Perched on the shady side of Moss Hill, one of Jamaica Plain’s highest hills, Hopkins Road is surrounded by world-famous landmarks including Larz Anderson Park, The Clay Center Observatory at Dexter School, Showa Institute on the former Nazareth Home site, and The British School of Boston. Hopkins Road was named for Sabina Hopkins McCourt, mother of Francis M. McCourt who developed the street in 1926.
Read MoreSince at least 1662, Centre St crossed Stony Brook over a wooden plank bridge near Heath Lane. That intersection is today known as Jackson Square, a familiar crossroads at Columbus Ave. and Centre Street, but no public record has been found to determine who the Square was named after.
Read MoreAn explanation of the municipal history of Jamaica Plain - from part of the Town of Roxbury, to the City of Roxbury to the Town of West Roxbury and finally, annexation to Boston.
Read MoreA person who wanders across Allandale Road with care will pass into the Allandale Woods, a vast natural tract of public land with ancient farm roads and newer bridle paths that extend to the valley of Saw Mill Brook and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway.
Read MoreAs the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council formed in 1985 and in 1987 when the Jamaica Plain Historical Society was founded, the location of Jamaica Plain’s boundaries became a subject of discussion. From time to time, especially at the edges of the neighborhood, residents wonder where Jamaica Plain begins and ends.
Read MoreJamaica Plain has two streets named after the Chestnut tree with its distinctive leaves and blossoms. They probably got their names from these prominent trees that years ago grew on location here.
Read MoreIn the Victorian era, skating was the favorite winter activity of locals - the Jamaica Pond was their place to undertake this pastime.
Read MoreExcerpts from an illustrated lecture given to the Jamaica Plain Tuesday Club at the Loring-Greenough House on December 2, 1952
Read MoreIn the Victorian era Jamaica Plains' 200 acre Moss Hill was also known as Bowditch Hill, named for one branch of the Bowditch family of Salem fame, who lived there. Grandfather Jonathan Bowditch brought his family to Moss Hill in the mid-19th century.
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