527 4th
Harvey L. Boston opened the Boston Studio in downtown David City in 1893. The original studio was a block east on 5th Street. Boston moved to this building in 1900. Boston’s photography captured the people and fashion of Butler County for the next 34 years. After his passing in 1927, his daughter and son-in-law continued the business until its sale in 1973 to John and Fred McVay. The studio closed in 1978. John McVay continued to fill print orders for a few years from his clothing store.
The Boston Studio negatives collection was eventually acquired by the Thorpe Opera House Foundation. The collection is housed at the Hruska Memorial Public Library and consists of over 68,000 negatives. It offers a valuable historical record of Butler County residents from 1893 to 1978.
Drag the slider to switch between past and present.
In the photograph above, you can see the courthouse spire on the right and the FE&MV Depot on the lower left. Boston Studio is the building seen to the left of the “Henry George” advertisement.
