Medford, Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
Medford is a city in Middlesex County
, Massachusetts
, in the United States
, on the Mystic River
, five miles northwest of downtown Boston
. In the 2010 U.S. Census, Medford's population was 56,173. It is the home of Tufts University
.
, when Thomas Dudley
referred to it as "Mistick" (a name which persisted for many decades), which his party renamed "Meadford". In 1634, the land north of the Mystic River became the private plantation of former Governor Matthew Cradock
; across the river was Ten Hills Farm, which belonged to John Winthrop
, Governor of the Massachusetts Bay colony. The name may have come from a description of the "meadow
by the ford" in the Mystic River, or from two locations that Cradock may have been familiar with in England: the hamlet of Mayford or Metford in Staffordshire
near Caverswall
, or from the parish of Maidford or Medford (now Towcester
, Northamptonshire
).
In 1637, the first bridge (a toll bridge
) across the Mystic River was built at the site of the present-day Cradock Bridge, near Medford Square. It would be the only bridge across the Mystic until 1787, and as such became a major route for traffic coming into Boston from the north (though ferries and fords were also used).
Until 1656, all of northern Medford was owned by Cradock, his heirs, or Edward Collins. Medford was governed as a "peculiar" or private plantation. As the land began to be divided among several people from different families, the new owners began to meet and make decisions locally and increasingly independently from the Charlestown town meeting. In 1674, a Board of Selectmen was elected, in 1684, the colonial legislature granted the ability to raise money independently, and in 1689, a representative to the legislature was chosen. The town got its own religious meeting room in 1690, and a secular meeting house in 1696.
(now Winchester
). Parts of Medford were transferred to Charlestown in 1811, Winchester in 1850 ("Upper Medford"), and Malden in 1879. Additional land was transferred to Medford from Malden (1817), Everett (1875), and Malden (1877) again.
The population of Medford went from 230 in 1700 to 1,114 in 1800. After 1880, the population rapidly expanded, reaching 18,244 by 1900. Farmland was divided into lots and sold to build residential and commercial buildings, starting in the 1840s and 1850s; government services expanded with the population (schools, police, post office) and technological advancement (gas lighting, electricity, telephones, railways). Tufts University was chartered in 1852 and the Crane Theological School
at Tufts opened in 1869.
Medford was incorporated as a city in 1892 and was a center of industry, including the manufacture of brick
and tile
, rum, Medford Crackers, and clipper
ships such as the White Swallow
and the Kingfisher
, both built by Hayden & Cudworth.
Other major commercial transportation projects included the Middlesex Canal
by 1803, the Boston and Lowell Railroad
in West Medford in the 1830s, and the Boston and Maine Railroad
to Medford Center in 1847.
A horse-powered street railway
began running to Somerville and Charlestown in 1860. The street railway network expanded in the hands of various private companies, and went electric in the late 1890s, when trolleys to Everett and downtown Boston were available. Streetcars were converted to buses in the 20th century. Interstate 93
was constructed between 1956 and 1963.
and naturalist, Leopold Trouvelot, was attempting to breed a better silkworm using Gypsy moth
s. Several of the moth
s escaped from his home, at 27 Myrtle Street. Within ten years, the insect had denuded the vegetation in the neighborhood. It spread over North America.
wrote "Jingle Bells
" after watching a sleigh race from Medford to Malden
. Another local resident, Lydia Maria Child (1802–1880), made a poem out of the trip across town to her grandparents' house
, now the classic song "Over the River and Through the Woods
".
, author of one of the world's most famous cookbooks—as well as James Plimpton, the man credited with the 1863 invention of the first practical four-wheeled roller skate, which set off a roller craze that quickly spread across the United States and Europe.
George Luther Stearns
, an American industrialist and one of John Brown's Secret Six
. His passion for the abolitionist cause shaped his life, bringing him into contact with the likes of Abraham Lincoln
and Ralph Waldo Emerson
and starting The Nation
magazine. He was given the rank of major by Massachusetts Governor John Andrew
and spent most of the Civil War recruiting for the 54th
and 55th Massachusetts regiments and the 5th cavalry.
Amelia Earhart
lived in Medford while working as a social worker in 1925.
Elizabeth Short, the victim of an infamous Hollywood murder and who became known as The Black Dahlia
, was born in Hyde Park (the southernmost neighborhood of the city of Boston
, Massachusetts) but raised in Medford before going to the West Coast looking for fame.
The Peter Tufts House
(350 Riverside Ave.) is thought to be the oldest all-brick building in New England. Another important site is the "Slave Wall" on Grove Street, built by "Pomp," a slave owned by the prominent Brooks family. The Isaac Royall House
, which once belonged to one of Harvard Law School
's founders, Isaac Royall, Jr.
, is a National Historic Landmark
and a local history museum. The house was used by Continental Army
troops, including George Washington
and John Stark
, during the American Revolutionary War
.
Medford has sent more than its share of athletes to the National Hockey League
; Shawn Bates
, though born in Melrose, MA grew up in Medford, as did Keith Tkachuk
, Mike Morrison
, David Sacco
, and Joe Sacco. Former Red Sox pitcher Bill Monbouquette
grew up in Medford.
Medford was home to Michael Bloomberg
, American businessman, philanthropist
, and the founder of Bloomberg L.P.
, who is currently serving as the Mayor of New York City
. Mayor Bloomberg attended Medford High School and resided in Medford until after he graduated from college. His mother remained a resident of Medford until her death in 2011.
The only cryobank of amniotic stem cells
in the United States is located in Medford, built by Biocell Center
, a biotechnology company led by Giuseppe Simoni
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 8.6 square miles (22.3 km²), of which, 8.1 square miles (21 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it (5.79%) is water.
A park called the Middlesex Fells Reservation
, to the north, is partly within the city. This 2060 acres (8 km²) preserve is shared by Medford with the municipalities of Winchester
, Stoneham
, Melrose
, and Malden
. The Mystic River
flows roughly west to southeast through the middle of the city.
, one of the wealthiest men in post-colonial America, and father-in-law to Charles Francis Adams
— and is also home to an historic African-American neighborhood that dates to the Civil War.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 55,765 people, 22,067 households, and 13,505 families residing in the city. The population density
was 6,851.3 people per square mile (2,645.1/km²). There were 22,687 housing units at an average density of 2,787.3 per square mile (1,076.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.45% White, 6.10% African American, 0.11% Native American, 3.87% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.14% from other races
, and 2.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.59% of the population.
There were 22,067 households out of which 23.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.6% were married couples
living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.8% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the city the population was spread out with 17.9% under the age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $52,476, and the median income for a family was $62,409. Males had a median income of $41,704 versus $34,948 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $24,707. About 4.1% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.7% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.
Medford has three Public, educational, and government access
(PEG) cable TV channels. The Public-access television
channel is TV3, The Educational-access television is channel 15 and 16 is the Government-access television (GATV) municipal channel.
Elementary
Middle School
High School
City Council
School Committee
bus lines go through Medford. On Medford's east side, Wellington station
on the Orange Line
provides a connection to Boston and the entire rapid transit system. On the west side, the Lowell Commuter Rail Line
stops in West Medford Square
.
Discussion of bringing the Green Line
into Medford, as is mandated by environmental mitigation
provisions of the Big Dig project, is ongoing. On February 2, 2009, the state formally endorsed extending the Green Line through Medford, terminating near the intersection of Boston Avenue and Mystic Valley Parkway (Massachusetts Route 16). As proposed, the terminus would not have parking facilities. The extension would serve an additional 10,000 potential Green Line riders.
Joseph's Limousine and Transportation (located in Medford) runs a bus line through the city, and also picks up passengers going to other parts of Greater Boston or out of state.
Interstate 93
travels roughly north–south through the city. State routes passing through Medford include 16
, 28, 38, and 60.
_map,_1852.jpg)
Middlesex County, Massachusetts
-National protected areas:* Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge* Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge* Longfellow National Historic Site* Lowell National Historical Park* Minute Man National Historical Park* Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, on the Mystic River
Mystic River
The Mystic River is a river in Massachusetts, in the United States. Its name derives from the Wampanoag word "muhs-uhtuq", which translates to "big river." In an Algonquian language, "Missi-Tuk" means "a great river whose waters are driven by waves", alluding to the natural tidal nature of the...
, five miles northwest of downtown Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. In the 2010 U.S. Census, Medford's population was 56,173. It is the home of Tufts University
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
.
1600s
Medford was settled in 1630 as part of CharlestownCharlestown, Massachusetts
Charlestown is a neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States, and is located on a peninsula north of downtown Boston. Charlestown was originally a separate town and the first capital of the Massachusetts Bay Colony; it became a city in 1847 and was annexed by Boston on January 5, 1874...
, when Thomas Dudley
Thomas Dudley
Thomas Dudley was a colonial magistrate who served several terms as governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Dudley was the chief founder of Newtowne, later Cambridge, Massachusetts, and built the town's first home...
referred to it as "Mistick" (a name which persisted for many decades), which his party renamed "Meadford". In 1634, the land north of the Mystic River became the private plantation of former Governor Matthew Cradock
Matthew Cradock
Matthew Cradock was a London merchant, politician, and the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Company. Founded in 1628, it was an organization of Puritan businessmen that organized and established the Massachusetts Bay Colony...
; across the river was Ten Hills Farm, which belonged to John Winthrop
John Winthrop
John Winthrop was a wealthy English Puritan lawyer, and one of the leading figures in the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the first major settlement in New England after Plymouth Colony. Winthrop led the first large wave of migrants from England in 1630, and served as governor for 12 of...
, Governor of the Massachusetts Bay colony. The name may have come from a description of the "meadow
Meadow
A meadow is a field vegetated primarily by grass and other non-woody plants . The term is from Old English mædwe. In agriculture a meadow is grassland which is not grazed by domestic livestock but rather allowed to grow unchecked in order to make hay...
by the ford" in the Mystic River, or from two locations that Cradock may have been familiar with in England: the hamlet of Mayford or Metford in Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
near Caverswall
Caverswall
Caverswall is a village and parish in Staffordshire, to the south west of Staffordshire Moorlands.- Etymology :The name Caverswall is thought to have its origins in the Saxon words Cafhere, a personal noun, and Waelle, which meant spring or well.By the time of the Domesday Book the village was...
, or from the parish of Maidford or Medford (now Towcester
Towcester
Towcester , the Roman town of Lactodorum, is a small town in south Northamptonshire, England.-Etymology:Towcester comes from the Old English Tófe-ceaster. Tófe refers to the River Tove; Bosworth and Toller compare it to the "Scandinavian proper names" Tófi and Tófa...
, Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
).
In 1637, the first bridge (a toll bridge
Toll bridge
A toll bridge is a bridge over which traffic may pass upon payment of a toll, or fee.- History :The practice of collecting tolls on bridges probably harks back to the days of ferry crossings where people paid a fee to be ferried across stretches of water. As boats became impractical to carry large...
) across the Mystic River was built at the site of the present-day Cradock Bridge, near Medford Square. It would be the only bridge across the Mystic until 1787, and as such became a major route for traffic coming into Boston from the north (though ferries and fords were also used).
Until 1656, all of northern Medford was owned by Cradock, his heirs, or Edward Collins. Medford was governed as a "peculiar" or private plantation. As the land began to be divided among several people from different families, the new owners began to meet and make decisions locally and increasingly independently from the Charlestown town meeting. In 1674, a Board of Selectmen was elected, in 1684, the colonial legislature granted the ability to raise money independently, and in 1689, a representative to the legislature was chosen. The town got its own religious meeting room in 1690, and a secular meeting house in 1696.
1700s and 1800s
The land south of the Mystic River was known as "Mistick Field". It was transferred from Charlestown to Medford in 1754. This grant also included the "Charlestown Wood Lots" (the Medford part of the Middlesex Fells), and part of what was at the time WoburnWoburn, Massachusetts
Woburn is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. The population was 38,120 at the 2010 census. Woburn is located north of Boston, Massachusetts, and just south of the intersection of I-93 and I-95.- History :...
(now Winchester
Winchester, Massachusetts
Winchester is a town located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, eight miles north of Boston. With its agricultural roots having mostly disappeared, it is now an affluent suburb...
). Parts of Medford were transferred to Charlestown in 1811, Winchester in 1850 ("Upper Medford"), and Malden in 1879. Additional land was transferred to Medford from Malden (1817), Everett (1875), and Malden (1877) again.
The population of Medford went from 230 in 1700 to 1,114 in 1800. After 1880, the population rapidly expanded, reaching 18,244 by 1900. Farmland was divided into lots and sold to build residential and commercial buildings, starting in the 1840s and 1850s; government services expanded with the population (schools, police, post office) and technological advancement (gas lighting, electricity, telephones, railways). Tufts University was chartered in 1852 and the Crane Theological School
Crane Theological School
The Crane Theological School was a Universalist seminary at Tufts University founded in 1869 as the Tufts College Divinity School and closed in 1968. It was one of three Universalist seminaries founded in America during the nineteenth century. The Crane Theological School was a Universalist...
at Tufts opened in 1869.
Medford was incorporated as a city in 1892 and was a center of industry, including the manufacture of brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
and tile
Tile
A tile is a manufactured piece of hard-wearing material such as ceramic, stone, metal, or even glass. Tiles are generally used for covering roofs, floors, walls, showers, or other objects such as tabletops...
, rum, Medford Crackers, and clipper
Clipper
A clipper was a very fast sailing ship of the 19th century that had three or more masts and a square rig. They were generally narrow for their length, could carry limited bulk freight, small by later 19th century standards, and had a large total sail area...
ships such as the White Swallow
White Swallow (clipper)
The White Swallow was an extreme clipper built in Boston in 1853 for the California trade.-Voyages:"She made three runs from Boston to S.F. and six from N.Y. to S.F. The fastest was 110 days and the slowest 150; average of the fastest 4, 122 days...
and the Kingfisher
Kingfisher (clipper)
The Kingfisher was an 1853 extreme clipper that sailed on the San Francisco route. She was one of the longest lived clipper ships, with a sailing life of 36 years and 5 months.-Construction:...
, both built by Hayden & Cudworth.
Transportation
During the 17th century, a handful of major public roads (High Street, Main Street, Salem Street, "the road to Stoneham", and South Street) served the population, but the road network started a long-term expansion in the 18th century. The Medford Turnpike Company was incorporated in 1803, but turned what is now Mystic Avenue over to the city in 1866. The Andover Turnpike Company was incorporated in 1805, but turned what is now Forest Street and Fellsway West over to Medford in 1830.Other major commercial transportation projects included the Middlesex Canal
Middlesex Canal
The Middlesex Canal was a 27-mile barge canal connecting the Merrimack River with the port of Boston. When operational it was 30 feet wide, and 3 feet deep, with 20 locks, each 80 feet long and between 10 and 11 feet wide...
by 1803, the Boston and Lowell Railroad
Boston and Lowell Railroad
The Boston and Lowell Railroad is a historic railroad that operated in Massachusetts. It was one of the first railroads in North America and the first major one in the state...
in West Medford in the 1830s, and the Boston and Maine Railroad
Boston and Maine Railroad
The Boston and Maine Corporation , known as the Boston and Maine Railroad until 1964, was the dominant railroad of the northern New England region of the United States for a century...
to Medford Center in 1847.
A horse-powered street railway
Horsecar
A horsecar or horse-drawn tram is an animal-powered streetcar or tram.These early forms of public transport developed out of industrial haulage routes that had long been in existence, and from the omnibus routes that first ran on public streets in the 1820s, using the newly improved iron or steel...
began running to Somerville and Charlestown in 1860. The street railway network expanded in the hands of various private companies, and went electric in the late 1890s, when trolleys to Everett and downtown Boston were available. Streetcars were converted to buses in the 20th century. Interstate 93
Interstate 93
Interstate 93 is an Interstate Highway in the New England section of the United States. Its southern terminus is in Canton, Massachusetts, in the Boston metropolitan area, at Interstate 95; its northern terminus is near St. Johnsbury, Vermont, at Interstate 91...
was constructed between 1956 and 1963.
Gypsy moth
In 1868, a French astronomerAstronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
and naturalist, Leopold Trouvelot, was attempting to breed a better silkworm using Gypsy moth
Gypsy moth
The gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar, is a moth in the family Lymantriidae of Eurasian origin. Originally ranging from Europe to Asia, it was introduced to North America in the late 1860s and has been expanding its range ever since...
s. Several of the moth
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
s escaped from his home, at 27 Myrtle Street. Within ten years, the insect had denuded the vegetation in the neighborhood. It spread over North America.
Holiday songs
In a tavern and boarding house on High Street (Simpson's Tavern) in the late 19th century, local resident James PierpontJames Pierpont (musician)
James Lord Pierpont was an American songwriter, arranger, organist, and composer, best known for writing and composing Jingle Bells in 1857, originally entitled "The One Horse Open Sleigh". He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and died in Winter Haven, Florida...
wrote "Jingle Bells
Jingle Bells
"Jingle Bells" is one of the best-known and commonly sung winter songs in the world. It was written by James Lord Pierpont and published under the title "One Horse Open Sleigh" in the autumn of 1857...
" after watching a sleigh race from Medford to Malden
Malden, Massachusetts
Malden is a suburban city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 59,450 at the 2010 census. In 2009 Malden was ranked as the "Best Place to Raise Your Kids" in Massachusetts by Bloomberg Businessweek Magazine.-History:...
. Another local resident, Lydia Maria Child (1802–1880), made a poem out of the trip across town to her grandparents' house
Grandfather's House
Grandfather's house, at 114 South Street, Medford, Massachusetts, is the original house named in the American song "Over the River and through the Woods". Some versions of the song mention Grandmother's house; it is unclear which is the correct phrase...
, now the classic song "Over the River and Through the Woods
Over the River and through the Woods
"Over the River and through the Woods" is a Thanksgiving song by Lydia Maria Child. Written originally as a poem, it appeared in her Flowers for Children, Volume 2, in 1844. The title of the poem is, "A Boy's Thanksgiving Day". It celebrates her childhood memories of visiting her Grandfather's House...
".
Other notables
Medford was home to Fannie FarmerFannie Farmer
Fannie Merritt Farmer was an American culinary expert whose Boston Cooking-School Cook Book became a widely used culinary text.-Biography:...
, author of one of the world's most famous cookbooks—as well as James Plimpton, the man credited with the 1863 invention of the first practical four-wheeled roller skate, which set off a roller craze that quickly spread across the United States and Europe.
George Luther Stearns
George Luther Stearns
George Luther Stearns was an American industrialist and merchant, as well as a noted recruiter of blacks for the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Biography:...
, an American industrialist and one of John Brown's Secret Six
Secret Six
The Secret Six, or the Secret Committee of Six, were six wealthy and influential men who secretly funded the American abolitionist, John Brown. They were Thomas Wentworth Higginson, Samuel Gridley Howe, Theodore Parker, Franklin Benjamin Sanborn, Gerrit Smith, and George Luther Stearns...
. His passion for the abolitionist cause shaped his life, bringing him into contact with the likes of Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
and Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American essayist, lecturer, and poet, who led the Transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century...
and starting The Nation
The Nation
The Nation is the oldest continuously published weekly magazine in the United States. The periodical, devoted to politics and culture, is self-described as "the flagship of the left." Founded on July 6, 1865, It is published by The Nation Company, L.P., at 33 Irving Place, New York City.The Nation...
magazine. He was given the rank of major by Massachusetts Governor John Andrew
John Albion Andrew
John Albion Andrew was a U.S. political figure. He served as the 25th Governor of Massachusetts between 1861 and 1866 during the American Civil War. He was a guiding force behind the creation of some of the first U.S. Army units of black men—including the famed 54th Massachusetts Infantry.-Early...
and spent most of the Civil War recruiting for the 54th
54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry
The 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that saw extensive service in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was one of the first official black units in the United States during the Civil War...
and 55th Massachusetts regiments and the 5th cavalry.
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Mary Earhart was a noted American aviation pioneer and author. Earhart was the first woman to receive the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross, awarded for becoming the first aviatrix to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean...
lived in Medford while working as a social worker in 1925.
Elizabeth Short, the victim of an infamous Hollywood murder and who became known as The Black Dahlia
Black Dahlia
"The Black Dahlia" was a nickname given to Elizabeth Short is an American woman and the victim of a gruesome and much-publicized murder. She acquired the moniker posthumously by newspapers in the habit of nicknaming crimes they found particularly colorful...
, was born in Hyde Park (the southernmost neighborhood of the city of Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts) but raised in Medford before going to the West Coast looking for fame.
The Peter Tufts House
Peter Tufts House
The Peter Tufts House is a Colonial American house located at 350 Riverside Avenue, formerly known as Ship Street in Medford, Massachusetts. It is currently thought to have been built between 1677-1678...
(350 Riverside Ave.) is thought to be the oldest all-brick building in New England. Another important site is the "Slave Wall" on Grove Street, built by "Pomp," a slave owned by the prominent Brooks family. The Isaac Royall House
Isaac Royall House
The Isaac Royall House is a historic house located at 15 George Street, Medford, Massachusetts. It is a National Historic Landmark, operated as a non-profit museum, and open for public visits between June 1 and the last weekend in October....
, which once belonged to one of Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
's founders, Isaac Royall, Jr.
Isaac Royall, Jr.
Isaac Royall, Jr. was a colonial American slaveholder who played an important role in the creation of Harvard Law School.He was the son of Isaac Royall, an Antiguan slaveholder who moved his family to Medford, Massachusetts in the early 18th century...
, is a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
and a local history museum. The house was used by Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
troops, including George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
and John Stark
John Stark
John Stark was a New Hampshire native who served as a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. He became widely known as the "Hero of Bennington" for his exemplary service at the Battle of Bennington in 1777.-Early life:John Stark was born in Londonderry, New...
, during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
.
Medford has sent more than its share of athletes to the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
; Shawn Bates
Shawn Bates
Shawn William Bates is an American professional ice hockey center and is currently a free agent. He previously played in the National Hockey League for the Boston Bruins and New York Islanders.- College :...
, though born in Melrose, MA grew up in Medford, as did Keith Tkachuk
Keith Tkachuk
Keith Matthew Tkachuk is a retired American professional ice hockey player who played for four teams and three franchises in his 19-year career. He is one of only four American-born players to score 500 goals, and is the sixth American player to score 1,000 points.- Playing career :Tkachuk began...
, Mike Morrison
Mike Morrison
Michael Morrison is an American professional ice hockey player. Morrison is currently playing for Florida Everblades in East Coast Hockey League.-Playing career:...
, David Sacco
David Sacco
David Anthony Sacco is a retired professional ice hockey player. Drafted 195th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft, Sacco played 35 games in the National Hockey League with the Maple Leafs and Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, scoring a total of 5 goals and 13 assists for 18...
, and Joe Sacco. Former Red Sox pitcher Bill Monbouquette
Bill Monbouquette
William Charles Monbouquette is an American former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher...
grew up in Medford.
Medford was home to Michael Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg
Michael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...
, American businessman, philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
, and the founder of Bloomberg L.P.
Bloomberg L.P.
Bloomberg L.P. is an American privately held financial software, media, and data company. Bloomberg makes up one third of the $16 billion global financial data market with estimated revenue of $6.9 billion. Bloomberg L.P...
, who is currently serving as the Mayor of New York City
Mayor of New York City
The Mayor of the City of New York is head of the executive branch of New York City's government. The mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and state laws within New York City.The budget overseen by the...
. Mayor Bloomberg attended Medford High School and resided in Medford until after he graduated from college. His mother remained a resident of Medford until her death in 2011.
The only cryobank of amniotic stem cells
Amniotic stem cells
Amniotic stem cells are multipotent stem cells of mesenchymal origin extracted from amniotic fluid.Amniotic stem cells are able to differentiate into various tissue type such as skin, cartilage, cardiac tissue, nerves, muscle, and bone, and may have potential future medical applications.All over...
in the United States is located in Medford, built by Biocell Center
Biocell Center
Biocell Center is an international company specializing in the cryopreservation and private banking of amniotic fluid stem cells. The company is headquartered in Italy with several international locations and is involved with numerous partnerships and research studies of amniotic fluid stem...
, a biotechnology company led by Giuseppe Simoni
Giuseppe Simoni
Giuseppe Simoni is an Italian biologist and scientist. He was born in Pavia, Italy in 1944, and obtained his degree in biology at the University of Milan, where he later became a professor of genetics and biology for thirteen years....
.
Medford and the law
Medford is home to some famous crimes:- A few crooked officers of the Medford Police and Metropolitan District Commission Police forces pulled off one of the biggest bank robberies and jewel heists in world history in 1980, robbing the Depositors Trust bank over the Memorial Day weekend. The book The Cops Are Robbers: A Convicted Cop's True Story of Police Corruption is based upon this event. Salvatore's Restaurant, located at 55 High St in Medford Square, is partially in the same location as the bank that was robbed. The private dining room in the restaurant uses the bank's vault door as an entrance way, and the hole in the corner of the ceiling that the robber's crawled through was left intact for nostagia.
- An admitted Mob execution by SomervilleSomerville, MassachusettsSomerville is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, located just north of Boston. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 75,754 and was the most densely populated municipality in New England. It is also the 17th most densely populated incorporated place in...
's Irish Winter Hill GangWinter Hill GangThe Winter Hill Gang is a structured confederation of Boston, Massachusetts-area organized crime figures, predominantly Irish-American with a small Italian-American faction. It derives its name from the Winter Hill neighborhood of Somerville, Massachusetts north of Boston. Its members have...
of Joe Notarangeli took place at the "Pewter Pot" cafe in Medford Square. - In October 1989, the FBI recorded a Mafia initiation ceremonyAmerican Mafia induction ritualsOver the years, more and more information has been gathered about the sacred mafia induction ceremony. It is said to date back hundreds of years, and to have its origins in Sicily. The ceremony involves significant ritual, oaths, blood, and an agreement is made to follow the rules of the mafia as...
at a home in Medford.
Geography
Medford is located at 42°25′12"N 71°6′29"W (42.419996, −71.107942).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 8.6 square miles (22.3 km²), of which, 8.1 square miles (21 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it (5.79%) is water.
A park called the Middlesex Fells Reservation
Middlesex Fells Reservation
Middlesex Fells Reservation, often referred to simply as the Fells, is a Massachusetts state park located in Malden, Medford, Melrose, Stoneham, and Winchester...
, to the north, is partly within the city. This 2060 acres (8 km²) preserve is shared by Medford with the municipalities of Winchester
Winchester, Massachusetts
Winchester is a town located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, eight miles north of Boston. With its agricultural roots having mostly disappeared, it is now an affluent suburb...
, Stoneham
Stoneham, Massachusetts
Stoneham is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Its population was 21,437 at the 2010 census, down from 22,219 in 2000. The town is the birthplace of Olympic figure skating medalist Nancy Kerrigan and is the home of the Stone Zoo.- History :...
, Melrose
Melrose, Massachusetts
-Government:Robert J. Dolan is the mayor. Melrose is represented in the Massachusetts House of Representatives by Paul Brodeur . Katherine Clark is the state senator for wards 1 through 5 and Thomas McGee is the state senator for wards 6 and 7. Melrose is part of the seventh Congressional...
, and Malden
Malden, Massachusetts
Malden is a suburban city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 59,450 at the 2010 census. In 2009 Malden was ranked as the "Best Place to Raise Your Kids" in Massachusetts by Bloomberg Businessweek Magazine.-History:...
. The Mystic River
Mystic River
The Mystic River is a river in Massachusetts, in the United States. Its name derives from the Wampanoag word "muhs-uhtuq", which translates to "big river." In an Algonquian language, "Missi-Tuk" means "a great river whose waters are driven by waves", alluding to the natural tidal nature of the...
flows roughly west to southeast through the middle of the city.
Neighborhoods
People from Medford often identify themselves with a particular neighborhood.- West Medford
- North Medford (a.k.a. The Heights, North, or Fulton Heights)
- Wellington
- Glenwood
- South MedfordSouth Medford, MassachusettsSouth Medford is the southern part of Medford, Massachusetts. The neighborhood has been predominantly Italian American in South Medford, but one quarter of the residents are non-white....
- Medford Hillside
- Tufts UniversityTufts UniversityTufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
(includes Hillside, South Medford)
- Tufts University
- Lawrence Estates
Demographics
Irish-Americans are a strong presence in the city and live in all areas. West Medford, the most affluent of Medford's many neighborhoods, was once the bastion of some of Boston's elite families— including Peter Chardon BrooksPeter Chardon Brooks
Peter Chardon Brooks was a wealthy Massachusetts merchant born in North Yarmouth, Maine. His father, the Rev. Edward Brooks, moved to Medford, Massachusetts, his native town, in 1769, and here the boyhood of young Brooks was passed in farm work...
, one of the wealthiest men in post-colonial America, and father-in-law to Charles Francis Adams
Charles Francis Adams, Sr.
Charles Francis Adams, Sr. was an American lawyer, politician, diplomat and writer. He was the grandson of President John Adams and Abigail Adams and the son of President John Quincy Adams and Louisa Adams....
— and is also home to an historic African-American neighborhood that dates to the Civil War.
As of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 55,765 people, 22,067 households, and 13,505 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 6,851.3 people per square mile (2,645.1/km²). There were 22,687 housing units at an average density of 2,787.3 per square mile (1,076.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.45% White, 6.10% African American, 0.11% Native American, 3.87% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.14% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.59% of the population.
There were 22,067 households out of which 23.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.6% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.8% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the city the population was spread out with 17.9% under the age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $52,476, and the median income for a family was $62,409. Males had a median income of $41,704 versus $34,948 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $24,707. About 4.1% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.7% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.
Medford has three Public, educational, and government access
Public, educational, and government access
Public, educational, and government access television, refers to three different cable television specialty channels...
(PEG) cable TV channels. The Public-access television
Public-access television
Public-access television is a form of non-commercial mass media where ordinary people can create content television programming which is cablecast through cable TV specialty channels...
channel is TV3, The Educational-access television is channel 15 and 16 is the Government-access television (GATV) municipal channel.
Education
Medford is home to many schools, public and private.Elementary
- Publi
- Christopher Columbus Elementary School
- Brooks Elementary School
- John J. McGlynn Elementary School
- Milton Fuller Roberts Elementary School
- Private (non-sectarian)
- Eliot-Pearson Children's School (PK-2)
- Gentle-Dragon Preschool (PK)
- Merry-Go-Round Nursery School (PK)
- Play Academy Learning Center (PK-K)
- Oakland Park Children's Center (PK)
- Six Acres Nursery School (PK-K) (non-sectarian, but run through Medford Jewish Community Center)
- Private (sectarian)
- St. Joseph's (K-8)
- St. Clement's (PK-6)
- St. Raphael's (PK-8)
Middle School
- John J. McGlynn Middle School
- Madeline Dugger Andrews Middle School
High School
- Publi
- Medford High SchoolMedford High School (Massachusetts)Medford High School is a public high school located in the West Medford section of Medford, Massachusetts on the southwest border of the Middlesex Fells Reservation...
- Medford Vocational Technical High School
- Mascot: Mustang
- Private
- Saint Clement's High SchoolSaint Clement High School (Medford, Massachusetts)Saint Clement High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Medford, Massachusetts. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston....
(7-12)
- Saint Clement's High School
Government
| Voter registration and party enrollment as of October 15, 2008 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Number of voters | Percentage |
Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
16,588 | 46.80% |
Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
2,610 | 7.36% |
Unaffiliated | 16,054 | 45.29% |
Minor Parties | 193 | 0.54% | |
| Total | 35,445 | 100% | |||||||||||||
Local government
- Michael J. McGlynnMichael J. McGlynnMichael J. McGlynn is the Mayor of Medford, Massachusetts. He has been mayor since 1988. He also served from 1977- 1988 as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives representing the 37th Middlesex District .-Education:...
, Mayor - Edward P. Finn, City Clerk
- Stephanie Muccini Burke, Director of Budget & Personnel
City Council
- Robert A. Maiacco, President
- Frederick N. Dello Russo Jr., Vice President
- Mark J. Arena
- Paul A. Camuso
- Breanna Lungo-Koehn
- Michael J. Marks
- Robert M. Penta
School Committee
- Michael J. McGlynnMichael J. McGlynnMichael J. McGlynn is the Mayor of Medford, Massachusetts. He has been mayor since 1988. He also served from 1977- 1988 as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives representing the 37th Middlesex District .-Education:...
, Chairman - George A. Scarpelli, Vice Chairman
- John C. Falco Jr., Secretary
- Ann Marie Cugno
- Sharon K. Guzik
- William J. O'Keefe Jr.
- Paulette Van der Kloot
Transportation
Numerous Massachusetts Bay Transportation AuthorityMassachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, often referred to as the MBTA or simply The T, is the public operator of most bus, subway, commuter rail and ferry systems in the greater Boston, Massachusetts, area. Officially a "body politic and corporate, and a political subdivision" of the...
bus lines go through Medford. On Medford's east side, Wellington station
Wellington (MBTA station)
Wellington is a MBTA station on the Orange Line, located in Medford, Massachusetts, USA on the Revere Beach Parkway slightly east of its intersection with Route 28....
on the Orange Line
Orange Line (MBTA)
The Orange Line is one of the four subway lines of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. It extends from Forest Hills in Jamaica Plain, Boston in the south to Oak Grove in Malden, Massachusetts in the north. It meets the Red Line at Downtown Crossing, the Blue Line at State, and the Green...
provides a connection to Boston and the entire rapid transit system. On the west side, the Lowell Commuter Rail Line
Lowell Line
The Lowell Line is a railroad line of the MBTA Commuter Rail system, running north from Boston to Lowell, Massachusetts. Originally built as the Boston and Lowell Railroad, and later operated as part of the Boston and Maine Railroad's Southern Division, the line was one of the first railroads in...
stops in West Medford Square
West Medford (MBTA station)
West Medford station is located at 481 High Street as it passes through West Medford Square in Medford, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston. It is on the MBTA Lowell Line....
.
Discussion of bringing the Green Line
Green Line (MBTA)
The Green Line is a streetcar system run by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority in the Boston, Massachusetts area of the United States. It is the oldest line of Boston's subway, which is known locally as the 'T'. The Green Line runs underground downtown and on the surface in outlying...
into Medford, as is mandated by environmental mitigation
Environmental mitigation
Environmental mitigation, compensatory mitigation, or mitigation banking, are terms used primarily by the United States government and the related environmental industry to describe projects or programs intended to offset known impacts to an existing historic or natural resource such as a stream,...
provisions of the Big Dig project, is ongoing. On February 2, 2009, the state formally endorsed extending the Green Line through Medford, terminating near the intersection of Boston Avenue and Mystic Valley Parkway (Massachusetts Route 16). As proposed, the terminus would not have parking facilities. The extension would serve an additional 10,000 potential Green Line riders.
Joseph's Limousine and Transportation (located in Medford) runs a bus line through the city, and also picks up passengers going to other parts of Greater Boston or out of state.
Interstate 93
Interstate 93
Interstate 93 is an Interstate Highway in the New England section of the United States. Its southern terminus is in Canton, Massachusetts, in the Boston metropolitan area, at Interstate 95; its northern terminus is near St. Johnsbury, Vermont, at Interstate 91...
travels roughly north–south through the city. State routes passing through Medford include 16
Massachusetts Route 16
Route 16 is an east–west state highway in Massachusetts. It begins in the west at an intersection with Route 12 and Route 193 in Webster, just north of the Connecticut state border...
, 28, 38, and 60.
Points of interest
- Tufts UniversityTufts UniversityTufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
: Though mainly located in Medford, the SomervilleSomerville, MassachusettsSomerville is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, located just north of Boston. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 75,754 and was the most densely populated municipality in New England. It is also the 17th most densely populated incorporated place in...
-Medford border actually runs through Tufts' campus. The school employs many local residents and has many community service projects that serve the city, especially those run through the Leonard Carmichael Society and the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Citizenship and Public ServiceJonathan M. Tisch College of Citizenship and Public ServiceThe Jonathan M. Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service, is a college of Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts...
, the latter of which especially emphasizes public service in Tufts' host communities. - The Unitarian Universalist Church of Medford: Medford's first religious community since 1690.
- Amelia EarhartAmelia EarhartAmelia Mary Earhart was a noted American aviation pioneer and author. Earhart was the first woman to receive the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross, awarded for becoming the first aviatrix to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean...
residence, 76 Brooks Street - John Wade HouseJohn Wade HouseJohn Wade House is a historic house at 253 High Street in Medford, Massachusetts.It was built in 1784 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.-Historic clipper ship:...
, built 1784, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 - Former site of Fannie FarmerFannie FarmerFannie Merritt Farmer was an American culinary expert whose Boston Cooking-School Cook Book became a widely used culinary text.-Biography:...
's house, corner of Paris & Salem Streets - Grandfather's HouseGrandfather's HouseGrandfather's house, at 114 South Street, Medford, Massachusetts, is the original house named in the American song "Over the River and through the Woods". Some versions of the song mention Grandmother's house; it is unclear which is the correct phrase...
- Grace ChurchGrace Episcopal Church (Medford, Massachusetts)The Grace Episcopal Church is an Episcopal church designed by noted American architect H. H. Richardson, with a major stained glass window by John LaFarge. It is located at 160 High Street, Medford, Massachusetts and now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.The church was constructed...
, designed by H. H. Richardson - Gravity Research FoundationGravity Research FoundationThe Gravity Research Foundation, established in 1948 by businessman Roger Babson , was an organization designed to find ways to implement gravitational shielding...
monument at Tufts University - Henry Bradlee Jr. House
- Jingle BellsJingle Bells"Jingle Bells" is one of the best-known and commonly sung winter songs in the world. It was written by James Lord Pierpont and published under the title "One Horse Open Sleigh" in the autumn of 1857...
historical marker, High Street - Salem Street Burying GroundSalem Street Burying GroundSalem Street Burying Ground is a cemetery located at the intersection of Salem Street and Riverside Avenue in Medford, Massachusetts. The Salem Street Burying Ground was used exclusively in the late 17th century to late 19th century for the burial of the town's wealthy.The Salem Street Burying...
Notable residents
- Edwin AdamsEdwin AdamsEdwin Adams was an American stage actor, considered to have been one of America's best light comedians....
, (1834–1877), stage comedian of the 19th century - Lou AntonelliLou AntonelliLouis Sergio Antonelli is an American science fiction and fantasy writer who resides in Mount Pleasant, Texas...
, science fiction writer - Rev. Hosea Ballou IIHosea Ballou IIHosea Ballou II was an American Universalist minister and the first president of Tufts University from 1853 to 1861. He promoted the establishment of seminaries for religious training, something which was at that time opposed by a number of influential Universalists including his uncle Hosea...
Minister of 1st Universalist and 1st president of Tufts College. - Shawn BatesShawn BatesShawn William Bates is an American professional ice hockey center and is currently a free agent. He previously played in the National Hockey League for the Boston Bruins and New York Islanders.- College :...
, professional hockey player, New York IslandersNew York IslandersThe New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... - Jessica BielJessica BielJessica Claire Biel is an American actress, model, and occasional singer. Biel is known for her television role as Mary Camden in the long-running family-drama series 7th Heaven...
, actress, resident while attending Tufts University. - Michael BloombergMichael BloombergMichael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...
, current mayor of New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and... - Dale BozzioDale BozzioDale Bozzio, born Dale Frances Consalvi in Medford, Massachusetts March 2, 1955, is an American progressive rock and new wave vocalist. She is best known as co-founder and lead singer of the 1980s pop/new wave band Missing Persons. She is also known for her work with Frank Zappa...
Lead singer of band Missing Persons, worked with Frank Zappa. - Terri Lyne CarringtonTerri Lyne CarringtonTerri Lyne Carrington is a jazz drummer, composer, record producer and entrepreneur. She has played with jazz legends Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, Clark Terry, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Joe Sample, Al Jarreau, Yellowjackets, and many more...
, jazz drummer - Lydia Maria Child, anti-slave activist, writer of the poem "Over the River and Through the Woods"
- Martha CoakleyMartha CoakleyMartha Mary Coakley is the Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Prior to serving as Attorney General, she was District Attorney of Middlesex County, Massachusetts from 1999 to 2007....
, attorney general of the State of Massachusetts. - Thayer DavidThayer DavidThayer David was a film, stage and television actor. He was best known for his work on the cult ABC serial Dark Shadows and as the fight promoter George Jergens in the Oscar-winning movie Rocky . He also appeared as Count Arne Saknussemm in the film Journey to the Center of the Earth in 1959...
, successful TV and film character actor during 1950s, 60s and 70s - Rich DiMare, singer, producer of the Matty in the Morning Show on WXKS-FMWXKS-FMWXKS-FM, better known as Kiss 108, is a radio station in Boston, Massachusetts, licensed to nearby Medford broadcasting a Top 40 format...
- Amelia EarhartAmelia EarhartAmelia Mary Earhart was a noted American aviation pioneer and author. Earhart was the first woman to receive the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross, awarded for becoming the first aviatrix to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean...
, pioneer aviatrix - Fannie FarmerFannie FarmerFannie Merritt Farmer was an American culinary expert whose Boston Cooking-School Cook Book became a widely used culinary text.-Biography:...
, culinary expert - Frank FontaineFrank FontaineFrank Fontaine was an American comedian and singer.Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, he is best known for his appearances on television shows of the 1950s and 1960s, including The Jackie Gleason Show, The Jack Benny Show, and The Tonight Show.One of his earliest appearances was on the radio show,...
, comedian and singer - Paul GearyPaul GearyPaul Geary is an American rock and roll drummer and manager. He was once the drummer for the Funk metal band, Extreme...
former drummer of the hard rock band ExtremeExtreme (band)Extreme is an American rock band, headed by frontmen Gary Cherone and Nuno Bettencourt, that reached the height of their popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s.Among some of Extreme's musical influences are Queen and Van Halen...
, music manager for acts such as GodsmackGodsmackGodsmack is an American heavy metal band from Lawrence, Massachusetts, formed in 1995. The band is composed of founder, frontman and songwriter Sully Erna, guitarist Tony Rombola, bassist Robbie Merrill, and drummer Shannon Larkin... - ColonelColonelColonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Edward Needles HallowellEdward Needles HallowellEdward "Ned" Needles Hallowell was an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War, commanding the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry following the death of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw at the Second Battle of Fort Wagner in 1863.-Early life:Edward grew up in a well-to-do Quaker family...
, merchant and commander of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry54th Massachusetts Volunteer InfantryThe 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that saw extensive service in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was one of the first official black units in the United States during the Civil War...
in the American Civil WarAmerican Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25... - Bill Hanley, the "father" of Festival Sound (The Beatles, Woodstock, Bob Dylan, The Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, many more ...)
- John Honeycutt, TV producer for the Discovery Networks
- Robert KellyRobert Kelly (comedian)Robert Kelly is an Irish-American stand-up comedian from Boston, Massachusetts. He frequently performs at the Comedy Cellar...
, comedian, TourgasmTourgasmTourgasm was a 30-day 20-show stand-up comedy tour in 2005 featuring Dane Cook and three of his best friends in the industry: Robert Kelly, Gary Gulman and Jay Davis. The tour was filmed in its entirety and aired on HBO as a documentary in June 2006. The documentary was created and directed by Dane...
, Comedy CentralComedy CentralComedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated.... - Brian McGoff, Fetch with Ruff Ruffman cast member
- Laurel McGoffLaurel McGoffLaurel McGoff is an actress known for her appearance in the CBS reality series Kid Nation in 2007. She was born in Medford, Massachusetts.-Television:...
, actress and singer - Maria MenounosMaria MenounosMaria Menounos is a Greek-American actress, journalist, and television presenter known in America for her appearances as a correspondent for Today, Access Hollywood, Extra, and abroad for co-hosting the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 in Athens, Greece.-Early life and beauty pageants:Menounos, a...
, Miss Massachusetts Teen USAMiss Massachusetts Teen USAThe Miss Massachusetts Teen USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Massachusetts in the Miss Teen USA pageant....
1996, media personality (Entertainment TonightEntertainment TonightEntertainment Tonight is a daily tabloid television entertainment television news show that is syndicated by CBS Television Distribution throughout the United States, Canada and in many countries around the world. Linda Bell Blue is currently the program's executive producer...
), actress - Bill MonbouquetteBill MonbouquetteWilliam Charles Monbouquette is an American former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher...
, former Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher 1958-1968 (Red Sox, Tigers, Yankees) - Priscilla MorrillPriscilla MorrillPriscilla Morrill was an American actress best known for her television performance as Lou Grant's wife on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.-Career:...
, actress, played Edie Grant on the Mary Tyler Moore Show - John Forbes NashJohn Forbes NashJohn Forbes Nash, Jr. is an American mathematician whose works in game theory, differential geometry, and partial differential equations have provided insight into the forces that govern chance and events inside complex systems in daily life...
, Princeton professor, winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics - Julianne NicholsonJulianne NicholsonJulianne Nicholson is an American actress. She is known for having played Det. Megan Wheeler on Law & Order: Criminal Intent.-Early life:...
, actress (Ally McBealAlly McBealAlly McBeal is an American legal comedy-drama series which aired on the Fox network from 1997 to 2002. The series was created by David E. Kelley, who also served as the executive producer, along with Bill D'Elia...
, Conviction) - Mike PagliaruloMike PagliaruloMichael Timothy Pagliarulo, aka "Pags" , is a former Major League Baseball third baseman during the 1980s and into the mid 1990s...
, former Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player (Yankees, Twins, Padres, Rangers, Orioles) - Jerry Pallotta, children's book author
- Rev. John PierpontJohn PierpontJohn Pierpont was an American poet, who was also successively a teacher, lawyer, merchant, and Unitarian minister. His most famous poem is The Airs of Palestine.-Overview:...
- James PierpontJames Pierpont (musician)James Lord Pierpont was an American songwriter, arranger, organist, and composer, best known for writing and composing Jingle Bells in 1857, originally entitled "The One Horse Open Sleigh". He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and died in Winter Haven, Florida...
, writer of "Jingle Bells" - Ruth PosseltRuth PosseltRuth Pierce Posselt was an American violinist and educator.-Studies and Performances:...
, classical violinist - William Zebina Ripley, American economistEconomistAn economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
and racial theorist - Robert D. RichardsonRobert D. RichardsonRobert D. Richardson is an American historian, and biographer.-Life:He was brought up in Medford, Massachusetts and Concord, Massachusetts.He graduated from Exeter, in 1952,and from Harvard University, with a PhD....
Historian grew up in the Osgood House - Isaac Royall, Jr.Isaac Royall, Jr.Isaac Royall, Jr. was a colonial American slaveholder who played an important role in the creation of Harvard Law School.He was the son of Isaac Royall, an Antiguan slaveholder who moved his family to Medford, Massachusetts in the early 18th century...
, 18th century benefactor of Harvard - Joe Sacco, NHL Hockey player (Toronto, Anaheim, NY Islanders, Washington & Philadelphia), NHL Hockey coach (Colorado)
- David SaccoDavid SaccoDavid Anthony Sacco is a retired professional ice hockey player. Drafted 195th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft, Sacco played 35 games in the National Hockey League with the Maple Leafs and Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, scoring a total of 5 goals and 13 assists for 18...
, NHL Hockey player (Toronto & Anaheim) - Elizabeth Short, aspiring starlet, brutally mutilated and murdered, dubbed the "Black DahliaBlack Dahlia"The Black Dahlia" was a nickname given to Elizabeth Short is an American woman and the victim of a gruesome and much-publicized murder. She acquired the moniker posthumously by newspapers in the habit of nicknaming crimes they found particularly colorful...
" by the press - Clifford ShullClifford ShullClifford Glenwood Shull was a Nobel Prize-winning American physicist.-Biography:...
, Nobel PrizeNobel PrizeThe Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
winning AmericanUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
physicistPhysicistA physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole... - Rev. Clarence SkinnerClarence Skinner (minister)Clarence Russell Skinner was a Universalist Minister, Teacher, and Dean of the Crane School of Theology at Tufts University. Born in Lexington, Massachusetts. He wrote several books that had a substantial influence on Universalism in America in the twentieth century: The Social Implication of...
Dean of Religion Tufts University, minister of Hillside Universalist Church (1917–1920) Theologian and Pacifist - George Luther StearnsGeorge Luther StearnsGeorge Luther Stearns was an American industrialist and merchant, as well as a noted recruiter of blacks for the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Biography:...
Leading industrialist, one of John Brown's Secret Six, lead recruiter of the 54th and 55th Regiments. - Paul TherouxPaul TherouxPaul Edward Theroux is an American travel writer and novelist, whose best known work of travel writing is perhaps The Great Railway Bazaar . He has also published numerous works of fiction, some of which were made into feature films. He was awarded the 1981 James Tait Black Memorial Prize for his...
, author - Keith TkachukKeith TkachukKeith Matthew Tkachuk is a retired American professional ice hockey player who played for four teams and three franchises in his 19-year career. He is one of only four American-born players to score 500 goals, and is the sixth American player to score 1,000 points.- Playing career :Tkachuk began...
, NHL Hockey player (Winnipeg, Phoenix, St. Louis & Atlanta) - Ed TryonEd TryonEd Tryon was an American football player. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1963....
, halfback at Colgate University, elected to College Football Hall of Fame in 1963 - Bob Tufts, Major League Baseball pitcher
See also
- Blessing of the BayBlessing of the BayBlessing of the Bay was the second oceangoing, non-fishing vessel built in what is now the United States, preceded only by the Virginia, in 1607.-Construction:...
- List of Registered Historic Places in Medford, Massachusetts
- List of Fletcher (Tufts University) alumni
Further reading
- Medford on the Mystic by Carl and Alan Seaburg, Published by Medford Historical Society is the Source of much of the Article
- 1871 Atlas of Massachusetts. by Wall & Gray.Map of Massachusetts. Map of Middlesex County.
- 1880 Map of Medford, Bird's Eye View by C.H Brainard.
- History of the Town of Medford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts by Charles Brooks, published 1855, 576 pages.
- History of Middlesex County, Volume II, p. 158 etc. (Medford, by W. H. Whitmore). 1880, published by Estes and Lauriat; edited by Samual Adams Drake.
