Through the objects found in these privies, we begin to see the choices people made from the jobs they had, to the clothes they wore, the way they decorated their home, and the food they ate.
Archaeology reveals the story of the everyday. The written records of Boston do not equally record the many thousands of people who passed through this neighborhood, and the archaeology of well-known spaces can reveal hidden histories overshadowed by famous stories.
The objects from the Paul Revere House and 27/29 Endicott Street Brothel privies reveal moments in the lives of diverse residents of Boston’s North End as they experienced their neighborhood.
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Text by: Thomas Begley, Lillian Nunno, and Joe Bagley, with great appreciation to Dr. Jane Becker for her extensive reviews, comments, and guidance.