Readville, Boston facts for kids

Readville is a neighborhood located in the city of Boston. It is part of the larger Hyde Park area. Readville has its own special postal code, 02136.

For a long time, this area was known as Dedham Low Plains, starting in 1655. In 1847, it was renamed Readville after a mill owner named James Read. Until 1867, Readville was actually part of the nearby town of Dedham.

You can get to Readville using the MBTA Commuter Rail at the Readville station. The neighborhood is bordered by the town of Milton to the south and the town of Dedham to the west. One of the oldest bridges in Massachusetts, Paul's Bridge, is found at the entrance to Readville when you come from Milton.

The Boston Police Department District E-18, located in Hyde Park, helps keep Readville safe. There is also a fire station on Neponset Valley Parkway that houses Boston Engine Company 49. Readville is home to several businesses that make things, known as light industries.

Readville's History

Readville has a rich history, especially during the American Civil War.

Camp Meigs: A Civil War Training Site

During the Civil War, Readville was home to a very important training camp called Camp Meigs. This camp was where soldiers for the Union Army learned how to fight. One famous group that trained here was the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. Their story was even told in the movie Glory.

Another notable group that trained at Camp Meigs was the 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry. Half of these soldiers came all the way from California by sea to train in Readville before heading to Virginia for the war. Today, you can find plaques and small monuments at what is now called Meigs Field, remembering this important history. Another camp, Camp Massasoit, was also set up in 1861.

Changing Communities in Readville

For much of the 1900s, many families in Readville were of Irish-American and Italian-American backgrounds. Over time, the neighborhood has become home to many different people, including African-American and Hispanic and Latino residents.

Churches and Notable Residents

Readville is home to several important places of worship and has been home to famous people.

Places of Worship

The Blue Hill Community Church is a church that started in 1888. It is open to people of all Christian backgrounds. Famous moments in history happened here:

• Phillips Brooks gave his very last sermon at this church.
• His famous Christmas carol, "O Little Town of Bethlehem", was first performed here.
• Samuel Francis Smith first read his poem "America" at this church. This poem later became the well-known song "My Country Tis of Thee".

St. Anne's Roman Catholic Church also serves as the local Catholic church for the community.

Famous People from Readville

Some well-known people have lived in Readville. These include:

• Thomas Menino, who was a former Mayor of Boston.
• Angelo Scaccia, who served as a Massachusetts State Representative.

Natural Beauty and Transportation

Readville offers beautiful views and is an important hub for transportation.

Nature and Open Spaces

In the early 1900s, Readville had a popular horse racing track called Readville Trotting Park. This property later became a large warehouse and is now used for different types of storage.

Readville offers excellent views of Great Blue Hill and the Blue Hills Reservation, which is a large park area. The neighborhood also has a wetlands area called Fowl Meadow, which is important for nature. The Neponset River is another beautiful natural feature that flows through the area.

Readville's Rail History

Readville was once home to the very large New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Locomotive and Car Shops. These shops were places where trains were built and repaired, but they closed in 1960.

Today, the CSX Railroad still uses part of the Readville Freight Yard along Prescott Street for moving goods. The MBTA Commuter Rail also has a facility near Wolcott Square where they do light maintenance and service their passenger cars. The Amtrak Northeast Corridor, a major train route, also runs through Readville, sharing tracks with the MBTA Commuter and CSX freight trains.