For the Documerica Project (1971-1977), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hired freelance photographers to capture images relating to environmental problems, EPA activities, and everyday life in the 1970s.
Michael Philip Manheim was one of nearly one hundred photographers hired for Documerica. His assignment was to document the noise pollution crises in the East Boston neighborhood around Neptune Road.
Manheim captured powerful images of the deteriorating community, illustrating its uncomfortable proximity to one of the nation’s busiest airports and the plight of residents living under the landing path of jets on the approach to Logan’s busy runways.
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| Building under construction, off Neptune Road, East Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, May 1973 |
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| A jet flies over Neptune Road, East Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, May 1973 |
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| A side of the MBTA (Metropolitan Boston Transit Authority) pedestrian bridge that links the split segments of Neptune Road, East Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, May 1973 |
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| Airplane coming in for a landing over Neptune Road homes, near Logan Airport, East Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, May 1973 |
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| Children play ball in front of their homes on Neptune Road. Logan Airport is at the end of the street, East Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, May 1973 |
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| Children Play in Neptune court, Logan Airport area, East Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, May 1973 |
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| Constitution Beach - within sight and sound of Logan Airport's takeoff runway, Boston, Massachusetts, July 1973 |
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| Constitution Beach - within sight and sound of Logan Airport's takeoff runway, Boston, Massachusetts, July 1973 |
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| Constitution Beach, on Boston Harbor, Boston, Massachusetts, May 1973 |
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| Entrance to Paris Street clinic, Boston, Massachusetts, June 1973 |
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| From a hill at Orient Heights near the Northern (revere) boundary of East Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, May 1973 |
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| Looking northeast across Route C1 elevated highway, Boston, Massachusetts, May 1973 |
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| Looking to the Northwest from the center of Neptune Road, East Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, May 1973 |
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| Lovell Street near the intersection of Frankfort Street, Logan Airport area, East Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, May 1973 |
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| Mary Bruno holds her ears against noise of jet coming in for a landing on runway 15r at Logan Airport, East Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, May 1973 |
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| Mary Stack, refugee from the Logan Airport area of East Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, May 1973 |
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| MBTA (Metropolitan Boston Transit Authority) tracks cut across Neptune Road, East Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, May 1973 |
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| Near Logan Airport - airplane coming in for a landing over Neptune Road backyards, East Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, May 1973 |
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| Neighborhood boys play rough with an abandoned car behind the Wood Island station of the MBTA (Metropolitan Boston Transit Authority), Logan Airport area, East Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, May 1973 |
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| Neighborhood boys play rough with an abandoned car behind the Wood Island station of the MBTA (Metropolitan Boston Transit Authority), Logan Airport area, East Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, May 1973 |
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| Neighborhood children of the Neptune Road-Lovell Street area, the residential community closest to Logan Airport, East Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, May 1973 |
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| Neighborhood youngsters in the playground adjacent to Logan Airport at the end of Neptune Road, East Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, May 1973 |
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| Neighborhood youngsters in the playground adjacent to Logan Airport at the end of Neptune Road, East Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, May 1973 |
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| Neptune Road and Frankfort Street, East Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, May 1973 |
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| Neptune Road, East Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, May 1973 |
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| Once Neptune Road led to Wood Island Park and the sea. Now it is bounded by a fence and the Logan Airport runway area, East Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, May 1973 |
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| Sandra Bruno straightens a pillow in the immaculate living room of her family's home at 39 Neptune Road, East Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, July 1973 |
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| Small playground at runway end of Neptune Road, East Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, May 1973 |
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| Southwest side of Neptune Road, East Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, July 1973 |
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| Traditional three-decker homes of Neptune Road were once proud showplaces along a street which ran to the sea, East Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, May 1973 |
(Photo © Michael Philip Manheim)
My lovely Beloved lived in Plymouth for a time and flew into Logan after visiting her parents back home. She commented about looking out the window during a landing in the evening and being able to tell what program was on the tv in a dwelling.
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