Readville, Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
Readville, called Low Plains from 1655 until renaming in 1847 after Mr. James Read originally part of Dedham until 1867 but now a part of Boston, is considered either a part of the Hyde Park
neighborhood, or a neighborhood in its own right. It is served by Readville
station on the MBTA Commuter Rail
. It is on the original alignment of Route 128
, later part of a since-discontinued section of Route 135
. Readville is bordered by the Town of Milton
to the south, the Town of Dedham
to the west, and Boston's Hyde Park neighborhood to the north and east. Paul's Bridge, which is at the neighborhood's entrance as one approaches from Milton, is one of the oldest bridges in the Commonwealth. The name comes from James Read, a resident and cotton mill owner. Readville is covered by Boston Police Department
District E-18 in Hyde Park and a fire station on Neponset Valley Parkway houses Boston Engine Company 49. Readville is also home to several light industries.
Readville was home to Camp Meigs during the American Civil War
. This was a training camp for Union
soldiers, including those of the famed 54th Massachusetts Infantry
, portrayed in the film Glory. Another unusual regiment that trained at Camp Meigs was the 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry, half of which was recruited in California
and sent via ocean transports to Readville for training before being sent to Virginia
to the war. There are plaques and small monuments commemorating this history at what is now called Meigs Field.
One notable neighborhood event is the Field Day (picnic) at Meigs Field each July 4. The neighborhood was an Irish
and Italian
stronghold through much of the 20th Century, but is now home to many African-American and Latino residents. The Blue Hill Community Church located at 215 Neponset Valley Parkway in Readville, a non-denominational church, has held consistent worship services since 1888. Famous preacher, The Reverend Dr. Phillips Brooks, preached his last sermon at the Blue Hill Community Church. The Reverend Phillips Brooks was the author of the Christmas Carol, "O Little Town of Bethlehem," first performed here. Also, Samuel Smith, read from the BHCC pulpit for the first time in history, his poem, "America," which was later set to music as "My Country Tis of Thee." St. Anne's Roman Catholic Church serves as the local parish. Boston Mayor Thomas Menino
and Massachusetts State Representative Angelo Scaccia are both longtime Readville residents.
In the early part of the 20th century, a prominent harness racing facility called Readville Trotting Park was located in the neighborhood. That property was later to become a Stop & Shop
warehouse and distribution center and is now a multi-use warehouse property. Readville has excellent views of Great Blue Hill
and the Blue Hills Reservation
and has a wetlands area known as Fowl Meadow. The Neponset River
is another natural feature.
Readville was also home to the massive New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Locomotive and Car Shops, which closed down in the early 1960s. Today, the CSX Railroad operates a portion of the Readville Freight Yard along Prescott Street and the MBTA Commuter Rail has a passenger car facility for light maintenance and servicing just outside Wolcott Square.
Hyde Park, Massachusetts
Hyde Park is a dissolved municipality and currently the southernmost neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Hyde Park is home to a diverse range of people, housing types and social groups. It is an urban location with suburban characteristics...
neighborhood, or a neighborhood in its own right. It is served by Readville
Readville (MBTA station)
Readville is a station on the MBTA commuter rail's Franklin Line from Franklin to Boston, Massachusetts and is also the terminus of the MBTA's Fairmount Line commuter rail line. A few Fairmount trains continue onto the Franklin Line...
station on the MBTA Commuter Rail
MBTA Commuter Rail
The MBTA Commuter Rail serves as the regional rail arm of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, in the United States. It is operated under contract by the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company a joint partnership of Veolia Transportation, Bombardier Transportation and Alternate...
. It is on the original alignment of Route 128
Route 128 (Massachusetts)
Route 128, also known as the Yankee Division Highway , and originally the Circumferential Highway, is a partial beltway around Boston, Massachusetts, United States. The majority of the highway is built to freeway standards, and about 3/5 of it is part of the Interstate Highway System...
, later part of a since-discontinued section of Route 135
Route 135 (Massachusetts)
Route 135 is a state highway in eastern Massachusetts, running from U.S. Route 20 in Northborough east to Interstate 95 in Dedham. The first of the Boston Marathon, from Hopkinton to Wellesley, follow Route 135.-Route description:...
. Readville is bordered by the Town of Milton
Milton, Massachusetts
Milton is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States and part of the Greater Boston area. The population was 27,003 at the 2010 census. Milton is the birthplace of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush and architect Buckminster Fuller. Milton also has the highest percentage of...
to the south, the Town of Dedham
Dedham, Massachusetts
Dedham is a town in and the county seat of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 24,729 at the 2010 census. It is located on Boston's southwest border. On the northwest it is bordered by Needham, on the southwest by Westwood and on the southeast by...
to the west, and Boston's Hyde Park neighborhood to the north and east. Paul's Bridge, which is at the neighborhood's entrance as one approaches from Milton, is one of the oldest bridges in the Commonwealth. The name comes from James Read, a resident and cotton mill owner. Readville is covered by Boston Police Department
Boston Police Department
The Boston Police Department , created in 1838, holds the primary responsibility for law enforcement and investigation within the city of Boston, Massachusetts. It is one of the oldest police departments in the United States...
District E-18 in Hyde Park and a fire station on Neponset Valley Parkway houses Boston Engine Company 49. Readville is also home to several light industries.
Readville was home to Camp Meigs during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The 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...
. This was a training camp for Union
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
soldiers, including those of the famed 54th Massachusetts Infantry
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...
, portrayed in the film Glory. Another unusual regiment that trained at Camp Meigs was the 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry, half of which was recruited in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and sent via ocean transports to Readville for training before being sent to Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
to the war. There are plaques and small monuments commemorating this history at what is now called Meigs Field.
One notable neighborhood event is the Field Day (picnic) at Meigs Field each July 4. The neighborhood was an Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
and Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
stronghold through much of the 20th Century, but is now home to many African-American and Latino residents. The Blue Hill Community Church located at 215 Neponset Valley Parkway in Readville, a non-denominational church, has held consistent worship services since 1888. Famous preacher, The Reverend Dr. Phillips Brooks, preached his last sermon at the Blue Hill Community Church. The Reverend Phillips Brooks was the author of the Christmas Carol, "O Little Town of Bethlehem," first performed here. Also, Samuel Smith, read from the BHCC pulpit for the first time in history, his poem, "America," which was later set to music as "My Country Tis of Thee." St. Anne's Roman Catholic Church serves as the local parish. Boston Mayor Thomas Menino
Thomas Menino
Thomas Michael "Tom" Menino is the mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, United States and the city's first Italian-American mayor...
and Massachusetts State Representative Angelo Scaccia are both longtime Readville residents.
In the early part of the 20th century, a prominent harness racing facility called Readville Trotting Park was located in the neighborhood. That property was later to become a Stop & Shop
Stop & Shop
The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company is a chain of supermarkets located mostly in the northeastern United States. Its main rivals are Shaw's Star Market and Hannaford in New England, while ShopRite and the A&P family of supermarkets are its main competition in New York and New Jersey.- History :Stop...
warehouse and distribution center and is now a multi-use warehouse property. Readville has excellent views of Great Blue Hill
Great Blue Hill
Great Blue Hill is a hill of 635 feet located within the Blue Hills Reservation in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Massachusetts, 10 miles southwest of Boston. It is the highest point in Norfolk County...
and the Blue Hills Reservation
Blue Hills Reservation
Blue Hills Reservation is a state park in Norfolk County, Massachusetts. Managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, it extends into Milton, Quincy, Braintree, Canton, Randolph, and Dedham south of Boston.-Description:...
and has a wetlands area known as Fowl Meadow. The Neponset River
Neponset River
The Neponset River is a river in eastern Massachusetts in the United States. The headwaters of the Neponset are at the Neponset Reservoir in Foxborough, near the Gillette Stadium...
is another natural feature.
Readville was also home to the massive New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Locomotive and Car Shops, which closed down in the early 1960s. Today, the CSX Railroad operates a portion of the Readville Freight Yard along Prescott Street and the MBTA Commuter Rail has a passenger car facility for light maintenance and servicing just outside Wolcott Square.