Finally, we reach Week #10 of the Newton Photo Scavenger Hunt — the final round — with five more photos of objects in Newton that are odd or charming — and rather unique, rather permanent, and visible from publicly accessible property. Can you identify them?
The first person to write in the comments below the correct (and sufficiently precise) location of the object will win one point per object identified. NOTE: Comments will be closed until 8PM Tuesday (9/8) to give everyone some time to ponder the photos before answers start arriving.
Next week, whoever has the most points will win a $50 gift certificate for the Newton restaurant of the winner’s choice…and a V14 commemorative mug. After nine weeks of the scavenger hunt, the current totals are: Michael 11; Dave Brigham 7; LisaP 5; Adam and Fignewtonville 3; David Wallace, Dalek, and John Q Public 2; and 1 each for Nanci Ginty Butler, Bob Burke, Sean Roche, Maureen Reilly Meagher, Michael’s son, Chuck Tanowitz, Newton Highlands Mom, Patrick M, and Matt Lister. Still unidentified — and available for finding — are 22. Phone Booth, 37 Ceramic with Message, and 40 Scary Guy — each of which is now worth 3 points.
46. Colonial Character
47. 13,570 Bricks
48. USA Map
49. Stone Bench
50. Colorful Bridge
The USA map is at Macon Rice – ground floor entrance just before the playground.
@LisaP: The USA map in the Scavenger Hunt photo might look like the one at Mason Rice but it’s a different one. Note the different coloring. ;-)
Oh dang!
Thanks for the heads’ up. Getting tougher by the week so good on you!
#46 Colonial Character is outside Colonial Drug on Watertown Street in Nonantum.
@Dave Brigham: Correct!
This evening I walked over to Walnut Market for their monthly delivery of fresh Montreal bagels (I’m trying to convince them to import Quebec cheese curds as well), then I continued up to Newtonville where I got drenched by 13,570 raindrops while contemplating what may or may not have been #47 on the back of the Masonic Building at the corner of Walnut Street and Newtonville Avenue.
The masonry in the photo looks to be a little bit crisper, but it was raining and dark by the time I got up there, so it was tough to tell.
Regardless, I stumbled upon a nifty little row of shops on Bowers Street opposite the Pike which included a coin shop that doesn’t have a website and which seems to be open only on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Unique!
@Michael: #47 correct! The rectangle of bricks in this photo is a large portion of the back wall of the Masonic Hall unbroken by windows, doors, or other trim. It’s huge. It’s hard to imagine it being built about 125 years ago.
Historical note: Bob Burke tells me that the first Stop & Shop in Newton was in the ground floor of that building, before it moved and moved again.
My estimate of 13,570 bricks in that photo is from a rough count of one row and the number of rows. By chance, it’s almost exactly the number of students + teachers in Newton Public Schools. So here is the same photo overlaid with the relative sizes of our schools — one brick for each student or teacher. Stand in that parking lot and gaze at the huge world that is NPS. But maybe not when it’s raining.
Bruce – amazing graphic! It reminds me of a metaphorical Pink Floyd video that they kept in heavy rotation on V-66 back in the day, something about students being “another brick in the wall.”
BTW I think I may have spotted (59, 108) and (60, 108) using fake IDs to sneak into Garden Remedies this evening, just in case their parents happen to be reading this.
@Michael – I love that little Bowers Street strip! And congrats on another round of fantastic sleuthing! And on most assuredly winning this competition, even though there are still some outstanding photos to be identified.
Read the glowing Yelp reviews of that Colony Coin shop!
@ Dave Brigham: Michael is indeed a fantastic sleuth, but with 12 points still available, the competition is still up for grabs, and anyone on the scoreboard could theoretically win. Michael 12; Dave Brigham 8; LisaP 5; Fignewtonville and Adam, 3; David Wallace, Dalek and John Q Public 2; and 1 each for Nanci Ginty Butler, Bob Burke, Sean Roche, Maureen Reilly Meagher, Michael’s kid, Chuck Tanowitz, Newton Highlands Mom, Patrick M, and Matt Lister.
The remaining photos (I would not call them outstanding!) are:
3 points each: 22. Phone Booth, 37 Ceramic with Message, and 40 Scary Guy.
1 point each: 48. USA Map, 49 Stone Bench, and 50. Colorful Bridge.
Good point, Bruce – this is still very much anybody’s game, and I’ve got my eye on you, Dave! ;)
I would add that even current non-scorers have the opportunity to tie for first before the proverbial Dudley Road spigot of hunt items gets shut off for the winter.
So I won’t be counting my Homer Street chickens before they’ve hatched (especially since I didn’t find them). Even the Left Arm of God, Cabot Street Sandy Koufax, blew a fair share of seemingly assured victories in the ninth.
In summary, no contestant should rest until they receive Bruce’s official call from the [insert street name here] red phone booth, which will supposedly be broadcast live on WHDH over the Tower Road airwaves…or maybe on NewTV once they’re done reporting on the upcoming Newhenge event.
PS when I actually take the time to read the above link, it shows that Koufax preserved all of the no-hitters he carried into the ninth – and he certainly didn’t lose them. Whoops! Maybe a more appropriate reference would be Calvin Schiraldi.
40. Scary Guy is at front of Eliot Memorial.
@John Q Public: Correct! Three points for identifying one of the more stubborn photos. As shown here, it shares the same location as 29. John Eliot Preached. I wonder who that image is supposed to represent, and I hope it’s not meant to represent Waban. The story of Rev. John Eliot preaching in Nonantum says that he learned Algonquin, devised an Algonquian grammar in order to create a written form of the language, and then translated both the Old and New Testaments into Algonquin.
I’d better get out there!
Reporting live from #49 in the rock garden of Houghton Garden, around thr corner from the much-loved CFTP.
(Talkin’ ’bout the Chicken Farm Truck Pad.)
Hurry Dave, only 75 more minutes of daylight!
@Michael: Correct! You get around.
@All: While there may be 64 minutes left of daylight today, we have all weekend…and I guess Monday, if we need it. There are 8 points left on the table. Michael or Dave Brigham could win, and LisaP or John Q Public could get a sweep and tie with Michael.
We’re currently wheeling our trusty picnic wagon over the #50 rainbow bridge in Auburndale Park. Perfect day for a picnic!
@Michael: Correct! You do get around! With 7 points left on the table, Dave Brigham is the only other contender remaining, but he’ll need them all to come out ahead.
Bruce, this has been wonderfully fun. I had a great time chasing around Newton a couple of days ago with the Hubs and Son in tow, but the red telephone booth continues to evade me. Hoping Michael or Dave locates it.
Thanks for the socially distanced family fun! I think I know where 48 (map) is but I’m not going to be a spoiler! So good luck to Michael and Dave!!
I was out of town today and won’t be able to do any hunting tomorrow, unfortunately. I’m impressed by Michael’s scavenger hunting talents! This has been fun, even though all of the winners I came up with were through prior knowledge, not through any new exploring. Thanks for putting this together, Bruce!
My last-ditch effort to find the red phone booth was the maze of alleyways and sunken terrasses of Picadilly Square – it’s a whole other world back there, but bugger all when it comes to British phone booths alas. And I also showed the photo to probably the last set of Newton police officers whom I hadn’t yet asked – nothing fit the description.
I’m beginning to think it’s in Watertown :-)
@Michael,
I thought for sure it had to be at Piccadilly Square. Bruce did agree to reveal all unidentified object locations at the end, right? I’m sure that’s part of the rules of engagement here!
On second thought… since Dave indicated he won’t be sleuthing today, I believe the US map is at the Underwood School.
@LisaP: I’m sorry, but this USA map in the photo is not at Underwood. And from what I see, Google Maps shows no signs of a map at Underwood. But you have the rest of the day to find it. No lost points for incorrect guesses.