48 Commonwealth Avenue / 255 Berkeley Street

48 Commonwealth Avenue

48 Commonwealth Avenue (255 Berkeley Street) was built ca. 1864 as the home of dry goods merchant William Chadbourne and his wife, Isabel (Patterson) Chadbourne.  They continued to live there in 1865, and probably until his death in May of 1868.  They also maintained a home in Brookline.

By 1870, it was the home of George Blackburn, a dry goods wholesale merchant.  He was a widower and his son-in-law and daughter, George Nevins, Jr., and Harriet (Blackburn) Nevins, lived with him.  George Nevins also was a dry goods manufacturer and merchant.

George Blackburn died in February of 1871.  The Heirs of George Blackburn are shown as the owners of 48 Commonwealth on the 1874 Hopkins map, and David and Harriet Nevins continued to live there in 1876.

By 1877, it was the home of David Pulsifer Kimball and his wife, Clara Millett (Bertram) Kimball.  He is shown as the owner on the 1883, 1888, 1908, and 1917 Bromley maps.

David Kimball was a lawyer and also served as president of the Nashua & Lowell Railroad.

The Kimballs continued to live at 48 Commonwealth until his death in August of 1923.

The house was not listed in the 1924 Blue Book.

By June of 1924, 48 Commonwealth was owned by James M. Burr.  He added an entrance on Berkeley Street (with the address of 255 Berkeley Street) and converted the house into a private club, The Hub Club, with fifteen sleeping rooms.  He is shown as the owner on the June 6, 1924, permit application adding the new entrance and remodeling the interior, and on the 1928 Bromley map.

In 1930, the building was damaged by fire, requiring repairs on all floors.

By 1938, 48 Commonwealth was owned by the Boston Penny Savings Bank.  In March of 1938, they converted the building from a private club to eleven apartments and four medical offices.  At the same time, they also lowered the Commonwealth Avenue entrance to sidewalk level.

The 1938 Bromley Atlas shows the Boston Penny Savings Bank as the owner of this building.

In January of 1941, the bank received permission to increase the number of apartments to thirteen and reduce the number of medical offices.

By 1942, 48 Commonwealth was owned by William Katz, who received permission in September of 1942 to increase the number of apartments to fifteen, eliminating all of the remaining medical offices.

By 1971, 48 Commonwealth was owned by Lawrence I. Galer, et al, trustees.

In August of 1971, Lawrence Galer applied for permission to reduce the number of apartments from fifteen to thirteen, replacing the two former apartments with a drug store and a coin-operated laundry.  His application was denied by the Board of Appeal.

The house changed hands several times, with the number of apartments reduced in 1979 from fifteen to twelve units.