What’s in a (street) name?

15 historic street names in Boston

Read on to find out why this photogenic Beacon Hill area is called Acorn Street. | Photo by @behindthelens617

The City of Boston was named and incorporated on Sept. 7, 1630 by English Puritans in pursuit of religious freedom. Now that almost 400 years have passed, the city and its streets are chock-full of vibrant history.

In this guide, we’re delving into the history of our city’s streets — specifically how they were named.

Types of street names

There are some common name origins for Boston’s streets — here are just a few examples of themed street groups in our city:

Streets in the southern part of East Boston’s Eagle Hill neighborhood were named for battles in the Revolutionary War. Think: Monmouth, Lexington, and Saratoga streets.
The streets from Arlington to Kilmarnock in Back Bay (excluding Massachusetts Avenue) were named for lordships or earldoms in England in alphabetical order.
Boston has nearly 2,000 “Hero Squares,” or Memorial Squares, which are named in honor of fallen soldiers or first responders. See the city’s database of all known Hero Squares.

Street of brownstones and cars in Boston's South End — Most cross streets in the South End are named after Massachusetts towns. | Photo by @bretclancy

Five historic streets

Commonwealth Avenue — Arthur Gilman, who designed plans for the neighborhood, named this street for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Melnea Cass Boulevard — Completed in 1981, this street is named after the First Lady of Roxbury. Activist Melnea Cass lived in the area and was the only woman charter member of the Action for Boston Community Development.

Batterymarch Street — In the 17th century, this downtown street led to the city’s South Battery, or Fort Hill. Today, the crescent-shaped road runs from Hawes Street to High Street.

Hanover Street — The North End street was originally a path to the harbor, called Orange Tree Lane, before it was renamed after the House of Hanover in England.

Louisburg Square — Named for the 1745 Battle of Louisbourg, this square was once home to A. Bronson Alcott (the father of Louisa May Alcott).

Hit the link below for 10 more streets and their histories.

GET STREET SMART

You have the opportunity to name a street in our city. What do you name the street after?

A. A loved one
B. My pet
C. My favorite athlete
D. Someone who’s made an impact in the community
E. Me, duh
F. Other

LET US KNOW

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Wednesday, Feb. 22

A Story Beyond | Wednesday, Feb. 22-Saturday, Feb. 25 | Times vary | The Foundry, 101 Rogers St., Cambridge | $5-$100, Pay what you can | Head to the creative center in Cambridge to see this original fable with live music, puppets, and masks.

Thursday, Feb. 23

Winter Wonders at the Waterworks | Thursday, Feb. 23 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Metropolitan Waterworks Museum, 2450 Beacon St., Boston | Free | Explore ice and snow through STEAM activities and crafts at the Chestnut Hill museum.
Storytellas Boston | Thursday, Feb. 23 | 6-9 p.m. | Artists For Humanity, 100 West 2nd St., Boston | Free | Reserve a spot to attend this live podcast recording + celebrate the experiences of young entrepreneurs of color in Boston.
Drag Night | Thursday, Feb. 23 | 8-10 p.m. | Aeronaut Brewing Company, 14 Tyler St., Somerville | $15 | Arrive 30 minutes before showtime to catch returning favorites and new Drag Queens.

Friday, Feb. 24

Winter Pop-Up Festival | Friday, Feb. 24 | 1-5 p.m. | Harambee Park Basketball Courts, 930 Blue Hill Ave., Boston | Free | Take on the civic scavenger hunt and enjoy music, food, games, and community resources.
livin’ la vida LOCAL | Friday, Feb. 24 | 7-8 p.m. | curds&co, 288 Washington St., Brookline | $65 | Enjoy the local menu of drinks, pairings, and cheese + learn about the history of dairy in New England.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Sports

Feeling bored? Volo Sports has a cure.

Presented by a BOStoday Partner

A man standing and smiling, holding a pickleball racquet and ball on a pickleball court

Be active while making friends and having fun — sign us up. | Photo provided by Volo Sports

Ever wonder what it would feel like to get back on the basketball court or soccer field? Or just get those competitive juices flowing one weekend? For those of us who are former athletes, getting to play a beloved sport as we get older can be difficult, right? Wrong.

Volo Sports is a local adult sports league designed for Bostonians who love sports, want to build relationships in the community, and compete while having fun — and maybe share a drink or two after a game. The lineup includes everything from traditional sports to social sports like cornhole, kickball, and skeeball.

How to play:

Leagues: Play on a team once a week for six-eight weeks.
Daily play: Drop into a league or join a pickup game. This option is great for those with busy schedules because no commitment is necessary.

Pro tip: Sign up before Friday, March 3 to score early bird pricing. Explore the full list of sports and where to play (leagues can be found throughout the city including these neighborhoods: Somerville and Assembly Row, Cambridge/MIT, and South Boston/Moakley Park). We’ll see you on the court, Boston.*

JOIN A LEAGUE

Weather

45º | Mostly cloudy | 10% chance of rain

Real Estate

Attention renters: if you’re looking to move this September, you might want to start apartment hunting now. Local realtors and housing experts said they have already seen an increase in searches for Sept. 1 leases. 🏠 (Boston.com)

Watch

The first trailer for Hulu’s “Boston Strangler” film is out now. The movie, which comes out on Friday, March 17, tells one of our city’s most infamous crime stories through the eyes of two Boston Record-American reporters. (Boston.com)

Shop

Saugus-based Kowloon Restaurant has added sneakers to the menu. The eatery collaborated with the local artist behind Blueswaydshoes on a limited release of Nikes inspired by Kowloon’s decor and flavors. Snag the sneakers online.

Legacy

Spencer, the official dog of the Boston Marathon, died on Friday after multiple bouts with cancer. The golden retriever was known for supporting runners and spectators with his “Boston Strong” flag + was honored with a portrait unveiling at the Fairmont Copley Plaza in January. 🐶 (WCVB 5)

Concert

Guns N’ Roses is bringing “Paradise City” to Fenway Park this summer as part of the Fenway Concert Series. The rock band’s world tour arrives in our city on Monday, Aug. 21 — tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. 🎤

Civic

Looking for a summer internship? The City of Boston is accepting applications for the Mayor’s Office Internship Program through Friday, March 31. The program runs from June 5-Aug. 31 and places interns across various City Hall departments.

Arts

The Emily Dickinson Museum in Amherst will reopen for the season next month. Grab tickets to visit the birthplace of the 19th-century American poet when they go on sale from Wednesday, March 1 through May. (Mass Live)

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Back to the grind

Local coffee shops to work from

Sip a lavender latte or cookie butter latte from Vester. | Photo by @caffeinatedliv

Last week, we spilled the beans on five of our favorite coffee shops for working remotely. Thanks to our caffeinated readers, we’ve learned about even more local spots where you can fill your cup.

☕ Cafe Landwer | Recommended by Marcy L. | With locations in both Brookline + Back Bay, this Mediterannean-inspired coffee shop is a go-to spot for study sessions and work meetings.

☕ Square Root | Recommended by Bob W. | The Roslindale cafe is a coworking space, live entertainment venue + beer and wine bar all rolled into one.

☕ Vester Cafe | Recommended by Kelley T. | Stop by the cafe in Kendall Square, South Boston, or at The Foundry in Cambridge to sample from the all-day breakfast menu and grab an Instagram-worthy beverage.

We also received suggestions to add Tradesman in Downtown Boston and Charlestown + Bloc Cafe in Somerville’s Union Square — our team highly recommends both.

MORE CAFFEINE THIS WAY

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Sara.

Editor’s pick: One of my favorite local spots is moving to a new home. A4cade shared a bit about its next chapter on Instagram, and I’m not-so-patiently waiting to hear where the Cambridge arcade bar is headed.

Let me know if you have a guess about the new location. In the meantime, I’ll be hoping the Wednesday karaoke nights are here to stay.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Plan a road trip to Montreal. 🚗

Connect with us.

Editorial: Jessica Burton, Sara Frazier, Josh Kranzberg, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Peter Baldassare | Advertise with us.

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