Parcel from 1920s found above DeLuca’s

A piece of history suddenly emerges hitting a DeLuca’s worker directly on the head. A large brown paper wrapped parcel emerged from a ceiling cavity at 15 Charles street directly above Deluca’s. Unseen and untouched since having been placed there by its conservator in October of 1929 it now reveals itself 81 years later, a type of time capsule of life as it was in Boston and in particular on Beacon Hill during the flapper pre-depression era. [Picture gallery of some of the uncovered documents is available at the bottom.]

The calendar left in October 1929, when the documents were allegedly stowed away under the floor

The documents and papers inside the package belonged to Dr. Lloyd Vernon Briggs and his wife Mary Cabot Briggs. The couple resided at their townhouse at 64 Beacon Street and owned the block of houses from 7 to 17 Charles Street as well. Inside the parcel we found a fascinating array of papers, such as a calendar; a beautifully preserved copy of Boston Telephone Business Directory dated 1927; invoices and checks pertaining to the Briggs’ expenses in 1913-1914; the rotogravure section of the Boston Herald in pristine condition, dated March 28, 1920; Keene-Peterboro telephone directory (the Briggs had a summer house in Hancock, NH); car insurance policies from the late 20s; a menu from the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Boston dated August 13th, 1929; and a lot of papers pertaining to Mr. Briggs’ stock portfolio.

One does not perceive the change in life styles that occurred during that era, but rather the staid gentile life of an upper class family that proliferated on Beacon Hill. One sees their taste for everything from radishes to Rolls Royces along with the commensurate costs of those items circa 1920.

A part of modern DeLuca's at 7 Charles Street used to be Andrews' Provisions, Game, Fruit, Butter and Eggs

Rolls Royce insurance policy

As evidence of the lifestyle of that time we see the activity at various shops for groceries, fruit, fish, meats, banking, clothing, toys, antiques and services.

DeLuca’s Market and its predecessors played a very minor but definite part of the goings on of that time. In 1913, in what we now know as DeLuca’s at 11 Charles Street, was a fruit store operated by the Giuffre Brothers and the part of DeLuca’s at 7 Charles then used to be Andrews’ food shop (est. 1842).

The phonebook we found (1927) shows 707 pages of business listings of which there were approximately 300 fruit sellers and more than 2,000 grocers whereas today we have a dozen major supermarkets, and only a very few independent businesses like DeLuca’s remain.

Guiffre & De Luca listed under "Fruit Dealers"; tel. HAY mkt-1476

DeLuca’s is truly unique in its survivability to this day as an independently owned and operated concern. This is directly due to DeLuca’s ability to supply the needs of its customers and in turn receive their support, allowing DeLuca’s to do so.

Deluca’s has survived because it adopted and continued the services that had been supplied by the small businesses like Giuffre at 11 Charles Street, Andrews at 7 Charles Street, Goulter & Reardon at 53 Charles Street, Frank Murphy at 61-63 Charles Street, M. J. Welch at 52 Charles Street and others. So DeLuca’s filled the voids that occurred because of the defunct businesses by offering the goods and services that they had historically provided to the residents of Beacon Hill and Boston. By adapting to these changes, DeLuca’s has survived. While other businesses ceased to exist, DeLuca’s is still here, happy to offer its services because it knows full well that its continued existence depends on its customers. DeLuca’s has never lost sight of its goal of being supportive of its constituency.

With great humbleness we are sharing this bit of DeLuca’s vivid history and heritage with you. And with great warmth and love we thank our customers, neighbors, friends, supporters and critics for your input and support all these years. We wish you all great holidays, and we will look forward to opening our doors at 11 Charles street for you next year.