ABOUT THE HISTORICAL PHOTOGRAPHS
Two of the dumbest, ugliest buildings in recent Boston history can be seen hulking like thugs above the delicate town houses of Beacon Hill on the right side in the newer of these two photographs. They are the Saltonstall (left) and McCormack (right) government office buildings, also known, respectively, as 100 Cambridge Street and One Ashburton Place.

Both are the work of the architectural firm of Desmond & Lord, now defunct, a firm more
distinguishe...