Hyde Park, Boston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hyde Park
|
||
|---|---|---|
The First Congregational Church of Hyde Park
|
||
|
||
| Nickname(s):
A Small Town in the City
|
||
| Motto(s):
Si Tentas Perfice (Latin)
"If you begin, finish" |
||
| Country | United States | |
| State | Massachusetts | |
| County | Suffolk | |
| Neighborhood of | Boston | |
| Incorporated | April 22, 1868 | |
| Annexed by Boston | January 1, 1912 | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | |
| ZIP Code |
02136
|
|
| Area code | 617/857 | |
Hyde Park is a neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts, located in the southernmost part of the city. It's about 7.9 miles south of downtown Boston. Hyde Park is known for having a mix of people, homes, and community groups. It feels like a small town, even though it's part of a big city.
The area is covered by Boston Police District E-18. The Boston Fire Department also has a station here. Boston EMS Ambulance Station 18 is on Dana Avenue. Hyde Park also has its own branch of the Boston Public Library.
The George Wright Golf Course is partly in Hyde Park. It's named after Baseball Hall of Fame player George Wright. This course was designed by Donald Ross and is considered one of his best.
Hyde Park has the motto "A Small Town in the City" because of its suburban feel. The area started in the 1660s. It became a center for making paper and cotton in the 1700s. When train lines from Boston were extended in the 1850s, more homes were built. The Readville part of Hyde Park had big factories. These included the B. F. Sturtevant Company and the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad shops.
Hyde Park and its residents have played a role in important social changes in the United States. It was once home to the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. This was the first all African-American army unit. The movie Glory made this regiment famous. Hyde Park was also home to important people who worked to end slavery. These included the Grimké sisters, Sarah and Angelina, and Theodore Dwight Weld.
Contents
What's in a Name?
Hyde Park is named after the famous park in England. That park opened in 1637.
A Look Back: Hyde Park's History
How Hyde Park Started
In 1845, a businessman named Henry Grew visited an area south of Boston. He found a lovely view of the Blue Hills. He bought land there and moved in 1847. This area became known as "Grew's Woods."
Later, a group called the Hyde Park Land Company bought more land. They started building houses near a train stop. This stop was on the Boston and Providence Railroad. The station there today is Hyde Park Station.
Another person, Alpheus Perley Blake, helped found Hyde Park. He started the Fairmount Land Company in 1856. This led to a new bridge and another train station, Fairmount Station. The two land companies eventually joined. The area grew quickly.
By 1867, there were six train stations in the area. People wanted to create a new town. After sorting out land with nearby towns, Hyde Park became an official town on April 22, 1868. It was part of Norfolk County. In 1912, the town voted to join the City of Boston. It then became part of Suffolk County.
Important Moments in History
The 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry unit was formed and trained in Readville. This was one of the first official African-American units in the United States Army. It was led by Col. Robert G. Shaw during the Civil War.
In the 1960s, Hyde Park residents worried about a highway plan. This plan would have cut through the neighborhood. Residents worked together to stop it. They held a big protest called "People Before Highways Day." This helped stop the project.
Hyde Park has also had a busy industrial past. For over 100 years, it was home to the Westinghouse Sturtevant Corporation. The Stop & Shop warehouse was also in Readville for many years.
Community Spirit in Hyde Park
Two important Hyde Park residents were sisters Sarah Moore Grimké and Angelina Emily Grimké. They worked hard to end slavery. They also fought for women's right to vote.
In the 1970s, there were big changes in Boston's public schools. This led to many public meetings and protests in Hyde Park. People worked together to try and form a new school district.
Hyde Park is home to a large Haitian community. Many arrived from Haiti in the 1980s and 1990s. The Boston Public Schools created a special program for them. This program helps Haitian students learn to read and write.
The Boston Redevelopment Authority is working on new plans for Hyde Park. These plans aim to improve the area. They focus on public transportation and making it easier to walk around.
Buildings and Landmarks
Hyde Park's main business area has many historic buildings. The neighborhood's old municipal building was built after it joined Boston in 1912. The Hyde Park YMCA was built in 1902. It was updated in 2010.
The Most Precious Blood Church was finished in 1885. The Parish of Christ Church was completed in 1895. The neighborhood library, part of the Boston Public Library, was built in 1899. An addition in 2000 doubled its size.
An opera house built in 1897 is now home to Hyde Park's Riverside Theatre Works. The Readville neighborhood has many old warehouses and factories. Fairmount Hill has many homes built in different styles from the late 1800s and early 1900s.
A main community resource is the BCYF Hyde Park Community Center. It is located in the old Hyde Park Municipal Building. The center offers many activities. These include adult classes, computer training for seniors, and youth sports.
Hyde Park also has one of Boston's two city golf courses. The George Wright Golf Course is named after a famous baseball player.
There are 11 parks and playgrounds in Hyde Park. The Stony Brook Reservation is the largest. It has over 400 acres of land and 10 miles of hiking paths. Other parks include Lacono Playground.
Bronze plaques decorate the area near the Hyde Park Library. These plaques remember special people and events from Hyde Park's history.
Riverside Theater Works is a live theater. It has a 156-seat opera house. It offers musical theater classes. It also hosts recitals, meetings, and community events.
Living in Hyde Park
Homes and Housing
Hyde Park has about 12,000 homes. About 60% of these homes are owned by the people who live in them. The number of rental homes grew by 3% between 2000 and 2010.
The Boston Housing Authority has a public housing complex called Fairmont. It has 202 homes. These homes are mainly for low-income residents and older people.
Fun Facts About Living Here
Hyde Park offers many city benefits but in a suburban setting. The cost of living is fair, especially for all the resources available. The total crime rate is lower than the national average. The high school graduation rate is 83%. The average household income is higher than Boston's average. The median housing cost is also a bit lower than Boston's average.
Learning in Hyde Park
Schools for All Ages
The Boston Public School system runs the public schools in Hyde Park. Elementary and middle schools include the Henry S. Grew and the Franklin D. Roosevelt K-8 School.
Local public charter schools include Academy of the Pacific Rim and Boston Preparatory Charter Public School.
Hyde Park has had a public high school since its early days. The first building for Hyde Park High School was built in 1902. In 2005, the high school became the Hyde Park Education Complex. It housed three smaller high schools. The complex closed in 2011. Now, Boston Community Leadership Academy (BCLA) and New Mission High School (NMHS) are in the building.
Private Schools
Hyde Park is home to the private schools Boston Trinity Academy and New Beginnings Academy.
Colleges and Universities
Hyde Park is home to the private Boston Baptist College. It is located on Fairmount Hill.
Libraries and Learning Centers
The Boston Public Library operates the Hyde Park Branch Library. This library won an award for its design. Construction on the original building finished in 1899. In 1912, it became part of the Boston Public Library. A major renovation and addition were completed in 2000.
Getting Around Hyde Park
Hyde Park has train service from the MBTA Commuter Rail. There are three stations: [[{{{station}}} (MBTA station)|{{{station}}}]], [[{{{station}}} (MBTA station)|{{{station}}}]], and [[{{{station}}} (MBTA station)|{{{station}}}]]. Several MBTA bus routes also run through Hyde Park. These buses connect to the subway system.
Famous Faces from Hyde Park
Many notable people have lived in Hyde Park:
- Ricardo Arroyo, a Boston City Councilor.
- Rebecca Lee Crumpler, the first black female doctor in the United States.
- Arthur Vining Davis, an important figure in the company Alcoa.
- Manny Delcarmen, a baseball pitcher.
- Ted Donato, a hockey player and coach.
- Robert Frederick Drinan, a priest, lawyer, and human rights activist.
- John Joseph Enneking, an American Impressionist painter.
- Angelina Emily Grimké, an abolitionist and suffragist.
- Archibald Grimké, an African-American lawyer and journalist.
- Childe Hassam, a famous artist.
- Thomas Menino, a former mayor of Boston.
- Stephen J. Murphy, a politician.
- Maura Tierney, an actress known for NewsRadio and ER.
- William Monroe Trotter, an African American activist and newspaper editor.
- Theodore Dwight Weld, an abolitionist writer who helped start the Hyde Park library.
