Winter Hill, Somerville, Massachusetts facts for kids
Winter Hill is a neighborhood in Somerville, Massachusetts, United States. It gets its name from a 120-foot tall hill that is a big part of its landscape. This name has been used since the 1700s! Winter Hill is located north of Medford Street, west of McGrath Highway, and east of Magoun Square.
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Exploring Winter Hill's Past
Maps from long ago show Winter Hill's importance. An early map from 1637, found in the papers of John Winthrop's family, includes parts of this neighborhood. A map from the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775 also shows Winter Hill to the northwest.
Winter Hill Fort and the Revolution
A map made in 1777 by Henry Pelham shows the Winter Hill Fort. This fort was a large part of the "Military Works" during the American Revolutionary War. Not much of the original fort structure is left today. A map called "Plan of the Rebels Works" in the Library of Congress gives us an idea of what it looked like. This fort was also shown on a map by John Montrésor, which noted it was part of Charlestown at that time.
Paul Revere's Famous Ride
The famous "Midnight Ride" of Paul Revere went right over Winter Hill! This exciting event is re-enacted every year as part of the Patriots' Day celebrations in the Boston area.
Historic Homes and Features
Many buildings in Winter Hill are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Adams-Magoun House, the Charles Adams-Woodbury Locke House, the Broadway Winter Hill Congregational Church, and the Elisha Hopkins House. You can also find old but still working fire alarm call boxes made by the Gamewell company, which are a cool historical feature.
A President's Connection
From 1988 to 1991, Barack Obama lived in an apartment in the Langmaid Terrace building on Winter Hill. He lived there while he was a student at Harvard Law School.
Changes Over Time
Today, Winter Hill has a mix of old, restored homes and classic "triple decker" buildings. These are multi-family houses that are very common in this area. The neighborhood is experiencing gentrification, which means property values and rents are going up. Despite these changes, Winter Hill still feels like a close-knit community and is home to many people with Irish and Italian backgrounds.
Local Spots and Fun Things to Do
Winter Hill has many great places to eat and visit. You can find pizza at Mama Lisa's and Leone's, or try Sarma and Tipping Cow for other treats. The Winter Hill Bakery and the Winter Hill Brewing Company are also popular spots. New restaurants, cafes, and shops are always being planned.
Community Resources
Neighborhood Produce is a small, local grocery store that serves the community. It's located on Medford Street, right next to the Winter Hill Community School. The Theater Coop, a live theater group, is located between Foss Park and the local supermarket. Nearby, in East Somerville, you can find Mudflat, a community pottery studio, and Daniel Maher Stained Glass, a group of stained glass artists.
Parks and Outdoor Fun
Foss Park is located at the base of Winter Hill, next to Interstate 93. The park has a large, colorful mural behind its public swimming pool. It's a popular place for many sports, especially soccer. Long ago, a part of the Middlesex Canal was located on the land where this park now stands.
Getting Around Winter Hill
The Green Line train system has been extended to the Winter Hill area. This project, called the GLX, added new stations at Medford Street (Gilman Square) and Lowell Street (Magoun Square). Train service started in December 2022.
Train Track Updates
As of December 2023, workers were still making some updates to the train tracks. This was because the tracks were first installed with a slightly different gauge (the distance between the rails). Workers fixed the tracks in the evenings, while trains continued to run during the day.
