HARVARD LAW STUDENT LEFT A MORE LASTING IMPRESSION THAN MOST.
ANTHONY TAKES US TO THE BASEMENT APARTMENT IN WINTER HILL, WHERE A FUTURE PRESIDENT ONCE RESTED HIS HEAD.
>> SOMERVILLE HAS CERTAINLY COME UP IN THE WORLD.
>> NOW IT IS THE PLACE TO BE.
WHAT’S REAL ESTATE IS HOT AND THE SQUARE IS HIP, BUT THEY ARE SHORT OF HISTORIC SITES, UNLESS YOU ARE IN THE KNOW.
>> YES.
THE ROSE GARDEN.
>> THIS APARTMENT BUILDING ON WINTER HILL ONCE HAD A TENANT WHO WAS A LAW STUDENT AT HARVARD, BARACK OBAMA.
>> HE WAS HERE THREE YEARS AND THE NUMBER ONE QUESTION WAS, CAN YOU PAY THE RENT?
HE CAME ACROSS AS A VERY INTELLIGENT GUY.
I INTERVIEWED HIM RIGHT HERE ON THE STEPS.
>> HE THINKS THIS GARDEN APARTMENT IS WORTHY OF RECOGNITION.
>> THE CITY DID THAT.
THEY DID A NICE JOB, BUT IT DESERVES MORE.
>> A LITTLE DIGGING REVEALS THAT THE CITY HAD NO HAND IN THE STENCIL.
>> NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT IT.
I WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE A BIG ATTRACTION.
>> WHEN SHE FOUND OUT THAT OBAMA’S FORMER DIGS WERE DOWN THE STREET, SHE FELT LIKE SHARING IT WITH THE WORLD.
SHE AND A FRIEND HAD THE SIDEWALK.
FOR THE LANDLORD, THIS IS ONE PIECE OF THE PAST THAT WILL NEVER GET OLD.
>> I WAS THE LANDLORD OF A PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.
>> PRESERVING A FAST AND FADING PAST IS NOT ALWAYS PRETTY.
>> FROM CHAOS COMES ORDER AND THERE IS ORDER TO THE CHAOS.
>> HOME TO THE DAVID BIEBER ARCHIVES, A COLLECTION OF RECORDS, MAGAZINES, POSTERS, FLYERS, T-SHIRTS AND TAPES.
>> THIS IS A LIFETIME OF COLLECTING, CATEGORIZING AND PROTECTING OUR CULTURE.
I THINK OF THIS AS THE DEBRIS OF OUR CULTURE.
>> A LONG TIME MUSIC INSIDERS SPENT HIS CAREER AT THE PHOENIX AND WF NEXT -- WFNX.
HE NEVER THREW ANYTHING AROUND -- ANYTHING AWAY.
>> WHAT IS THE POINT, THE ALL I KNEW WAS THAT INTUITIVELY, THESE THINGS NEEDED TO BE SAVED.
>> NOW THE BIEBER ARCHIVE IS HAVING ITS PARTY WITH INSTALLATIONS AT THE THEATER AND THE CABINET IN BEVERLY.
THE HOTEL IN BOSTON IS DESIGNED AROUND PIECES FROM HIS COLLECTION.
>> IT HAS TURNED INTO A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE AND OPENED UP THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUT SUNSHINE ALL ALL OF THIS CONTENT.
-- ON ALL OF THIS CONTENT.
>> IT IS LIKE A RUBIK SKEWED, YOU HAVE TO CONSTANTLY SHIFT AROUND TO GET THINGS IN ORDER.
>> A LINE OF FILE CABINETS FILLED WITH MATERIALS.
>> I AM SAYING MADONNA IS BACK HERE, SOMEWHERE.
>>’S ARCHIVAL ABILITIES MATCHED ONLY BY HIS SPELUNKING SKILLS.
HE WORKS HIS WAY TO THE TOP OF TH PILE, NAVIGATES THE RIDGE AND DROPS DOWN IN SEARCH OF THE M’S.
>> MAD BALL, BAIDU -- MARDU, MADONNA.
>> MEANWHILE, THE COLLECTION EXPANDS.
WHAT’S HE DREW A PICTURE.
♪ >> ALL TOLD, MORE THAN ONE MILLION PIECES OF CULTURAL FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, NONE OF IT FOR SALE.
BUX I ONLY BUY THINGS.
I DO NOT SELL THINGS.
IT IS THE ROACH MOTEL OF COLLECTIBLES.
>> FOR DECADES, HIS STUFF COLLECTED IN A WAREHOUSE, BUT A COUPLE YEARS AGO, IT WAS MOVED TO ITS CURRENT HOME IN NORWOOD AND HAD TO BE TRANSPORTED BY TRACTOR-TRAILER TRUCKS.
ORGANIZING IS AN ONGOING PROJECT.
WALK THIS WAY INTO THE WOODS TO DISCOVER THIS NEXT SPOT.
>> IT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IF IT WERE NOT FOR ME.
I WAS THE MISS