American Houses: Cambridge, Mass., between Harvard Square and Inman Square

This was the first American urban neighborhood I spent much time in. Over the last three decades--especially since Cambridge put an end to rent control--many houses and apartment buildings in this part of town have been considerably tuned-up. Harvard probably owns much of the real estate. There are some ungentrified properties still. Harvard Square lost much character after the chain stores moved in; it's a lot more like anywhere else now. There used to be a profusion of bookshops, new and used, but most are gone though Harvard Bookshop and the Grolier are still hanging in there.
These photographs were made on a cold, bare day in mid-January before the massive perma-snows began.