A Legacy of Lumber

The A.T. Stearns Lumber Co. played a central role in shaping Port Norfolk’s industrial identity, leaving behind a rich legacy tied to Dorchester’s growth, craftsmanship, and 19th-century architectural history.

Founded in the mid-1800s by Billerica native Albert T. Stearns, the A.T. Stearns Lumber Co. revolutionized lumber processing and helped popularize cypress wood in New England construction. The company played a major role in transforming Port Norfolk from a quiet peninsula into an industrial hub. Operating until 1968, Stearns’s enterprise left a lasting mark on Dorchester’s shoreline and shaped the neighborhood’s architectural and economic identity.

At the center of the former lumber empire stands the company’s 1855 counting house at 98 Taylor Street, a modest but significant two-story brick structure in the Greek Revival style. Once the operational heart of the lumber yard, this 2,300 square-foot building is one of the last physical remnants of Port Norfolk’s 19th-century industrial past. Its clean lines and symmetrical façade reflect the architectural preferences of a bustling, enterprising era.

Today, the Site is owned by the MA DCR and operated as a storage facility. The historic counting house sits vacant, its windows darkened and its future uncertain. Despite its historic significance and prime riverside location, it remains disconnected from modern public use. This quiet structure once vital to Dorchester’s economy now rests in limbo, echoing a bygone era while standing as a rare survivor of Boston’s industrial waterfront.

In 2023, as demolition loomed, residents, preservationists, and elected officials, including State Rep. Dan Hunt and City Councilor Frank Baker, rallied to save the building. Advocates called for a pause, urging exploration of rehabilitation funding and adaptive reuse. They emphasized the building’s rare link to Dorchester’s maritime and industrial past, arguing that preservation could offer cultural, educational, and community value far more lasting than demolition and redevelopment alone.

Preserving History, Growing Community

The historic A.T. Stearns Counting House links Port Norfolk’s industrial past with Boston’s sustainable future. Once central to a thriving lumber yard, it now offers new life as a community hub for preservation and environmental action.

Through the partnership of Speak for the Trees and Historic Boston Inc., the site will support youth programs, tree planting, and neighborhood gatherings honoring the area’s heritage while growing opportunities and connections that strengthen Boston’s communities.

Speak for the Trees, Boston

Speak for the Trees partners with communities to plant, preserve, and advocate for trees, expanding Boston’s urban tree canopy and addressing environmental inequities in under-served neighborhoods. The Stearns Building and site offer an ideal home to advance their mission.

Visit treeboston.org to find out more.

Historic Boston, Inc.

Historic Boston Inc. (HBI) rehabilitates historic buildings for new uses that strengthen Boston’s neighborhoods and communities. Through creative partnerships, HBI preserves the city’s architectural heritage while fostering local economic opportunity and cultural vitality across Boston’s diverse communities.

Visit historicboston.org for more information.

A Community Hub

The new space has the potential to become a vibrant hub for Speak for the Trees, featuring a tree nursery, Teen Urban Tree Corps, and offices. It will promote youth development, environmental education, and green job opportunities while expanding Boston’s urban canopy and community connections.

Screenshot 2025-10-17 152446

The Vision

HBI and Speak for the Trees are partnering to create a
permanent home at the historic A.T. Stearns building site.

This conceptual site plan highlights key features that support community, education, and sustainability.

Help Shape the Vision

We’d love to hear from you! Community voices are central to the future of the Stearns site. Share your ideas, questions, or feedback, or sign up for updates on this evolving project. Together, we can preserve history, expand green space, and create a vibrant gathering place for Port Norfolk’s residents and beyond.

Email inquiries to info@treesontaylor.org