It feels like the history of New England stretches back into biblical times. We mean there’s just so much to it. When you live in a region that was one of the first populated by the first American settlers, chances are you have a lot of older structures and towns. That being said, some of these “areas” are often victim to the rigors of time. It’s tough keeping them up to date and modern or, at the very least, livable. Thankfully over the last few years, the whole region has experienced a construction boom of sorts – and many of these older areas are being renovated and modernized – or there’s the hope that some of these buildings will be touched upon, like Boston’s last tenement, which is almost like an island in a sea of modernity.

Reporting for The Boston Globe, Eric Moskowitz writes, “Once it was part of an unbroken chain, a row of 30 brick walk-ups along the east side of Lowell Street from Causeway to Minot, a matching row behind it, another across the street. There were hundreds like it back then, crammed into the immigrant neighborhood known as Boston’s West End.”

Now one little tenement stands alone, a testament to the rich history of the neighborhood. Surrounded by high rises with seemingly no history to speak of, this lonely tenement is fighting the good fight. It is a survivor, dodging the wrecking ball four times at least; there might be more. Everyone has a different nickname for it. The lone ranger. The little house on the prairie. A silent witness. It is basically the architectural version of a history textbook. While there have been efforts to renovate it, all have fallen flat. There is still hope though that this once proud building will not look so derelict.

At Astro Crane, we can only hope – it’s a living reminder of where we come from – and if it doesn’t get renovated, it should definitely be preserved with care.