Chestnut Hill is a suburban village located six miles (10 km) west of downtown Boston,
MassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. 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. Most of its population of...
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Like all
Massachusetts villages, Chestnut Hill is not an incorporated municipal entity, but unlike most of them, it encompasses parts of three separate municipalities, each of which is in a different county: the town of
BrooklineBrookline is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, which borders on the cities of Boston and Newton. As of the 2000 census, the population of the town was 57,107.-Etymology:...
in
Norfolk CountyNorfolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. As of 2000, the population was 650,308. Its county seat is Dedham. It is the 48th highest income county in the United States with a per capita income of $32,484...
; the city of Boston in
Suffolk CountySuffolk County is a county of Massachusetts. As of 2007, the population was 723,684; an increase from its population in 2000 of 689,000. The county seat is Boston, the state capital and largest city.-History:...
(parts of its neighborhoods of
BrightonBrighton is a neighborhood of the City of Boston, Massachusetts, located in the northwest corner of the city. It comprises land covered by the zip code 02135.-History:...
and
West RoxburyWest Roxbury is a neighborhood in Boston bordered by Hyde Park, Roslindale, Jamaica Plain and the neighboring city of Newton. Founded in 1630 , West Roxbury, Massachusetts was originally part of the town of Roxbury and was mainly used as farmland. West Roxbury seceded from Roxbury in 1851, and was...
), and the city of
Newton, MassachusettsNewton is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts bordered to the east by Boston. According to the 2000 census, the population of Newton was 83,829, making it the tenth largest city in the state.-Villages:...
in
Middlesex CountyMiddlesex County is a county located in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. It is the most populous county in Massachusetts. As of the 2000 census, the population was 1,465,396. The center of population of Massachusetts is located in Middlesex County, in the town of Natick.Its county seats are...
(all of its village of
Chestnut Hill). Chestnut Hill's borders are roughly defined by the Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
ZIP CodeThe ZIP code is the system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service . The letters ZIP, a backronym for Zone Improvement Plan, are properly written in capital letters and were chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
. Chestnut Hill is not strictly a topographical designation; the name refers to a
series of small hills that overlook the 135-acre (546,000 m²)
Chestnut Hill ReservoirChestnut Hill Reservoir is a reservoir created in 1870 on existing marshes and meadowland to supplement the city of Boston's water needs. It is surrounded by the unincorporated village of Chestnut Hill which, itself, consists of parts of Boston, Brookline, and Newton...
rather than one particular hill. Chestnut Hill is perhaps best known as the home of
Boston CollegeBoston College is a private research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Its name reflects its early history as a liberal arts college and preparatory school in Boston's South End. It is a member of the 568 Group and the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
. It is also considered one of the most affluent neighborhoods in the country, with estates and mansions regularly selling for multi-millions of dollars.
History
While most of Chestnut Hill remained farmland well into the early twentieth century, the area around the reservoir was developed, in 1870, by renowned landscape architect
Frederick Law OlmstedFrederick Law Olmsted was an American journalist, landscape designer and father of American landscape architecture, famous for designing many well-known urban parks, including Central Park and Prospect Park in New York City...
, designer of
Central ParkCentral Park is a large public, urban park that occupies over a square mile in the heart of Manhattan in New York City. It is host to approximately twenty-five million visitors each year...
in
New YorkNew York is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous. The state is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and of the
Emerald NecklaceThe Emerald Necklace consists of an chain of parks linked by parkways and waterways in Boston and Brookline, Massachusetts. The Emerald Necklace includes:* Boston Common* Boston Public Garden* Commonwealth Avenue Mall* Back Bay Fens* The Riverway...
in Boston and Brookline.
Because of the significance of its landscape and architecture, the
National Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, in 1986, designated parts of Chestnut Hill as historic districts. Examples of Colonial, Italianate,
ShingleShingle can refer to:*A flat covering element for a roof, including**Shake **Roof shingle* Shingle beach, especially in Western Europe, a beach composed of pebbles* Shingle, former name of Shingle Springs, California...
, Tudor, and
Victorian architecturalThe term Victorian architecture can refer to one of a number of architectural styles predominantly employed during the Victorian era. As with the latter, the period of building that it covers may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria after whom it is...
styles are evident in the village's country estates and mansions. The Boston College campus is itself an early example of Collegiate Gothic architecture.
Boston College
- Alumni Stadium
Alumni Stadium is a football stadium located on the campus of Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, approximately sixmiles west of downtown Boston. The stadium lies within the city limits of Boston, although its postal address is Chestnut Hill. It is the home of the Boston College Eagles...
, home of the Boston College Eagles footballAmerican football, known in the United States and Canada simply as football, and often as Gridiron or Tackle football outside North America, is a competitive team sport known for combining strategy with physical play. The objective of the game is to score points by advancing the ball into the...
team (Brighton, MA)
- Conte Forum
The Silvio O. Conte Forum, usually known as the Conte Forum is an 8,606-seat multi-purpose arena on the campus of Boston College in a portion of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts that lies within the Brighton neighborhood of Boston...
and Kelley Rink, home of BC basketball and hockey (Brighton, MA)
- Burns Library, rare books and special collections at Boston College (Newton, MA)
- Cardinal's Mansion, former residence of Boston's archbishops
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the New England region of the United States. It comprises several counties of the state of Massachusetts...
, now part of the Boston CollegeBoston College is a private research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Its name reflects its early history as a liberal arts college and preparatory school in Boston's South End. It is a member of the 568 Group and the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
campus (Newton, MA)
- McMullen Museum of Art, on the Boston College campus (Newton, MA)
- O'Connell
William Henry Cardinal O'Connell was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Boston from 1907 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1911.-Early life:...
House, formerly the main house of the Louis K. LiggettLouis K. Liggett, , was an American drug store magnate who founded Rexall and was later chairman of United Drug Company.-Early life:...
estate, now the Upper Campus of Boston College. (Newton, MA)
- "Tip" O'Neill
Thomas Phillip "Tip" O'Neill, Jr. was an American politician. O'Neill was an outspoken Democrat and influential member of the U.S. Congress, serving in the House of Representatives for 34 years and representing two congressional districts of Massachusetts...
Museum, a permanent exhibit in the O'Neill Library at Boston College that documents the life and career of the late Speaker of the House (Newton, MA)
- St. Ignatius
Saint Ignatius of Loyola , was a Spanish knight, who became a hermit and priest, founding the Society of Jesus and becoming its first Superior General. Ignatius and the Jesuits became major figures in the Counter-Reformation, where the Catholic Church worked to reform itself from within and...
Church, on the Boston College campus (Newton, MA)
Other schools
- Beaver Country Day School
Beaver Country Day School is an independent, college preparatory day school for students in grades 6 through 12 founded in 1920 and located on a campus in the village of Chestnut Hill, in Brookline, Massachusetts, near Boston. Recently the school has been moving toward calling itself only by its...
, a private middle and high school (Brookline, MA)
- Heath School
Heath School is part of Public Schools of Brookline and is located in Brookline, USA in the Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts area. It is an elementary and middle school that serves the Chestnut Hill neighborhoods and educates students in grades K-8....
, a public K-8 elementary and middle school (Brookline, MA)
- Pine Manor College
Pine Manor College is a private, liberal arts women's college located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1911 and serves approximately 500 students, 75% of whom live on the campus....
, a private women's college (Brookline, MA)
- John D. Runkle School
The John D. Runkle School is a primary school located in Brookline, MA. The school currently teaches around 500 students in a three-story red brick school building, which includes a computer lab and is adjacent to a playground of about . Usually, there are two classes at each grade level...
, a public K-8 elementary and middle school (Brookline, MA)
- Dexter School
Founded in 1926, the Dexter School is a private school for boys located in Brookline, Massachusetts. Its expansive campus is also home to its "sister school", Southfield School, a private school for girls founded in 1992....
, a private pre-K-12 boys school (Brookline, MA)
- Brimmer and May, a private k-12 school (Brookline, MA)
- Chestnut Hill School, a private beginners-6 school (Newton, MA)
- Edith C. Baker School, a public K-8 elementary and middle school (Brookline, MA)
Registered historic districts
- Boston College Main Campus Historic District
Boston College Main Campus Historic District located at 140 Commonwealth Avenue in the village of Chestnut Hill in Newton, Massachusetts was added to the National Register of Historic Places on .-National Register listing:...
— 140 Commonwealth Ave. (within the Town of Brookline limits)
- Chestnut Hill Historic District — roughly bounded by Middlesex Rd., Reservoir Ln., Denny Rd., Boylston St. and Dunster Rd. (added November 17, 1985) (mostly in Brookline, but includes small parts of Boston and Newton)
- Chestnut Hill Reservoir Historic District
Chestnut Hill Reservoir Historic District is located between Beacon Street and Commonwealth Avenue in Boston, Massachusetts, just east of the Boston College Main Campus Historic District and the Boston-Newton city line...
— within Boston city limits
- Old Chestnut Hill Historic District
Old Chestnut Hill Historic District is a historic district along Hammond Street and Chestnut Hill Road roughly bounded by Beacon Street and Essex Road, and Suffolk Road in Newton, Massachusetts....
— along Hammond St. and Chestnut Hill Rd. roughly bounded by Beacon St. and Essex Rd., and Suffolk Rd. (added October 4, 1986), within Newton city limits
Religious
- Church of the Redeemer
A number of churches, usually Lutheran/Protestant or Episcopal, are called Church of the Redeemer:-Canada:*Cathedral Church of the Redeemer, Calgary, Alberta*Church of the Redeemer, Toronto, Ontario-Germany:*Church of the Redeemer, Bad Homburg, Hesse...
(Episcopal) (Newton, MA)
- Longyear Museum, documenting the life of Mary Baker Eddy
Mary Baker Eddy was the founder of the Christian Science movement. Deeply religious, she advocated Christian Science as a spiritual practical solution to health and moral issues...
, founder of the Christian ScienceChristian Science is a religious belief system founded by Mary Baker Eddy in 1866 and is practiced by members of The First Church of Christ, Scientist. Christian Science asserts that humanity and the universe as a whole are spiritual rather than material in nature and that truth and good are real...
Church (Brookline, MA)
- Dupee Estate-Mary Baker Eddy Home
The Dupee Estate-Mary Baker Eddy Home, located at 400 Beacon Street in the village of Chestnut Hill in Newton, Massachusetts, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Dupee Estate, but is better known as the last home of Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of the Church of Christ,...
, 400 Beacon Street, Mary Baker Eddy's historic last residence (Newton, MA)
- St. John's Seminary
Saint John's Seminary, located in the Brighton neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States, serves the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston, and other dioceses of New England including, the Diocese of Springfield, the Diocese of Burlington, the Diocese of Manchester, the Diocese of...
(Brighton, MA)
- Congregation Mishkan Tefila (Newton, MA)
- Temple Emeth (South Brookline, MA)
Retail shopping
- The Atrium Mall, an upscale shopping center (Brookline and Newton, MA)
- The Mall at Chestnut Hill
The Mall at Chestnut Hill is an upscale, two-level enclosed shopping mall, located in the Chestnut Hill section of Newton, Massachusetts on Boylston Street...
, an upscale shopping center (Newton, MA)
- The Chestnut Hill Shopping Center: http://www.chestnuthillshoppingcenter.com, upscale stores, restaurants, and a movie theater (Brookline, MA)
Social, cultural and recreational
- The Chestnut Hill Country Club and Newton Commonwealth Golf Club (Newton, MA)
- The Country Club
The Country Club, located in Brookline, Massachusetts, is the oldest country club in the United States. It holds an important place in golf history, as it was one of the five charter clubs that founded the United States Golf Association, and has hosted numerous USGA tournaments including the...
(Brookline, MA)
- The Longwood Cricket Club
Longwood Cricket Club is a tennis and former cricket club based in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, United States. It is the site of the first Davis Cup competition.-History:...
, birthplace of the Davis CupThe Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. The largest annual international team competition in sports, the Davis Cup is run by the International Tennis Federation and is contested between teams of players from competing countries in a knock-out format. The competition...
(Brookline, MA)
- Reilly Memorial Recreation Center, a public ice skating rink and swimming pool (Brighton, MA)
Geographical
- Hammond Pond, an extensive forest preserve and protected wetlands (Newton)
Transport
Chestnut Hill is served by three branches of the
Green LineThe Green Line is a light rail/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...
of the MBTA, Boston's
light railLight rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
system. Stations include:
- B Line: Chestnut Hill Avenue, South Street, Boston College
- C Line: Cleveland Circle
- D Line: Reservoir, Chestnut Hill
Notable connections
- Robert Kraft
Robert K. Kraft is an American businessman who is the Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of The Kraft Group, a diversified holding company with assets in paper and packaging, sports and entertainment, real estate development and a private equity portfolio...
, owner of the New England PatriotsThe New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the...
- Mary Baker Eddy
Mary Baker Eddy was the founder of the Christian Science movement. Deeply religious, she advocated Christian Science as a spiritual practical solution to health and moral issues...
, founder of the Christian Science Church (Newton, MA)
- Reginald Fessenden
Reginald Aubrey Fessenden was a Canadian inventor who performed pioneering experiments in radio, including early—possibly the first— transmissions of voice and music...
, called the father of broadcast radio, the Reginald A. Fessenden HouseThe Reginald A. Fessenden House, 45 Waban Hill Road in the village of Chestnut Hill in Newton, Massachusetts, was the residence from 1906 or earlier to 1932 of the inventor Reginald A. Fessenden, called "the father of radio broadcasting", because he was the first to broadcast the human voice and...
in Chestnut Hill (Newton) is a US National Landmark as well as a US Historic Place.
- Theo Epstein
Theo Nathaniel Epstein is the Executive Vice President/General Manager of the Boston Red Sox. On November 25, 2002, the Red Sox made him the youngest GM in the history of Major League Baseball by hiring him at the age of 28. In 2004, he engineered the first World Series championship by the Red Sox...
, general manager of the Boston Red SoxThe Boston Red Sox are a member of the Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Since , the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park. The "Red Sox" name originates from the iconic uniform feature....
- Terry Francona
Terry Jon Francona , nicknamed "Tito," is a Major League Baseball manager. Francona has been the manager of the Boston Red Sox, of the American League since 2004.-Youth:...
, manager of the Boston Red SoxThe Boston Red Sox are a member of the Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Since , the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park. The "Red Sox" name originates from the iconic uniform feature....
- Alice Hathaway Lee Roosevelt
Alice Hathaway Lee-Roosevelt was the first wife of Theodore Roosevelt...
, the first wife of Theodore RooseveltTheodore Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States. He is well remembered for his energetic persona, his range of interests and achievements, his model of masculinity, and his "cowboy" image. He was a leader of the Republican Party and founder of the short-lived Bull Moose Party...
, and mother of Alice Roosevelt LongworthAlice Lee Roosevelt Longworth was the oldest child of Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States. She was the only child of Roosevelt and his first wife, Alice Hathaway Lee....
- Louis K. Liggett
Louis K. Liggett, , was an American drug store magnate who founded Rexall and was later chairman of United Drug Company.-Early life:...
, drugstore magnate (Newton, MA)
- Leverett Saltonstall
Leverett A. Saltonstall was an American Republican politician who served as Governor of Massachusetts and as a United States Senator .-Biography:...
, Governor of Massachusetts (1939–1945) and United States Senator (1945–1967)
See also