Out of Town News

Out of Town News. For over six decades, this iconic hexagonal kiosk in the heart of Harvard Square served as a global information hub, famed for its vast selection of international newspapers and magazines. Originally built as an entrance for the Harvard Square subway station, it became a landmark symbolizing the intellectual curiosity and cosmopolitan atmosphere of its surrounding community. Its distinctive green roof and central location made it a quintessential meeting point and cultural touchstone for students, academics, tourists, and locals alike.

History

The structure was originally constructed in 1928 by the architectural firm Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge as a headhouse for the then-new Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Red Line station. In 1955, entrepreneur Robert "Bobby" Soares secured the lease and transformed the vacant kiosk into a newsstand specializing in publications from beyond the Boston area, capitalizing on the square's international demographic from Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Under subsequent ownership, including a long period run by the Hudson News chain, it maintained its unique focus, surviving the decline of print media longer than many similar vendors. The newsstand's history is intertwined with the social and political ferment of the 1960s and 1970s in Cambridge, often cited as a place where one could find underground papers covering the Vietnam War protests and the Civil Rights Movement.

Location and building

Situated at the zero-point intersection of Massachusetts Avenue, Brattle Street, and John F. Kennedy Street, the kiosk occupies the literal and symbolic center of Harvard Square. The building is a classic example of Beaux-Arts architecture, featuring a copper-clad hexagonal dome, ornate ironwork, and large display windows. Its subterranean connection to the Harvard Square station was sealed long ago, leaving the above-ground structure as a freestanding pavilion. The immediate vicinity includes historic sites like the Cambridge Common, the First Parish in Cambridge, and the main gates of Harvard Yard, placing it within a dense tapestry of academic and revolutionary history.

Cultural significance

Out of Town News functioned as more than a retail establishment; it was a vital public space and an institution that reflected the identity of Cambridge. It served as an unofficial bulletin board for community events, a popular rendezvous spot famously noted in guides like *Let's Go*, and a beacon for the diaspora seeking news from home. For generations of Harvard University students, including notable alumni like Natalie Portman and Matt Damon, it was a fixture of campus life. The kiosk embodied the intellectual ethos of the area, providing direct access to perspectives from publications like *The Guardian*, *Le Monde*, and *The Jerusalem Post*.

In popular culture

The newsstand's iconic status has led to its appearance in numerous films, television shows, and literary works, often used to instantly establish a Boston-area setting. It is prominently featured in the Oscar-winning film Good Will Hunting, where characters meet in the square. The kiosk also appears in the television series Cheers, which is set in Boston, and has been referenced in novels by Cambridge-area authors. Its image has been used in countless photographic essays, postcards, and promotional materials representing the historic and vibrant character of Harvard Square.

Closure and redevelopment

After years of declining sales due to the digital revolution, Out of Town News closed its doors in January 2019. The closure prompted significant public nostalgia and debate about the future of the historic kiosk, owned by the City of Cambridge. Following a community planning process, the city selected a new vendor, and the space reopened in 2021 as The Out of Town News kiosk, operated by the Harvard Square Business Association. The redeveloped kiosk now functions as a multi-use visitor center and retail space offering curated gifts, local publications, and information, while preserving the architectural integrity of the beloved structure and its role as a central gathering point.

Category:Buildings and structures in Cambridge, Massachusetts Category:Harvard Square Category:Newsstands in the United States Category:Retail companies established in 1955 Category:Retail companies disestablished in 2019