Pill Hill, Brookline, Massachusetts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pill Hill, Brookline, Massachusetts
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Neighborhood of Brookline, Massachusetts
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Massachusetts |
| County | Norfolk |
| City | Brookline |
| ZIP Codes |
02445
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| Area code(s) | 617 |
Pill Hill, also known as "High Street Hill," is a neighborhood in Brookline, Massachusetts. It's part of the larger Greater Boston area in the United States.
Contents
History of Pill Hill
How Pill Hill Joined Brookline
Pill Hill became part of Brookline in 1844. Before that, it was part of the city of Boston.
The Underground Railroad Connection
A famous abolitionist named Samuel Philbrick lived in Brookline during the mid-1800s. An abolitionist was someone who worked to end slavery. His home at 182 Walnut Street became a stop on the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network that helped enslaved people escape to freedom.
Why is it Called Pill Hill?
The neighborhood got its nickname "Pill Hill" because many doctors lived there. This was probably because it was close to hospitals in the Longwood Medical and Academic Area of Boston. "High Street Hill" is the older and more official name for the area.
Pill Hill is also a special place because it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Pill Hill Historic District. It's one of seven special historic districts in Brookline.
Exploring Pill Hill's Geography
Where is Pill Hill Located?
Pill Hill is mainly found along High Street. It also includes other streets like Allerton Street, Cumberland and Pond Avenues, and Hawthorn, Glen, and Edgehill Roads.
Pill Hill's Neighbors
Pill Hill shares borders with other parts of Brookline. To the north, you'll find Brookline Village. To the south is a neighborhood known as The Point, or "Whiskey Point."
Pill Hill is also next to Olmsted Park and Leverett Pond to its east. These are part of Greater Boston's Emerald Necklace park system. This parkland then borders the Boston neighborhoods of Jamaica Plain and Mission Hill. The neighborhood is also close to Route 9, which is a big highway in Massachusetts.
What's the Weather Like in Brookline?
| Climate data for Brookline, MA | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 72.0 (22.2) |
70.0 (21.1) |
89.0 (31.7) |
94.0 (34.4) |
97.0 (36.1) |
100.0 (37.8) |
104.0 (40.0) |
102.0 (38.9) |
102.0 (38.9) |
90.0 (32.2) |
83.0 (28.3) |
76.0 (24.4) |
104.0 (40.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 36.0 (2.2) |
39.0 (3.9) |
45.0 (7.2) |
56.0 (13.3) |
66.0 (18.9) |
76.0 (24.4) |
82.0 (27.8) |
80.0 (26.7) |
72.0 (22.2) |
61.0 (16.1) |
52.0 (11.1) |
41.0 (5.0) |
58.83 (14.91) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 22.0 (−5.6) |
25.0 (−3.9) |
31.0 (−0.6) |
41.0 (5.0) |
50.0 (10.0) |
60.0 (15.6) |
65.0 (18.3) |
65.0 (18.3) |
57.0 (13.9) |
47.0 (8.3) |
38.0 (3.3) |
28.0 (−2.2) |
44.08 (6.71) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −30.0 (−34.4) |
−18.0 (−27.8) |
−8.0 (−22.2) |
11.0 (−11.7) |
31.0 (−0.6) |
41.0 (5.0) |
50.0 (10.0) |
46.0 (7.8) |
34.0 (1.1) |
25.0 (−3.9) |
−2.0 (−18.9) |
−17.0 (−27.2) |
−30.0 (−34.4) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.36 (85) |
3.38 (86) |
4.32 (110) |
3.74 (95) |
3.49 (89) |
3.68 (93) |
3.43 (87) |
3.35 (85) |
3.44 (87) |
3.94 (100) |
3.99 (101) |
3.78 (96) |
43.9 (1,120) |
Brookline is in the USDA 6b Plant Hardiness zone. This zone helps gardeners know which plants can survive the winter in the area.
Who Lives in Pill Hill?
Different Backgrounds
Many different people live in Pill Hill. The most common backgrounds include Irish, various Asian groups, English, Italian, and Russian. A small number of residents also have Spanish ancestry.
About 18% of the people living in Pill Hill were born in other countries.
Languages Spoken
Most households in Pill Hill speak English, about 73%. Other languages you might hear include Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, and French.
Pill Hill's Culture and Buildings
Neighborhood Life
Pill Hill is mostly a place where people live. However, it also has some businesses, especially along Boylston Street, which is also Route 9.
Beautiful Architecture
If you visit Pill Hill, you'll see many examples of Victorian architecture. This style of building was popular during the time of Queen Victoria.
Places to See in Pill Hill
- Philbrick Square: This is a park that was designed in the 1880s by a famous landscape architect named Frederick Law Olmsted.
- Free Hospital for Women: This historic hospital has been in Pill Hill since 1895. It's now part of Brigham and Women's Hospital.
- Hotel Adelaide: This historic building on High Street used to be a hotel. Now, it has been turned into apartments where people live.
- Eliphalet Spurr House: Located at 103 Walnut Street, this is the oldest building in the Pill Hill neighborhood.
Getting Around Pill Hill
Train and Subway Access
Pill Hill is close to Brookline Village. This makes it easy to use the MBTA's Green Line trains. You can catch the D-train at the Brookline Village (MBTA station) stop.
Pill Hill is also near the Green Line E-train line in the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston. The Riverway stop is a good option. Both the D and E Green Lines can take you to downtown Boston.
Bus Service
You can also get around Pill Hill using the MBTA bus service.
Schools in Pill Hill
Local Public School
The main public school for children in this area is the William H. Lincoln School.
Famous People from Pill Hill
Many interesting people have lived in Pill Hill, including:
- Arthur Bowditch, an architect who designed and lived at 12 Maple St.
- Gloria Braggiotti, a dancer and writer, who lived at 78 Upland Rd. as a child.
- Mario Braggiotti, a pianist, who also lived at 78 Upland Rd. as a child.
- John W. Candler, a politician, who lived at 99 High St.
- William Bosworth Castle, a doctor and scientist, who lived at 22 Irving St.
- Walter Channing, a physician, who lived at 138 High St.
- Sara R. Ehrmann, a community leader, who lived at 14 Irving St.
- Carl Fehmer, an architect, who lived at 70 Upland Rd.
- Max Fiedler, a conductor, who lived at 100 High St.
- Prescott F. Hall, a lawyer, who lived at 127 High St.
- Roland Hayes, a famous singer and composer, who lived at 58 Allerton St. for 50 years.
- Helen Hopekirk, a pianist and composer, who lived at 169 Walnut St.
- Walter Harrington Kilham, an architect, who designed and lived at 33 Edgehill Rd.
- Arthur Dehon Little, a chemist, who lived at 107 Upland Rd.
- Judith Eleanor Motley Low, an architect and founder of a landscape architecture school, who lived at 28 Allerton St.
- Arthur Nikisch, a conductor, who lived at 100 High St. in 1889.
- Robert Swain Peabody, an architect, who designed many houses in Pill Hill and lived at 50 Edgehill Rd.
- Samuel Philbrick, the abolitionist mentioned earlier, who lived in Pill Hill in the mid-1800s.
- John Rock, a doctor specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, who lived at 28 Allerton St.
- John Daniel Runkle, a president of MIT, who lived at 84 High St.
- John H. Sherburne, a lawyer and politician, who lived at 92 High St.
- Moorfield Storey, a lawyer and civil rights leader, who lived at 44 Edgehill Rd.
- Charles Storer Storrow, a civil engineer, who lived at 70 Upland Rd. from 1878 to 1885.
- Charles Pickard Ware, an educator and abolitionist, who lived at 195 Walnut St. in the 1880s.
Photo gallery
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Philbrick Square.
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44 Edgehill Rd.
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22 Irving St.
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Free Hospital for Women.
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100 Upland Rd.
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Hotel Adelaide.
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78 Upland Rd.
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