Coolidge Corner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Coolidge Corner, Brookline, Massachusetts
|
|
|---|---|
|
Neighborhood of Brookline, Massachusetts
|
|
Intersection of Harvard and Beacon Streets, Coolidge Corner, Brookline, MA
|
Coolidge Corner is a lively neighborhood in Brookline, Massachusetts, United States. It's a busy spot where Beacon Street and Harvard Street meet. This area got its name from a general store called Coolidge & Brother. That store opened way back in 1857. For many years, it was the only business in northern Brookline! Today, Coolidge Corner is known for its unique shops, restaurants, and a famous movie theater.
Contents
What Makes Coolidge Corner Special?
Coolidge Corner was designed for people to easily walk around. It feels very friendly to pedestrians. You'll find many cool places here. These include coffee shops, small independent stores, and unique restaurants. There's even a popular independent bookstore.
The neighborhood also has a large Jewish community. There are big synagogues on both Beacon and Harvard streets. Near the border with Boston, you can find special Jewish shops. These include a bookstore, a gift shop, and a kosher butcher.
Places to Visit
- President Kennedy's Birthplace: Just a short walk from Coolidge Corner, at 83 Beals Street, is the house where John F. Kennedy, a former U.S. President, was born. It's now a National Historic Site. The National Park Service takes care of it. You can visit and learn about his early life.
- Coolidge Corner Theatre: This amazing movie theater has been showing films since 1933! It's a beautiful Art Deco building. The theater is a non-profit arts place. It shows independent films, international movies, and documentaries. It's one of the last original big screen movie houses left in the country. The main theater has a stage and seats 700 people.
- The S.S. Pierce Building: This historic building was built in 1897. It was originally an S.S. Pierce grocery store. It's a special Tudor-style building. You can easily spot it because of its large clock tower. The tower can be seen from almost anywhere in Coolidge Corner. The original tower was damaged in a storm in 1944. It was then replaced with the one you see today.
- The Brookline Booksmith: This is a major independent bookstore in Coolidge Corner. It often hosts authors who come to read from their books. They also sell used books in the basement. Most author readings happen there.
- Restaurants and Events: Coolidge Corner has many different restaurants. You can find places that sell crêpes, falafel, and various Asian foods. The Coolidge Corner Merchants' Association often hosts fun events. These include author readings, family game nights, and seasonal sidewalk sales.
- Farmer's Market: Coolidge Corner also has a popular weekly farmer's market. It takes place on Thursdays from June through November.
Getting Around
Public Transportation
Coolidge Corner is easy to reach by public transport.
Light Rail and Subway
The MBTA's Green Line C branch serves Coolidge Corner. The Coolidge Corner station is right in the middle of Beacon Street. This train line runs on a special track.
Bus
The #66 MBTA bus route goes through Coolidge Corner. It travels along Harvard Street. This bus route connects Nubian Square to Harvard Square. It's one of the MBTA's busiest bus routes. This means it has many riders and runs very often.
Schools in Coolidge Corner
Public Schools
Coolidge Corner is home to a public elementary school for students from kindergarten to 8th grade. This school was once called the Edward Devotion School. In 2018, the town decided to change its name. This was because Edward Devotion had owned slaves. The community chose a new name together. In November 2019, the town voted to rename the school the Florida Ruffin Ridley school. This new name became official in September 2020.
