The Abbott: A rooming house and its inhabitants in Boston's back bay in 1901

On the first day of spring in 1901, the gremlin of winter refused to release its grip on the peninsula of Boston, holding on despite the blooming crocus and the burgeoning buds on the dogwood trees.

A high wind off the harbor was sprinkled with ice crystals and smelled that strange tangy, salty - smell of the sea. In the harbor, sails of the schooners snapped at their lines, trying to break free and race with the wind. That same wind was blowing seagulls, wheeling and screaming up the Charles River.

Evening still came early, the 20th of March. The sun had already begun its descent, and shadows were stretching across St. James Street when Robert Henderson closed the office of his insurance company, 'Henderson & Son,’ and walked up the back stairs to his lodgings on the second floor.

That evening, a group of the town's young businessmen held a round-table discussion. They beckoned to Rob, owner of his own insurance company, to join them. Between the soup and th meat course, the men bandied about ideas for new business opportunities.

One of Rob's college friends mentioned an old hotel on Boylston Street that had been converted into a rooming house. “It’s called The Abbott, and it needs some repairs and a face-lift”, Simon Maxwell said. “It's situated between the new public library in Copley Square and the newly designed Fens, and he emphasized the 'and’ “it is in an up-and-comingneighborhood near colleges, hospitals and businesses. Think of the professional clientele who would love a nice, rooming house. It even has a backyard!”

Soon the talk went on to other matters, but Rob could not get the thought of a rooming house, for an investment, out of his mind. “I need a hobby,” he said to himself. “Something new to do.

The insurance office practically runs itself and I could let my man, Bruce, do the door-to-door.” The thought intrigued him all evening. After riding Dasher back to his stable, Rob went home and went over his finances.