Brookline Town Green Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Brookline Town Green Historic District
|
|
First Parish in Brookline
|
|
 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Chestnut Pl., Fairmont, Dudley, Boyston, Walnut and Warren Sts., Hedge, Codman, and Kennard Rds., Brookline, Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Built | 1717 |
| Architect | Gridley James Fox Bryant, et al |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Greek Revival, Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000650 |
| Added to NRHP | June 22, 1980 |
The Brookline Town Green Historic District is a special area in Brookline, Massachusetts. It shows where the town first began a long time ago. This district is centered around Walnut Street. It was once the most important part of town. Here, the first meeting house and cemetery were built. This area was the center of town life until the early 1800s. The district became a protected historic place in 1980. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
Discovering Brookline's Past
The area we now call Brookline was once known as Muddy River. This name came from a crossing point over the Muddy River. The town of Brookline officially became a town in 1705. The leaders chose a spot for their first meeting house and cemetery. This spot was close to the middle of the town back then.
Brookline's First Town Hall
Brookline is special because its first town hall is still standing. This building was made of stone in 1825. Today, it is used as the parish hall for the First Parish Church. You can find it on Walnut Street. The town's Old Burying Ground is also very old. It was created around the same time. It is located at Walnut and Chestnut Streets.
How the Town Center Moved
In the early 1800s, a new road opened. It was called the Worcester Turnpike. Today, it is Massachusetts Route 9. This new road changed things for Brookline. The town's main center of activity moved. It shifted to an area called Brookline Village. Later in the 1800s, the farms around the old town center were divided up. People built fancy new homes there.
What You Can See Today
The historic district has many interesting places. It includes the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site. This site honors a famous landscape architect. He designed many parks, including Central Park in New York City. The district is next to other historic areas too. One of these is the Green Hill Historic District.
Images for kids
-
First Parish in Brookline
