Roslindale is a neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts, bordered by Jamaica Plain,
Hyde Park, West Roxbury,
Mattapan and Dorchester.
It is served by a stop on the MBTA Needham Heights
commuter rail line, as well as many bus lines which pass through Roslindale Square, where Washington Street meets
Cummins Highway and Corinth Street.
Six miles south-southwest of downtown Boston, Roslindale was originally part of the town of Roxbury. In 1851, current day
Jamaica Plain, Roslindale and West Roxbury seceded from Roxbury to become the Town of West Roxbury. The area voted in 1873 to be
annexed to the City of Boston.[1]
In the 1880s, the area was called South Street Crossing, due to the railroad's intersection with South Street. However, when
the community applied for a post office district of its own, the name "South Street Crossing" proved to be unacceptable to the
government. The name "Roslindale" was suggested by John Pierce, a well-traveled member of the community, who told the assembled
citizens that the area reminded him of the beautiful historic town of Roslin,
Scotland, outside Edinburgh. Pierce thought the area was
like a dale because of the hills surrounding it. Thus the combination of "Roslin" and "dale" were submitted to the
United States Postal Service and the name "Roslindale" was formally
established.[2]
Roslindale grew residentially as a classic streetcar suburb. The railway, which
currently serves as the Needham Line of the MBTA
Commuter Rail, was built after the American Civil War, and spawned a new round
of commercial development. Roslindale saw steady growth in its residential population, beginning in the 1880s, with the
introduction of the horse-drawn street railway service between Forest Hills and
Dedham.
On March 14 1887, a Boston & Providence Railroad train, inbound to Boston, was passing over a bridge at
Bussey Street, in the current Arnold Arboretum, when the bridge
collapsed, killing twenty-three and injuring several hundred.[1] This is considered one of the first major rail catastrophes in the country, and
contributed to the widespread inspection of train bridges across the U.S.[2]
In the 1920s, Roslindale Village assumed the configuration it has today, with Adams Park at its center and easy access to rail
and bus lines. Roslindale continues to experience residential and commercial growth.[citation needed]
Roslindale Village (still called Roslindale Square or "Rozzy Square" by long-time residents) is home to several restaurants, a
number of boutiques, a couple of discount stores, the largest independent pharmacy in Massachusetts, one of the largest
model train displays in New
England and a large bust of Alexander the Great, dedicated by the mayor of
Athens, Greece. Adams Park, the center of the square, is home to
the annual neighborhood Easter egg hunt and summertime concerts. North of the square, closely
packed triple deckers provide an urban tone. To the west of the square, Victorian houses
border the Arnold Arboretum. South of the square, homes on Grew
Hill and Metropolitan Hill have a more suburban character. Roslindale is a diverse neighborhood,
the ethnic breakup as of 2000 was 56% Non-Hispanic White, 16% Black or African-American, 25% Hispanic or Latino and 3%
Asian-American.[citation needed]
In the early part of the 20th century, William Fox, for whom 20th Century Fox is named, built a summer mansion on Metropolitan Avenue; he would take the train up
from New York City. His house still stands, although one section was eventually carved off
and moved a few dozen yards away. Nearby, a pedestrian bridge connects Roslindale to Hyde Park over the Amtrak and MBTA rail lines. The bridge has been closed due to safety concerns.
Notable residents
References
- ^ Local Attachments : The Making of an American Urban Neighborhood, 1850
to 1920 (Creating the North American Landscape), by Alexander von Hoffman, The Johns Hopkins University Press (1996), ISBN
0-8018-5393-1
- ^ a b Anthony Mitchell Sammarco (1997). Images of America—Roslindale. Arcadia
Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-0424-5.
External links
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