The Hundreds of Bathtub Marys of Somerville

Newton St., #574.
Photo: Newton St., 574.
 
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By William Tauro
 
Somerville Mass, two time “All American City”, one of the most hippest cities in the country and one of the most politically active cities in the nation!  But who would of ever thought that Somerville is the Bath Tub Marys Capital of the world?
 
Did you know that there are estimated almost five to six hundred “Bath Tub Marys” within Somerville’s city limits? Well, there are!
 
Follow a Somerville resident and librarian as she rides out a collapsed arch by walking every street in the city, taking pictures of every single yard shrine she finds. She began in earnest late summer of 2012 and has already documented over 350 statues with many more to go.
 
Photos by The Bathtub Marys of Somerville
 
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Ivaloo St. #571
Photo: Ivaloo St. #571
Bow St. #570

Photo: Part of the "How Did I Miss This the First Time" collection. Bow St. #570
Allen St., #569.
Photo: Mother's Day find: Allen St., #569.
 
Photo: Special Edition: Rooting for Rock (aka: Bathtub Mary's husband). Much thanks and love, Maux.
 
Photo: For sale at Sherman Market!
Oxford St. #567
Photo: Oxford St. #567
 
Spencer Ave. #568
Photo: Spencer Ave. #568
 
Photo: Today's lunch hour walk.
 
Concord St. #564
Photo: Concord St. #564
 
Tremont St. #563
Photo: Tremont St. #563
 
Monroe Street Saturday, and the discovery of #562.

Photo: A tip, and encouragement from the owner, led me back to Monroe Street Saturday, and the discovery of #562.
Laurel St., #561

Photo: Discovery on a street I've already covered. I should be fired from this project! Laurel St., #561
 
A much needed heart warming treat. Send from friend who was out for a stroll today with her brand spankin’ new Somerville kid.
Photo: A much needed heart warming treat. Send from friend who was out for a stroll today with her brand spankin' new Somerville kid.
 
Pearl St. 237 unwrapped!
Photo: Pearl St. 237 unwrapped!
Hardan Rd.

Photo: Favorite from yesterday: Hardan Rd.
 
Photo: My friend referred to this statue as "Hill Street Blues" on our walk yesterday, because it's pretty much the last street I needed to walk for the project. Kind of awesome to know I've walked down every street in this city. Way cooler than summiting Everest, and no supplemental oxygen needed!
 
Properzi Way.

Photo: Found #550 today: Properzi Way.
 
The Cedar and Morrison Mary is unwrapped and gussied up. Spring has arrived in Somerville!
Photo: The Cedar and Morrison Mary is unwrapped and gussied up. Spring has arrived in Somerville!
 
Currently hanging at Sherman Cafe, in Union Square, Somerville. Stop by and check them out! New prints were added yesterday.
Photo: Currently hanging at Sherman Cafe, in Union Square, Somerville. Stop by and check them out! New prints were added yesterday.
 
A collection of Bathtub Mary prints are currently on exhibit at the excellent Sherman Cafe, in Union Sq., and are for sale for $15. These are new prints that arrived in the mail today and will soon be added to the exhibit! Stop by Sherman and check them out!
Photo: A collection of Bathtub Mary prints are currently on exhibit at the excellent Sherman Cafe, in Union Sq., and are for sale for $15. These are new prints that arrived in the mail today and will soon be added to the exhibit! Stop by Sherman and check them out!
 
 
Putnam Street, 

Photo: Found #537 this morning on my way to work. Putnam Street, a street I drive up at least 5 days a week to get to work and have walked often enough since starting this project. Apparently signs do work. :)
 
 
Puritan Rd. #530!

Photo: My favorite from today. Puritan Rd. #530!
 
An article in the Boston Herald about the project and exhibit, which is now up at the delicious Sherman Cafe, in Union Square. Stop by and check it out.
Photo: An article in today's Boston Herald about the project and exhibit, which is now up at the delicious Sherman Cafe, in Union Square. Stop by and check it out. But save me an oatmeal cherry scone! They're my favorite!
 
Kensington Ave. #523, #524 (same house as
 
 
 
 
 
 
Off McGrath Highway
Photo: One more from today, because it's pretty awesome, what with the hockey sticks and all. I already found this one right on Cross St. a few months ago - it's #101 - but found it all over again from a different angle off McGrath H'way on my lunch hour today.
 
 

School St. #52 “San-TA Che-CHEE-lia,” Frank…
 
  1. Somerville Ave. Did I do a U-turn and creep into driveway? For a Headless Mary, you bet I did. Bonus was finding the Jesus statue behind it. #509 and #510.
  2. Photo: Spied driving down Somerville Ave. Did I do a U-turn and creep into driveway? For a Headless Mary, you bet I did. Bonus was finding the Jesus statue behind it. #509 and #510.
 
#8: Craigie Street. A coworker’s backyard, sometime last week. The statue, a St. Anthony, is in for the winter, along with a Mary that is placed on the other side of the yard. I told her to be on the lookout for me in her backyard sometime this spring.

Photo: Still to snowy to search. In the meantime, Special Edition, #8: Craigie Street. A coworker's backyard, sometime last week. The statue, a St. Anthony, is in for the winter, along with a Mary that is placed on the other side of the yard. I told her to be on the lookout for me in her backyard sometime this spring. :)
 
 
Photo: Happy Valentine's Day!
Lifelong Resident Captures Somerville’s Bathtub Marys
somervillebeat.com
Somerville is unique for many reasons, but one of the most obvious is the sheer number of Bathtub Marys that dot nearly every street in the city. Lifelong Somerville resident
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 #7. Michigan Ave. Totally missed this on my hunt, and not only did my partner-in-crime of children’s librarianship find it, she snapped this photo for me today. AND it’s her uncle’s house, who also happened to hire me as the children’s librarian at the East Branch Library back in 1993. Thanks, Ann! Will get back to East Somerville soon to add this to my official count.

Photo: Special Edition, #7. Michigan Ave. Totally missed this on my hunt, and not only did my partner-in-crime of children's librarianship find it, she snapped this photo for me today. AND it's her uncle's house, who also happened to hire me as the children's librarian at the East Branch Library back in 1993. Thanks, Ann! Will get back to East Somerville soon to add this to my official count. :)
Short walk to finish up Ball Sq. Found six, here are two favorites.
Photo: Short walk to finish up Ball Sq. Found six, here are two favorites.
 
Short walk to finish up Ball Sq. Found six, here are two favorites.
Photo: Short walk to finish up Ball Sq. Found six, here are two favorites.
 
 

 
 
 
 
Photo: Brisk walk to Winter Hill this morning. Finished streets between Medford St. and Broadway. Found three, hit 475! Here's my favorite.
 
Photo: It's too cold to walk! Instead, here's a discovery from last week. The photo on the right was taken Spring 2012, walking to birthday or anniversary dinner in Inman Sq., just because I thought Plywood Mary was pretty lit up. The photo on the left is from last week, well after my curiosity turned into a project. I spied the plywood in the far corner of the backyard. Put there, I think, to make room for a kind of insane shrine that involved a homemade goal post and Patriots logo. Poor Plywood Mary, pushed aside, waiting for spring to be front and center again. She was my first, unofficially, but is now #472.
 
Photo: Broke 450 today! Glad it was in East Somerville. Here'a my favorite. If you have friends who might be interested in this please encourage them to 'like' this page. Thanks!
 
 
A treasure shared by someone I’ve come to know well enough at the library that the term ‘library patron’ just doesn’t capture it. Image is about 10 years old. I’ve known the girl in the tub about that long. She’s now a freshman in high school. Amazing girl and family. So fortunate to have the job I have.
 
 
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Part of the “How Did I Miss This the First Time” collection. Bow St. #570
Photo: Part of the "How Did I Miss This the First Time" collection. Bow St. #570
 
 
 
Follow a Somerville resident and librarian as she rides out a collapsed arch by walking every street in the city, taking pictures of every single yard shrine she finds. She began in earnest late summer of 2012 and has already documented over 350 statues.
 
 
Photo: Newton St., 574.

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