6 ms·
This is as far as the facts go, and only lore is left. Here, however, is how the story goes. When, in 1974, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority soug
by ilamont 4y ago
This is as far as the facts go, and only lore is left. Here, however, is how the story goes. When, in 1974, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority sought to extend the Red Line beyond Harvard Square, the state began plans to dig underneath Harvard Yard. They got so far as to build a platform approximately underneath Wigglesworth Hall. In fact, you may see the ghost station when you ride the T, on the right side of the train as it slows down and nears the platform at Harvard station. However, Harvard would not tolerate the thought of a tunnel below its sacred grounds, disturbing the scholarly peace and quiet of the Yard. Allegedly, Harvard hired a team of lawyers who took the MBTA to court. According to lore, they presented before the judge a glass encased letter granting Harvard exemption from eminent domain signed by General George Washington.
As for the veracity of the story, I have not found substantive proof other than repeated versions of the story told in forums. However, it is true that Harvard inexplicably convinced the MBTA to build around the Yard despite an astronomical increase in the cost of construction.
https://www.thecrimson.com/column/the-snollygoster/article/2012/10/19/harvard-eminent-domain/ https://www.thecrimson.com/column/the-snollygoster/article/2...
- rd 4y agoI lived in Wigglesworth last year. I swear this isn't true because I woke up damn near everynight from the rumbling below my room.
- objclxt 4y agoThat’s the tunnel along Mass Ave, which Wigglesworth runs parallel to, rather than going through the yard itself.
- sandworm101 4y agoLol. Harvard hiring lawyers. Thats like hogwarts bringing in consultant wizards.
- tetris11 4y agoOr Death Eaters, as they prefer to be called.
- loganc2342 4y agoThe wizards or the lawyers?
- CobrastanJorji 4y agoHarvard has three kinds of law people. First, it has its own lawyers. They're fine, but they're mostly not the court kind of lawyers. Second, it has law students. Those aren't lawyers, so you don't want them either. Third, it has law professors, who are generally well known or renowned for past deeds or theoretical legal philosophy, but mostly they're either out of practice, never practiced, or they've got insane (for example, Alan Dershowitz is a professor there). You don't want any of those folks nearby when courtroom stuff needs to happen. Hogwarts has a similar problem, now that I think about it. Hugely powerful wizards defending a school from a tiny number of adversaries, they've got all the time in the world to prepare, and yet they're terrible at it. They build a huge multilayered vault that's bypassed by three unprepared kids. They should've brought in professionals.
- matheusmoreira 4y agoNow I wonder what an elite wizard special forces would be like.
- suoduandao2 4y agoAurors? Would make for a great TV show...
- bee_rider 4y agoIf you went far enough in the direction of professionalized warfare in the Harry Potter universe, I have a sneaking suspicion it would turn pretty stupid. People with enchanted sniper rifles and invisibility cloaks playing “don’t move first” or something boring like that.
- twicetwice 4y agoYou can definitely get pretty creative and interesting—for example, transmuting a pile of primed hand grenades into a handful of confetti and then tossing it over your enemy right before the spell wears off. That said, you're right, it's highly likely that boring strategies would dominate. However, the Harry Potter magic system is so fast and loose that you can always make up some new spell to cancel out whatever OP strategy; the author has almost unlimited leeway.
- unyttigfjelltol 4y agoThat does not sound accurate. The 'ghost' station described is an original, pre-extension station. When the line was extended beyond Harvard Sq., they moved the station just up the street around a sharp bend.[1] Very MBTA. I respect the journalistic source, but it seems exceedingly unlikely anyone ever tried to cut off the existing station and run it through Harvard Yard, much less got so far as to construct a ghost station. [1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvard_station https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvard_station
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]