Former Red Sox Owner John I. Taylor Orchestrated Move From Huntington Avenue Grounds to Fenway Park to Increase Franchise Value

Editor’s note: Fenway Park opened on April 20, 1912. NESN.com will be celebrating Fenway’s 100-year anniversary with unique content from now until April 20, 2012.

Former Red Sox John I. Taylor was quite the savvy entrepreneur.

His team had called the Huntington Avenue Grounds, the current site of Northeastern University’s athletic facilities, home since 1901, but Taylor was mulling the sale of all or a portion of the ball club and figured a new home would increase the franchise’s value.

In early 1911, Taylor set his sights on the emerging Fenway area and formed the Fenway improvement Association with his father, General Charles H. Taylor and other real estate entrepreneurs.

They acted quickly, acquiring 365,000-square feet of land between Ipswich Street and Lansdowne Street at a public auction. Shortly thereafter, Taylor was able to sell half of the club to James McAleer, and ground was broken on Fenway Park on Sept. 24, 1911.

For more information on Fenway Park, visit Fenway Park 100.