Cornelius Coolidge

Cornelius Coolidge (1778–1843) was a real estate developer in early 19th-century Boston, Massachusetts, who constructed buildings in Boston's Beacon Hill neighborhood, and elsewhere. Described variously as an architect, housewright, builder, designer, and real estate broker, Harvard-educated Coolidge brought many buildings into being. Clients of Coolidge & Co. included some of Boston's more prominent residents, such as David Sears and Charles Francis Adams.^[1] He conducted business with John Hubbard,^[2] Joseph Morton (brother of Perez Morton)^[3] and others. He was also a proprietor of the Boston Mill Corporation.^[4]

Parkman house, 33 Beacon St. (in middle), Boston; 1968 photo

Around 1825, Coolidge and Nathaniel Amory began developing property in Nahant, Massachusetts, for construction of summer homes. The first homes sold in 1827.^[5] Clients included David Sears and others. On Beacon Hill, Coolidge built houses on Chestnut, Mount Vernon, Acorn, Joy and Beacon Streets, including Louisburg Square.^[6] Several remain in existence, including:

• 33 Beacon Street (George Parkman house), 1825.^[7][8]
• 50 Chestnut Street (Francis Parkman house), 1830s.^[7]

Coolidge led an active social life. He was one of the first subscribers the Boston Athenaeum.^[9] He attended the gala opening dinner party for the newly built Tremont House hotel on October 16, 1829, along with mayor Josiah Quincy, Daniel Webster, Edward Everett, Harrison Gray Otis, and others.^[10]

References

1. ^ Diary of Charles Francis Adams. Harvard University Press, 1986.
2. ^ Library of Congress. HABS-MA
3. ^ Dorchester Atheneum. Sarah Wentworth Apthorp Morton, 1759-1846
4. ^ Boston Athenaeum. Boston Mill Corp. certificate
5. ^ Rebecca M. Rogers. Resort architecture at Nahant, 1815-1850. Old-Time New England, v.65-2, 1974; p.12-31.
6. ^ Allen Chamberlain. Beacon Hill, Its Ancient Pastures and Early Mansions, Boston: Houghton Miffin Co., 1925.
7. ^ ^{a b} Susan Southworth (2008), AIA guide to Boston, Guilford, Conn: Globe Pequot, http://openlibrary.org/books/OL22549621M/AIA_guide_to_Boston 
8. ^ Northeastern Alumni Magazine Our Flag over the Common
9. ^ Josiah Quincy. The history of the Boston Athenæum: with biographical notices of its deceased founders. Metcalf and Company, 1851.
10. ^ The first lithograph menu ever used; Dinner in the New Tremont House, Oct 16, 1829, Marked Opening of the High-Class Hotel in America. Boston Daily Globe. Dec 20, 1914. p.SM14.

Further reading

• Original Bank Circular, 1809. In: Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Vol. 11, 1870; p. 306-308.
• Andrew Preston Peabody. A sermon preached in commemoration of the founders of the Nahant Church: at the dedication of a tablet erected to their memory, July 22, 1877. Press of John Wilson and Son, 1877.
• Bernstein, Allen. Cornelius Coolidge, architect of Beacon Hill row houses, 1810-1840. Old-Time New England. October 1948. Vol.39; p. 45-6.

Persondata
Name	Coolidge, Cornelius
Alternative names
Short description	American real estate developer
Date of birth	1778
Place of birth
Date of death	1843
Place of death