From The Archives: How Boston Deals With The Heat

July 31, 2015

Abby Elizabeth Conway

Boys and girls in Boston Common fountain, 1934-1956 (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection.)

While working on a post about extended hours at state beaches and pools this weekend, we stumbled upon this shot of a crowded City Point beach in South Boston from around 1931:

Beach crowd at City Point, South Boston, approximately 1931 (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection)

The photo was taken by Leslie Jones, who, according to the Boston Public Library, worked for the Boston Herald-Traveler from 1917 to 1956. Sifting through the library's collection of his photos, we found he covered a number of stories over the years — like the Great Molasses Flood of 1919, presidential visits, the Topsfield Fair, even Shirley Temple riding the Swan Boats back in 1938.

Leslie Jones (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection)

Jones' collection of almost 40,000 negatives was given to the Boston Public Library by his family in the early 1970s.

While we had a hard time picking out our favorites — as BPL writes, "his photographs document both the usual and unusual in the daily life of Boston" — we thought these shots of people cooling off on hot summer days were appropriate, as the city prepares to hit 90 for the third day in a row.

Check out the photos below and browse more of the Leslie Jones collection here.

Boys and girls in Boston Common fountain, approximately 1934-1956 (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection)

L Street Boathouse, South Boston, approximately 1917-1934 (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection)

Crowds at Revere Beach, approximately 1950-1959 (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection)

Kiddies in wading pool, approximately 1934-1956 (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection)

Malibu Beach, Dorchester, approximately 1934-1956 (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection)

Bathing girls at Revere Beach, approximately 1919 (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection)

Girl dives in a North End park, approximately 1934-1956 (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection)

Crowd at North End beach, approximately 1927 (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection)

Crowded parking lot at Nantasket Beach, approximately 1953 (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection)

Beach crowd at Pleasure Bay, City Point, South Boston, approximately 1930 (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection)

New sprinkling device used by the city of Boston for the kids on hot days, approximately 1921 (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection)

Revere Beach, approximately 1937 (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection)

Google Editor's Picks