The name "Scollay Under" does sound more happening than the bland and generic,"Government Center" as this visible remnant of the station's long history remains intact on a wall across from the front end of the outbound Blue Line platform.

The Blue Line Government Center stop was known as "Scollay Under", while the Green Line station above was "Scollay Square", until a station rebuild in 1963 renamed both as Government Center. Most of the rebuilding happened upstairs on the Green Line, and much more on the street level with the leveling of the Scollay Square area.

When trolleys operated on the Blue Line, the low level platforms made this sign an easier sight to see from 1916 to 1924. These days, with the high platforms for rapid transit cars, this sign can be easily lost in the crowd.

I do hope that when the entire Goverment Center station gets rebuilt, this little historical marker is preserved.

Photographed by Jay Gadon, November 8, 2011.
Added to the photo archive by Jay Gadon, January 12, 2012.
Railroad: MBTA.

Jay Gadon's awards:

» Contact the person who posted this photograph.