Roslindale Historical Society

03/17/2022

The Bussey Bridge Disaster of 1887
The first major bridge disaster in the USA happened on March 14, 1887 at the Bussey Bridge in Roslindale. The bridge stands at the intersection of South Street, The Arnold Arboretum, and Archdale Road.
A Boston and Providence passenger train from Dedham heading to Boston left the station at 7:20AM carrying 300 passengers in nine cars. Passengers were heading to work. As the train crossed the bridge, it collapsed and the train fell 75 feet to the street, killing 25 passengers and injuring 115. The engine and coal cab were able to safely cross, and sped to Boston for help.
The Boston and Providence train was barreling 30 miles mph at a slight downgrade that ended at a slight curve, following the design of the crossing. Made of iron and steel, the crossing was considered extremely modern because it replaced the old Howe and Truss “Tin Bridge”.
Boston police, doctors and residents sped to the scene by horse and buggy to tend to the injured. Residents removed victims and helped in any way they could.
Luckily, no fire broke out even though passenger cars carried wood burning stoves in passenger compartments.
At first, experts attributed the accident to faulty wiring. They did not realize the constant vibration would weaken the iron structure as it crossed the bridge. Recommendations for restoring the crossing were to shorten the span to divide the stress. The recommendations were implemented.
Word of the disaster traveled quickly, and many Bostonians walked six miles to view the site. People appreciated the salubrious, rural setting of Roslindale and many Bostonians moved here, creating a population boast. Roslindale was on the map!

In1987, the Roslindale Historical Society organized and hosted a Bussey Bridge Centennial Committee and held a Commemorative Ceremony on March 14 at the bridge crossing. Historical Society members, train enthusiasts, locals and dignitaries participated.
Secretary of State Michael J. Connolly offered a Congratulatory Citation to the Roslindale Historical Society in recognition of “your hard work and commitment in the Commemoration of the Bussey Bridge Disaster of 1887.”
by Cathy Slade, Past President of the Roslindale Historical Society

03/16/2022

The Charles Sumner School

The Charles Sumner School at15 Basile Street is the second site of the elementary school. The original wood-frame school existed where the current U.S. Post Office now sits. It was built in 1876. Due to the population explosion of the 1920’s and 1930’, a second elementary school was built to avoid the over-crowding the school. It was considered was considered the first major Elementary School in Roslindale. A new school, the Longfellow School was built at 885 South Street in 1897 to accommodate the growing student population.
The new school Charles Sumner School building on Basile Street opened in 1930.

09/21/2021

ANNUAL ROSLINDALE PARADE will be held on OCTOBER 3rd, 2021

The Roslindale neighborhood will be hosting The Annual Roslindale Day Parade on Sunday, October 3 at 1:00 PM. The parade will kick-off at Adams Park in Roslindale Village at the intersection of Washington and South Streets and Cummins Highway in the heart of the Village, proceed to Belgrade Avenue, to West Roxbury Parkway to South Street, passing the reviewing stand at Fallon Field.
The theme of the Parade will be “Back in Action” to honor Front Line Workers in Roslindale who provided needed services during the height of the pandemic.
The parade will feature 8 bands, 2 dance groups, community and neighborhood groups, elected officials and candidates, school groups, floats and more.
A Field Day will take place at the end of the parade at Fallon Field sponsored by the Longfellow Area Neighborhood Association (LANA). There will be entertainment by some of the parade participants along with food, games and other activities.
A Special Note: At the beginning of the parade, a wreath will be laid at Adams Park in memory of Tom Donahue, who was the lead organizer of the parade for 35 years. He passed away recently after a short illness. The official name of the Parade today and in the future will be Thomas M. Donahue Annual Roslindale Day Parade.

05/05/2021

Fast Facts
1. The former MBTA Substation, at the corner of Cummins Highway was built in 1919. The station powered trolleys that ran to and from Forest Hills.

2. The Roslindale Municipal abuilding was built in 1916.

3. Former State Senator Edward J. Bromberg lived in Roslindale at 12 Florence Street.. He was a champion of better transportation facilities, maintaining boulevards, street lamps, sewers, better street gutters and more infrastructure elements.

4. The John J. Knights of Columbus John J. Council #1308 opened its hall in 1976 on Washington Street in Roslindale Village.

5. The oldest house in Roslindale sits at 266 Poplar Street.

6. The Boston Lunatic Hospital moved from South Boston to Roslindale in 1887. it was located on Austin Farm, on American Legion Highway. The men confined to the hospital were housed at the abutting Pence Farm. Both properties were owned by the Fotler Family, who raised produce and sold their products at Quincy Market.

05/05/2021

Is anyone curios as to what news reporters and journalists have lived in Roslindale at one time? One is a Pulitzer Prize Winner. If so, check out the Blog column in www.roslindalehistoricalsociety.org

**Some of the links on this site are still being worked on. Thank you for your patience as we work to bring an exciting chapter of Roslindale history! 

04/30/2021

Quiz # 2

11. What store was once located at where St. Nectarios Church sits?

12 What was the original location of the Washington Irving School?

13. What was the name of the V.F.W. Post on Muarry Hill Road?

14. Name two stores that were once in business on the site of Staples.

15. Where was the Roslindale Police Station located and what precinct was it?

04/27/2021

Quiz # 2 Answers

1. The name of the Ford dealership located a on Hyde Park Avenue at Mount Hope Street was Bowers Ford. The name of the Italian Restaurant on Hyde Park Avenue by the Mount Hope Bridge was Massimino's. Later was a nice restaurant named Copperfield's. Now it is home to the Boston Police Detectives Union.

3. The two former locations of the U.S. Post Office were 1. On Belgrade Avenue where Folsom Funeral Home sits. 2. Then on The corner of South Street and Taft Hill Terrace across from Adams Park.

4. The name of the former school of Sacred Heart was St. Francis School. The school is now located on Canterbury Street at Poplar Street.

5. A & W Root Beer once sat on Washington and South Streets across from Healy Field.

04/26/2021

Quiz # 2
1. What was the name of the Ford dealership that had been
located on Hyde Park Avenue at Mount Hope Street?

2. Name the restaurant that was located on Hyde Park Avenue
near the Blakemore Street Bridge? Actually, there were 2
there but the second one was not there all that long.

3. Name two of the early locations of the U.S. Post Office.

4. What was the name of Sacred Heart School, and where was it
previously located?

5. What establishment was previously located where the Gas
Station is on Washington Street across from Healy Field?

Answers on Tuesday

04/07/2021

The next meeting of the Roslindale Historical Society will be held on Wednesday, April 7 at 8PM.
This will be a meeting in which we discuss topics for future meetings and activities, and hopefully gain new members of the Society, which is only $10 for the year until May of 2022.

Here is the Zoom meeting Link and ID:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86064011673

eeting ID: https:us03web.zoom.us/j/86064011673

The ZOOM Link is: ID 860 6401 1673

04/01/2021

Thank you to all who attended the zoom meeting on March 24 at 7 PM. The meeting was sponsored by The Friends of the Library and the Arnold Arboretum, which recorded the presentation for future viewing. Watch this space to for viewing information.

Next Meeting: Thursday, April 7 at 7:00PM on Zoom

We have scheduled an planning and idea-sharing meeting for future presentations and activities. In the past we have had presentations on the history of many Boston neighborhoods, the City of Boston Archaeology Department and and many other topics of historical interest and we have led walking tours of the neighborhood.

View photos and articles of the past at www.roslindalehistoricalsociety.org

03/15/2021

The answers to the # 1 Quiz of What and Where

1. The original name of the school located at the corner of Seymour and Rowe Streets is - The Stephen M. Weld School

2. In the block of stores located at Cummins Highway and Hyde Park Avenue, here are some of the stores that once did business there. The Whip Tavern, Swenson's Bakery, White's Market, a drug a drug store, a real estate office and s barber shop. Long ago, the liquor store that is currently there was named White's. It had to change its name because the law requires that one owner cannot own more than three stores, which the owner did.

3. Cummins Men's Shop was previously located there before it moved to Corinth Street. From Corinth Street, it moves to High Point Shopping Center.

4. To the left of the gas station t Cummins' Highway, the type of cars that were sold at The Show Room were the Henry J.

The former name of Cummins Highway was Ashland Street. The school was named after Father John Cummins, the first pastor of Sacred Heart School.

Next Quiz will be published on Tuesday.