I walked Boston’s Edwin Booth Residence

We could find many reasons for our visit to 29A Chestnut Street in Boston’s Beacon Hill. For starters, this building (as confirmed by the plaque outside) was one of the first buildings developed in the area by the Mount Vernon Proprietors. We could also spend time admiring and describing another brilliant example of architecture from 1800 that is attributed to famed architect Charles Bulfinch. Or, there is the fact that 29A Chestnut is one of the few remaining examples of the famed “purple panes” of Beacon Hill left to explore.

Our interest, however, lies in the tale of one of its former residencesEdwin Booth and his somewhat ironic relationship with one former U.S. President. Edwin was the brother of John Wilkes Booth, whom assassinated Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865 at Ford’s Theater in Washington D.C. Edwin, a talented actor who was considered by many as one of the best Hamlet’s of his time, was actually participating in a play in a Boston Theater at the time of the assassination. When word of mouth of the incident arrived to Edwin, he immediately left Boston and went into isolation for months before appearing in front of a crowd again. Embarrassed by the actions of his family it is said he was so scarred by the incident was he that he forbid mention of his brother’s name in his presence.

Edwin Booth Residence

In a twist of irony, however, if we roll back the clock a few months from this fateful evening, it was Edwin who saved the life of another member of the Lincoln family. The story goes that Lincoln’s son Robert was on a crowded train platform waiting to board his train, when the force of the crowd nearly pushed him to the rails beneath the train. A strong hand grabbed him and, perhaps, saved his life. That hand belonged to Edwin Booth.

While history will never forgive one Booth, brother for his atrocious act, it should be noted that another family member at least saved one Lincoln from also meeting an untimely demise.

• Website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Booth
• Address: 29A Chestnut Street, Boston, MA
• Cost: Free.