured in today’s illustration.
Arthur married and had two daughters and a son. They moved to 1120 Washington Street, Dorchester, where they were tenants. Warren also married and had two daughters and a son in the same order as his brother. Warren and his family moved to Eliot Street in Milton.
The business seems to have provided a living for the brothers, although Warren must have left the business and come back, because The Dorchester Beacon reported in 1901 that the Littlefield Brothers were making “extensive improvements in their grocery store. Warren H. Littlefield has again become a member of the firm.”
Arthur died in July 1904 at the age of 47. Warren bought out Arthur’s interest in the business. He moved his family into 1120 Washington Street, where Arthur’s wife and children were living. But it turns out that Warren had been speculating in the stock market. Warren disappeared in September 28, 1905, and at that time, it was thought that his debts totaled about $40,000. Warren had been a member of the school committee of Milton and was treasurer of the Frist Methodist Church in Dorchester. An examination showed that the church’s accounts had not been misappropriated.
In October, Warren’s creditors attached the profits of the grocery and forced Warren into bankruptcy. In October, it was thought that his debts amounted to between $50,000 and $75,000. There is no documentation to suggest that Warren ever returned to Dorchester. His wife and children also disappeared from public records at that time. Arthur’s widow Lottie and her children continued as tenants in the house at 1120 Washington Street.