Cypress–Emerson Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Cypress–Emerson Historic District
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Waverly Street near Emerson Park
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly bounded by Waverly, Emerson, and Cypress Sts., Brookline, Massachusetts |
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| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th century revivals, late Victorian |
| MPS | Brookline MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 85003257 |
| Added to NRHP | October 17, 1985 |
The Cypress–Emerson Historic District is a special neighborhood in Brookline, Massachusetts. It's on the west side of Brookline Village. This area includes Waverly and Cypress Streets, plus Emerson Park. Many of its buildings were built after the American Civil War. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. This means it's an important place to protect because of its history.
Exploring the Cypress–Emerson Historic District
This historic district is a residential area. It's located on the west side of Brookline Village. The district is mainly around Waverly and Cypress Streets. It also includes the lovely Emerson Park.
How the Neighborhood Grew
Back in colonial times, Brookline Village was known as "Muddy River." It grew into the town's main business area in the mid-1800s. The land to the west, where the district is now, was mostly farmland. This changed after the American Civil War ended in 1865.
Cypress Street is a very old road. It was first built in the early 1700s. In 1856, it was made wider. By the 1880s, many houses lined Cypress Street. A single builder constructed seven of these homes. They all shared similar styles, like Queen Anne and Second Empire.
Homes and Parks in the District
Waverly Street and Emerson Street also saw development. This happened in the 1870s and 1880s. The land for these streets belonged to Moses Jones and Elijah Emerson. The Emerson family's original homes once stood where Emerson Park is today.
When Elijah Emerson's family sold the land for the park, their houses were moved. One house went to 72 Davis Avenue. The other moved to 74 White Place. This allowed the town to create the park for everyone to enjoy.
The historic district covers parts of Cypress Street and Waverly Street. It also includes Emerson Street and Emerson Gardens park. One interesting home is at 109-111 Davis Avenue. This was the home of Charles Rutan. He was a famous architect. He designed this house and two others nearby.
The oldest house in the entire district is at 60 Waverly Street. It was built in 1827. This house is in the Greek Revival style. It was built even before the area was divided into smaller lots for development.
