The People
Between 1859 and 1954, three generations of Gibson family members and dozens of servants lived and worked at 137 Beacon Street. In many ways, their experiences are typical of individuals of their particular gender and social class. And yet, their unique stories allow us to explore this period of Boston’s history through a distinctly personal lens.
Click below to learn more about who lived at 137 Beacon.
The People
Between 1859 and 1954, three generations of Gibson family members and dozens of servants lived and worked at 137 Beacon Street. In many ways, their experiences are typical of individuals of their particular gender and social class. And yet, their unique stories allow us to explore this period of Boston’s history through a distinctly personal lens.
Click below to learn more about who lived at 137 Beacon.
Fifth Floor
The fifth floor was where the female servants slept. In 1880, six women shared the four small bedrooms. Only two of the rooms had fireplaces, so they were likely allocated based on seniority and position in the household. The male servant slept on the ground floor, as it would have been inappropriate for unmarried women and men to bunk too near to each other.
A large skylight in the roof makes the fifth-floor hallway the brightest space in the house. The ladies’ maids would have made use of this feature and conducted their sewing and mending here. Family lore also has it that the Gibson children kept their dollhouse on the fifth floor, where they would have been able to play in the sunlight.
