Bad Ends · STOP 11 · Boston Common
In 1895 the subway dig moved about 910 people. The expense line reads 'Care of human remains,' $202.00.
In 1895 the crews digging America's first subway along Boston Common dug into the Central Burying Ground, right where the city expected to. The Transit Commission moved the bones of about 910 people next door and logged it in its annual report: 'Care of human remains,' $202.00. The trains still run through the space they were moved out of. The stairs down are on the corner.
This is stop 11 of Bad Ends. Walk it - any two stops are free.
The plate
Collected on site
Tremont Street at Boylston Street, southeast corner of the Common
Directions
The reburied remains went into about 75 small boxes dated 1895, according to Universal Hub.
More footnotes on the story card, in the app.
In these collections: After Dark, Under Your Feet
Near Boylston · Near Chinatown · Near Tufts Medical Center · Near Downtown Crossing · Near Park Street · Near Arlington
Sources (5)
- Central Burying GroundCity of Boston, Parks and Recreation · accessed 2026-10-10
- First Annual Report of the Boston Transit Commission, for the year ending August 15, 1895Boston Transit Commission (Rockwell and Churchill, Boston) · 1895
- Respect the deadUniversal Hub · n.d.
- The Common / The Freedom Trail / America's First Subway (marker)HMdb.org marker 191834 · accessed 2026-10-10
- Second Annual Report of the Boston Transit Commission, for the year ending August 15, 1896Boston Transit Commission (Rockwell and Churchill, Boston) · 1896