Harvard Square Subway Kiosk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Harvard Square Subway Kiosk
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The kiosk occupied by Out of Town News in 2017
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 Location in Massachusetts
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| Location | 0 Harvard Square Cambridge, Massachusetts |
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| Area | Interior: ~500 square feet (46 m2) Roof: ~1,350 square feet (125 m2) |
| Built | November 1927–January 1928 |
| Architect | Blackall, Clapp & Whittemore |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000441 |
| Added to NRHP | January 30, 1978 |
The Harvard Square Subway Kiosk is a special building in Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It's a historic landmark! It was built in 1928. Its first job was to be the main entrance for the Harvard Square subway station.
In 1981, the subway station closed for big updates. The kiosk was then moved a little bit and fixed up. From 1984 to 2019, a famous newsstand called Out of Town News was inside the kiosk. The City of Cambridge owns the kiosk now. They plan to turn it into a public space for everyone to enjoy.
Contents
History of the Kiosk
Building the Subway Entrance
Around 1906, people decided to build a subway line in Cambridge. It would go from Boston to Harvard Square. Work on the subway started in May 1909. The Cambridge subway opened in March 1912. It went from Harvard Square to Park Street Under.
The first plan was to build a tall stone entrance building in the middle of Harvard Square. This first building was oval-shaped and made of brick and stone. It was about 40 by 60 feet in size. There were also smaller entrances around the Square.
Why the First Entrance Changed
People liked the first subway entrance at first. But by 1919, some started to complain. It was so big that drivers couldn't see other cars coming. Also, there wasn't enough room for people to wait for streetcars.
In 1921, the state decided it was too hard to replace the main building completely. But they said Cambridge could build a smaller one. The state or the railway company wouldn't pay for it, though.
In 1925, a professor named Charles B. Breed studied the building. He thought it could be made 80% smaller. This would cost about $20,000. His idea was for a small building covering just one escalator and one set of stairs. The other stairs would be covered and used only when many people were there.
Designing the New Kiosk
The public didn't like Professor Breed's simple design. Some even said it looked like an outhouse! So, in November 1925, an architect named Clarence H. Blackall started helping. His design was approved in February 1927.
Construction began in November 1927 and finished in January 1928. The new building was much smaller. It was about 15.5 by 36 feet. It had steel pillars covered in limestone and brick. These materials were saved from the old building.
The new kiosk had low walls on three sides. It also had special wire glass above the walls. This glass let drivers see through the building. The roof was made of thin copper. People liked the "artistic appearance" of the new kiosk much more than the old one.
Later, "HARVARD SQUARE" signs were added inside the arches. In the 1940s, signs on the roof said "Rapid Transit to All Points/Eight Minutes to Park Street." The city thought about moving the kiosk again in 1944. But it would have cost $1 million, which was too much.
By the 1960s, the kiosk became a symbol of Harvard Square. An architecture critic even called it "probably the most important space in Harvard."
Protecting the Kiosk
In 1967, the subway line became the Red Line. The MBTA (the transit authority) planned to extend the Red Line. This meant big changes for Harvard Square station. In 1977, the Cambridge Historical Commission suggested the kiosk be added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). This would help protect it. It was added to the NRHP on January 30, 1978.
In 1977, the MBTA agreed to save the kiosk. They would take it apart during construction. Then, they would put it back together to be used as a newsstand. Harvard station closed for rebuilding in January 1981. The kiosk was taken apart in February. Its copper roof, bricks, and limestone were put into storage. In 1983, the City of Cambridge took ownership of the kiosk parts.
Out of Town News: A Famous Newsstand
Out of Town News was started in 1955 by Sheldon Cohen. He was known as the "unofficial mayor of Harvard Square." The newsstand was first located next to the subway entrance. It was famous for selling newspapers and magazines from all over the country and the world. Many were flown to Boston to be available just one day after printing! People, especially professors, came to get their hometown papers or news from important places.
Many famous people visited the newsstand. John Kenneth Galbraith and Julia Child were regular customers. The poet Robert Frost once asked for directions there. Also, Paul Allen, who later helped start Microsoft, bought a magazine there. It was the January 1975 issue of Popular Electronics. That magazine inspired Allen and his friend Bill Gates to start Microsoft in April of that year!
In 1984, Out of Town News moved into the old subway kiosk building. The kiosk had been moved a few feet north in June. In 1994, Sheldon Cohen sold the newsstand to Hudson News. But it kept its famous name and unique way of doing business.
Changes and Closure
Around 2008, people worried that the newsstand might close. This was because people could now read news online. So, its special job of selling yesterday's papers wasn't as needed. Also, the building needed a lot of expensive repairs. In 2009, a new owner, Muckey's Corporation, took over. They started selling more typical magazines and snacks. But they kept the original name.
In 2013, the city began looking at how to use and fix up Harvard Square, including the kiosk. The lease for Out of Town News ended in 2016. The city wanted to turn the kiosk into a public space with glass walls. Even though the newsstand offered to help with repairs, the city decided to go ahead with its plan.
In September 2016, a group of citizens asked the Cambridge Historical Commission to make the kiosk a protected landmark again. This would stop the big renovation plans. In November 2016, the Commission agreed to study making it a landmark.
Out of Town News finally closed on October 31, 2019. For now, temporary artwork will be placed inside the kiosk. The city plans to start renovating the building in early 2020.
