South Medford, Massachusetts facts for kids
South Medford is a neighborhood located in the southern part of Medford, Massachusetts. It's a historic area with a rich past, close to the big city of Boston. Many people call South Medford home, and it has a strong community feel.
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A Look Back in Time: South Medford's History
Medford was started in 1630 by English settlers. For over 200 years, the area was mostly farmland. Many important buildings, like the South Medford Baptist church, were built during this time.
Famous Rides and Historic Homes
Did you know that Paul Revere's famous midnight ride, which warned colonists about the British, went right through South Medford? Today, people still re-enact this historic event every year!
The Isaac Royall House is another important place in South Medford. It's a very old house that was once owned by Isaac Royall, Jr., who helped start Harvard Law School. During the American Revolutionary War, important leaders like George Washington used this house. Now, it's a National Historic Landmark and a museum where you can learn about local history.
Getting Around: Roads and Railways
In the early days, there were only a few main roads. But over time, more roads were built to help people travel. Companies also built canals, like the Middlesex Canal, and railroads, like the Boston and Lowell Railroad. These helped people and goods move around much faster.
In 1845, the historic Stearns House was built. Its owner, George Luther Stearns, was a very important person who fought against slavery. He worked with famous people like Abraham Lincoln and helped recruit soldiers for the 54th and 55th Massachusetts regiments during the American Civil War.
Growth and New Connections
Tufts University, a well-known college, was started in South Medford in 1852. This brought more people and activity to the area.
In the late 1800s, electric streetcars (trolleys) started running, making it easier to travel to nearby towns like Everett and even downtown Boston. Later, these trolleys were replaced by buses. More recently, Interstate 93, a major highway, was built between 1956 and 1963, connecting South Medford to other places.
Where is South Medford?
South Medford is located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. It's only about 2 miles away from the big city of Boston. The area was once called "Mistick Field" before it became part of Medford in 1754.
South Medford covers about 2.344 square miles and has a population of 22,132 people. This means it's a pretty busy place with lots of homes close together! You can even see the Prudential Tower in Boston from some parts of South Medford.
A Mix of Cultures
In the early 1900s, many Italian and Irish immigrants moved to areas around Boston. South Medford became a popular place for Italian-Americans to settle. They brought their rich cultural traditions with them, much like they did in Boston's North End.
Today, South Medford is still known for its strong Italian-American and Irish-American communities. You might even hear people speaking Italian, and there's a bocce court (a traditional Italian game) at the South Medford Fire Station. Some say South Medford has more Italian bakeries than Boston's North End!
Parks and Green Spaces
South Medford has several parks where people can relax and play:
- Tufts Park
- Columbus Park - This park has two baseball fields and a basketball court, perfect for sports.
- Barry Park
- Spicer Field
Well-Known People from South Medford
Many talented people have come from South Medford, especially in sports!
- Mike Pagliarulo - A former professional baseball player for the NY Yankees and San Diego Padres.
- Joe Sacco - An NHL and U.S. Olympic hockey star.
- Dave Sacco - Also an NHL and U.S. Olympic hockey star.
- Keith Tkachuk - Another NHL and U.S. Olympic hockey star.
- Shawn Bates - An NHL hockey star who played for the Boston Bruins and NY Islanders.
- Terri Lyne Carrington - A Grammy Award-winning jazz drummer, composer, and producer.
