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[[Image:Ball Square Somerville MA.jpg|thumb|right|300px |
[[Image:Ball Square Somerville MA.jpg|thumb|right|300px|This is a view of Ball Square, looking north up Broadway from the corner of Boston Avenue.]] |
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'''Ball Square''' is a neighborhood primarily in [[Somerville, Massachusetts]], but also extending into [[Medford, Massachusetts|Medford]], at the intersection of Boston Avenue and Broadway, located between [[Powder House Square]] and [[Magoun Square]]. It is primarily a residential area with a handful of shops and restaurants along Broadway. Located on the edge of the neighborhood surrounding [[Tufts University]], Ball Square contains a mix of businesses serving the student and academic populations as well as those reflecting the more blue-collar neighborhoods to the east. |
'''Ball Square''' is a neighborhood primarily in [[Somerville, Massachusetts]], United States, but also extending into [[Medford, Massachusetts|Medford]], at the intersection of Boston Avenue and Broadway, located between [[Powder House Square]] and [[Magoun Square]]. It is primarily a residential area with a handful of shops and restaurants along Broadway. Located on the edge of the neighborhood surrounding [[Tufts University]], Ball Square contains a mix of businesses serving the student and academic populations as well as those reflecting the more blue-collar neighborhoods to the east. |
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The Brown School, opened in 1900, is located on Willow Avenue and serves the neighborhood's children from kindergarten to |
The Brown School, opened in 1900, is located on Willow Avenue and serves the neighborhood's children from kindergarten to fifth grade. It is the only K-5 school in the Somerville School District. |
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[[Ball Square station]] on the [[MBTA Green Line]] is located adjacent to the square. |
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| ⚫ | Ball Square was formerly the site of the storied Willow Jazz Club. In the 1990s, a fire destroyed several commercial businesses on Broadway, and as those businesses were replaced, an economic transformation began that continues today, with long-time businesses such as Lyndell's Bakery, which dates to the 19th century, along the same stretch as |
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Winter Hill Bank has a branch at Ball Square which serves the local community. |
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Ball Square was named for John Nichols Ball (1835–1901). Following in the path of his uncle, Ball opened an insole factory in 1883 at 686 Broadway, between Josephine and Rogers Avenues. A respected businessman, Ball took up politics in 1895. That year, he began his term as a member of Somerville's Common Council. In 1897, Ball was elected to the Somerville Board of Aldermen and by the next year served as board president. Ball was discussed as a potential Republican candidate for mayor. Instead, he chose to enter state politics, running successfully as Representative for the 7th Middlesex District in 1900. Ball was well liked enough in his first term that he was reelected to the House in 1901. His burgeoning political career was cut short, however, by his death that October at age 66. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://bouseblog.wordpress.com/2015/07/10/ball-square/|accessdate=2018-01-21|date=July 10, 2015|title=Ball Square|author=Matt Bouse}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Ball Square was formerly the site of the storied Willow Jazz Club. In the 1990s, a fire destroyed several commercial businesses on Broadway, and as those businesses were replaced, an economic transformation began that continues today, with long-time businesses such as Lyndell's Bakery, which dates to the 19th century, along the same stretch as newcomers. |
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Ball Square is a planned stop on the [[Green Line (MBTA)|Green Line]] as part of the [[MBTA]]'s [[Green Line Extension|anticipated extension]] of the surface rail line. |
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The Medford Branch of the [[Green Line Extension]] opened on December 12, 2022, with [[Ball Square station]] one of five new stations.<ref name=dec12>{{cite news |url=https://www.wbur.org/news/2022/11/17/green-line-extension-medford-branch-opening-december-mbta |title=Final stretch of Green Line Extension will open Dec. 12 |newspaper=WBUR |first=Chris |last=Lisinski |date=November 17, 2022 |access-date=November 17, 2022}}</ref> |
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==External links== |
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[[Category:Somerville, Massachusetts]] |
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[[Category:Neighborhoods in Massachusetts]] |
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'''East Somerville''' is a [[neighborhood]] in the eastern part of the city of [[Somerville, Massachusetts|Somerville]]. The community stretches east along Broadway from [[McGrath Highway|Massachusetts Route 28]] to [[Sullivan Square (Boston)|Sullivan Square]] and [[Interstate 93]] on the city line with the [[Boston|Boston, Massachusetts]] neighborhood of [[Charlestown, Massachusetts|Charlestown]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.somervillema.gov/departments/ospcd/planning-and-zoning/broadway |title= Broadway: Winter Hill to East Somerville |first= Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development |website= somervillema.gov |publisher= City of Somerville |accessdate=6 December 2013}}</ref> |
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{{Reflist}} |
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Originally part of Charlestown, East Somerville is one of the oldest and most densely settled areas of Somerville. Initially a farming community where Charlestown residents pastured their cows, East Somerville later provided respite from the stresses of Boston and city life when roads, bridges and the arrival of the railroad made it an accessible and convenient location. |
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One of the most significant historic events featuring East Somerville was [[Paul Revere|Paul Revere's]] “Midnight Ride” in 1775. On his journey, he rode his horse starting from Charlestown down Washington Street and up Crescent Street near the present-day [[Holiday Inn]]. Revere then rode directly onto Broadway, which brought him through [[Winter Hill]] to [[Medford|Medford, Massachusetts]] Every year on [[Patriots' Day]], Somerville celebrates the historical ride through the town.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://somervillenews.typepad.com/the_somerville_news/2009/04/time-to-remember-paul-reveres-somerville-ties.html |title= Time to remember Paul Revere's Somerville ties |last1= Stafford |first1= Steven |date=19 April 2009 |publisher= Somerville News |accessdate=6 December 2013}}</ref> |
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In the 19th century, East Somerville was distinguished by a [[drumlin]], a long, oval mound of clay formed by glacial movement, called Mt. Benedict. Led by a group [[Roman Catholic]] [[Ursulines|Ursuline]] [[nun]]s, the primarily [[Italian-American]] Mt. Benedict community founded a [[convent]] and school in 1824 overlooking the [[Mystic River]]. The school began to enroll primarily the daughters of the Protestant (primarily liberal [[Unitarianism|Unitarian]]) [[upper class]]es of Boston; by 1834 there were 47 students, only six of whom were Catholic. The lower classes of Boston, predominantly conservative Protestants, came to see the perceived union between two classes of people they distrusted as a threat. This inflamed religious tensions in the area, and anti-Catholic protestors in Boston began agitating and crossed into what was then part of Charlestown. During the ensuing [[Ursuline Convent Riots|ensuing conflict]], a Protestant mob burned the convent to the ground on August 11, 1834. The land was later sold off and used to fill the nearby marshes. Today, some people still refer to the area north of Broadway as the ‘Nunnery Grounds’ alluding to this incident.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://somervillebackintheday.blogspot.com/2011/12/talking-with-barbara-cassesso-about.html |title= Talking with Barbara Cassesso about the Nunnery Grounds |last1= Chase |first1= Kristi |date= 20 Decemeber 2011 |website= Somerville Back In The Day |publisher= SCATV - Somerville's Community Media Center |accessdate=6 December 2013}}</ref> |
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In the 1840s and 1850s extensive development began with an urban model that called for narrow streets and small residential lots. The buildings from this era provide a distinguished collection of [[Greek Revival]] and [[Italianate]] style houses that are important to East Somerville. Many examples of this architecture can be found on upper Mt. Vernon, Mt. Pleasant and Perkins Street. Pearl Street was developed in the 1870s and 1880s as a grand boulevard on the ridge overlooking Boston, with large single family homes that have since been subdivided.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.eastsomervillemainstreets.org/Meet_es.html |title= Meet East Somerville |website= eastsomervillemainstreets.org |publisher= East Somerville Main Streets 1 |accessdate=6 December 2013}}</ref> |
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Since the 1890s, the area comprised of mostly Irish, Italian, French Canadian and Greek immigrants. The first recent distinct ethnic group to come to Somerville were from [[Cape Verde]], and began to arrive in the 1960s and 1970s. The [[Cape Verdean|Cape Verdean American]] population marked the beginning of a [[Portuguese-speaking|Portuguese language]] community that has increased ever sicnce. Since the mid-1970s other groups have flocked to the area as well, including Haitians, Salvadorians, Brazilians and people from other Latin American countries. Attracted by the affordable housing, good schools and the close proximity to Boston, East Somerville is today the densest and most diverse neighborhood in the city.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.wbur.org/2012/05/21/somerville-new-identity |title= With Checkered Past, Somerville Celebrates Its New Identity |last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |date= 21 May 2012 |website= wbur.org |publisher= 90.9 WBUR |accessdate=6 December 2013}}</ref> |
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==Transportation== |
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While Several rail lines traverse East Somerville, no rapid transit or commuter rail lines stop in East Somerville. The [[Sullivan Square Station|Sullivan Square (MBTA Station)]] on the [[MBTA Orange Line|Orange Line (MBTA)]] is located just to the east of East Somerville, in Charlestown. The nearest [[MBTA Commuter Rail]] station located across the [[Charles River]] at [[North Station|North Station (MBTA)]]. Several [[bus lines|MBTA Bus]] also travel through East Somerville, including the |
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{{MBTABus|80}}, {{MBTABus|90}}, {{MBTABus|91}} and the {{MBTABus|CT2}}. These buses provide feeder service to the rapid transit lines and employment centers, but suffer from travel delays on congested local roads.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.somervillema.gov/departments/ospcd/transportation-and-infrastructure/transit |title= Transportation and Infrastructure - Transit |first= Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development |website= somervillema.gov |publisher= City of Somerville |accessdate=6 December 2013}}</ref> |
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{{reflist}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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{{Portal|Boston}} |
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* [http://www.somervillema.gov/ Official website] |
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[[Massachusetts]]. |
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{{Middlesex County, Massachusetts}} |
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{{Massachusetts}} |
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{{Greater_Boston}} |
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[[Category:Somerville, Massachusetts]] |
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[[Category:Neighborhoods in Somerville, Massachusetts]] |
[[Category:Neighborhoods in Somerville, Massachusetts]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Squares in Somerville, Massachusetts]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Middlesex County, Massachusetts]] |
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Latest revision as of 07:07, 22 April 2024
Ball Square is a neighborhood primarily in Somerville, Massachusetts, United States, but also extending into Medford, at the intersection of Boston Avenue and Broadway, located between Powder House Square and Magoun Square. It is primarily a residential area with a handful of shops and restaurants along Broadway. Located on the edge of the neighborhood surrounding Tufts University, Ball Square contains a mix of businesses serving the student and academic populations as well as those reflecting the more blue-collar neighborhoods to the east.
The Brown School, opened in 1900, is located on Willow Avenue and serves the neighborhood's children from kindergarten to fifth grade. It is the only K-5 school in the Somerville School District.
Ball Square station on the MBTA Green Line is located adjacent to the square.
History
[edit]Ball Square was named for John Nichols Ball (1835–1901). Following in the path of his uncle, Ball opened an insole factory in 1883 at 686 Broadway, between Josephine and Rogers Avenues. A respected businessman, Ball took up politics in 1895. That year, he began his term as a member of Somerville's Common Council. In 1897, Ball was elected to the Somerville Board of Aldermen and by the next year served as board president. Ball was discussed as a potential Republican candidate for mayor. Instead, he chose to enter state politics, running successfully as Representative for the 7th Middlesex District in 1900. Ball was well liked enough in his first term that he was reelected to the House in 1901. His burgeoning political career was cut short, however, by his death that October at age 66. [1]
Ball Square was formerly the site of the storied Willow Jazz Club. In the 1990s, a fire destroyed several commercial businesses on Broadway, and as those businesses were replaced, an economic transformation began that continues today, with long-time businesses such as Lyndell's Bakery, which dates to the 19th century, along the same stretch as newcomers.
The Medford Branch of the Green Line Extension opened on December 12, 2022, with Ball Square station one of five new stations.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ Matt Bouse (July 10, 2015). "Ball Square". Retrieved 2018-01-21.
- ^ Lisinski, Chris (November 17, 2022). "Final stretch of Green Line Extension will open Dec. 12". WBUR. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
External links
[edit]- A guide to bars, restaurants, and shops in Ball Square at ballsquaresomerville.com