Winchester, Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
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
. The population was 21,374 at the 2010 United States Census.
in 1639, and the area was first settled in 1640. In the early years of the settlement, the area was known informally as Waterfield, a reference to its many ponds and to the river which bisected the central village. In its second century, the area was referred to as Black Horse Village, after the busy tavern and hostelry in its center.
Until the middle of the 19th century, Winchester comprised parts of Arlington, Medford, Cambridge, and Woburn. The movement toward incorporation of what, by this time, was called South Woburn was likely precipitated by the rise of the Whig Party in Massachusetts (History of Winchester, Massachusetts by H. S. Chapman and Bruce W. Stone, 1936, 1975).
The Whigs sought to split a new jurisdiction away from heavily Democratic Woburn and found enough supporters in the burgeoning village to organize a movement toward incorporation. Representatives of the planned new town selected the name Winchester in recognition of Colonel William P. Winchester of nearby Watertown, who pledged $3,000 toward the construction of the first town hall. Upon the signature of then Governor Briggs, the town of Winchester was officially incorporated on April 30, 1850. Unfortunately, Colonel Winchester did not live to visit the town that had honored his family name. He succumbed to typhoid fever within months of its incorporation.
The town's early growth paralleled improvements in transportation. Prior to incorporation, the Middlesex Canal
, linking the Merrimack River
to Boston, was completed through then Waterfield. It flourished from 1803–36, until the Boston and Lowell Railroad
completed a line which neatly bisected the town and provided it with two stations. Able to deliver passengers as well as goods, the railroad soon bankrupted the canal and spurred more people to move to the area. The first church was built in 1840, the Post Office followed in 1841, and soon after incorporation town schools were started. Industries small and large followed, including the Beggs and Cobb tannery and the Winn Watch Hand factory which would operate well into the 20th century.
By the time of the Civil War, to which Winchester lent many citizens, the need for a municipal water supply became apparent. Engineers convinced a skeptical public to fund a dam in the highlands to the east of town. The structure blocked the creek which flowed from the Middlesex Fells
and produced the first of three reservoirs which continue to provide clear water today.
In the early 20th century, growth continued apace as Winchester evolved from its agri-industrial roots into the bedroom community it is today. A rich mix of immigrants (the Irish in the northern and eastern neighborhoods, a smattering of African-Americans who flocked to the New Hope Baptist Church in the highlands, and finally Italians who came to work in the westside farms and live in the "Plains" to the east) complemented Winchester's Yankee forbears. The constant in these times of change and up to the present day has been the public spirited efforts of all to continue to maintain the innate physical charm of the town.
, the town has a total area of 6.3 square miles (16.3 km²), of which, 6.0 square miles (15.6 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it is water. The total area is 3.97% water.
The town is roughly bisected by a central valley which is the remnant of the original course of the Merrimack River
. After glacial debris effectively rerouted the Merrimack north to its current location, all that remained of its original course through present day Winchester is the Aberjona River
and the several ponds it feeds en route to the Mystic Lakes
on Winchester's southern border.
On its eastern third, the valley rises steeply into the wooded hills of the Middlesex Fells Reservation
, in which lie the North, Middle, and South Reservoirs. The western edge of the valley yields to Arlington and Lexington heights, and the boundaries with those two towns. To the north, the town's longest border is shared with Woburn.
Winchester has several major bodies of water, including the Mystic Lakes, Wedge Pond, Winter Pond, and the Aberjona River, as well as several minor bodies of water such as Sucker Brook and Sachem Swamp.
Winchester borders the following towns: Woburn
, Stoneham
, Medford
, Arlington
, and Lexington
.
of 2000, there were 20,810 people, 7,715 households, and 5,724 families residing in the town. The population density was 3,446.3 people per square mile (1,330.3/km²). There were 7,908 housing units at an average density of 1,309.6 per square mile (505.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.10% White, 0.68% African American, 0.14% Native American, 4.62% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 1.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.01% of the population.
There were 7,715 households, of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.1% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.8% were non-families. 21.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 3.9% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.
According to a 2008 estimate, the median income for a household in the town was $125,952, and the median income for a family was $170,580. Males had a median income of $100,000+ versus $70,847 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $68,479. The median home value was $838,420, compared to a U.S. average of $180,000. About 1.3% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under the age of 18 and 2.3% ages 65 or older.
Overall Winchester is safe with crime well below the U.S. average. The most common crime is property crime, with 46 robberies reported in 2009. Violent crimes are very low, with one murder (in 2002) and five rapes reported in 10 years.
s (Ambrose, Lincoln, Lynch, Muraco, and Vinson-Owen), one middle school
, McCall Middle School, and one high school, Winchester High School. Winchester public schools have achieved superior performances on the MCAS exams since their inception, and the district is consistently ranked by editorial reviews such as Boston Magazine as one of the best in Massachusetts. The Winchester High School sports teams are known as the "Sachems."
, giving her a firsthand opportunity to learn the Montessori concept of learning. Today the school operates as a private, non-religious, Montessori school for children of ages three to six, with classes of up to 25 children.
St. Mary's School is a parochial school of St. Mary's Parish, which opened 134 years ago. The school opened in 1914 and has over 200 students in grades pre-K through 5. The school building also serves as the Sunday school for the parish during Sunday services. The church
is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
Lowell Line
: Wedgemere
and Winchester Center
. The stops are in easy walking distance of one another. The Lowell Line
runs from Lowell
to Boston's North Station, where one can connect with the "T"
, Boston's subway system.
There are bus lines going through Winchester to nearby communities such as Medford, Arlington, and Cambridge. Bus route #134 runs between North Woburn and Wellington Station
on the MBTA
's Orange Line
in Medford. Bus route #350 runs from the Burlington Mall to Alewife station
in Cambridge
on the MBTA's Red Line
. A commuter express bus runs from Cummings Park in Woburn to Boston during rush hours. Nearby Anderson Regional Transportation Center
off I-93 (Commerce Way exit) has Logan Express shuttle bus service to Boston's Logan Airport every 30 minutes, and free shuttle service to the Manchester, N.H. Airport for ticketed passengers every two hours.
Across the Main Street bypass from the high school sits the Jenks Seniors Center. Town-developed housing for seniors continues to flourish across from Wedge Pond, home to Borggaard Beach and Splash Park, a popular swimming spot which is continually monitored to ensure safe water quality levels. The Kiwanis Club hosts its annual fishing derby on the pond, while the Rotary Club runs its busy auction nearby. Adjacent to the beach are the Packer Tennis Courts, comprising fifteen clay courts, unusual for a public facility. The Winton Club, founded in 1911, raises funds in support of the Winchester Hospital.
Originally popular for canoeing, the Winchester Boat Club now serves as a home base for locals wishing to enjoy the Mystic Lakes with a casual sailing outing or a competitive regatta, and in the summer it is a popular meeting place for local families and their children. Likewise, the Winchester Swim and Tennis Club provides a large swimming pool, several five hard tennis courts, and bocce courts to local residents. The Winchester Country Club offers an 18-hole course in the Myopia Hill neighborhood, which was named after the Myopia Club
based there in the late 19th century. The EnKa Society, a revived high school society, continues to raise money for community groups and activities through its annual street fair and carnival. And every year, as for over a century, thousands of fans attend the annual Thanksgiving Day football contest between Winchester High School and its long-time traditional rival, Woburn
.
A new Black Horse Tavern opened on August 9, 2010, in Winchester Center on the former site of the Black Horse Bootery, which was demolished in 1892. According to the Massachusetts Historical Society, the town’s original Black Horse Tavern was built in 1742 and served as an important meeting place during the American Revolution.
As it is a transfer station
, trash is not disposed of at the site; rather the town pays to have it trucked away for incineration or dumping. Although it costs as much to operate the conveniently named "dump" as it would curbside trash pickup, the Selectmen decided that the social interaction of citizens at the site far outweighed the convenience of a more conventional trash service. Local political candidates even make occasional appearances at the dump on Saturdays, shaking voters' hands and handing out literature. Often, high school sports teams will hold fundraisers at the dump offering to pick up trash, usually on a Saturday, for a small donation.
There are private haulers in Winchester, for residents who wish to avoid bringing their trash and recyclables to the dump.
The site started as a primitive landfill in the 1940s and 1950s. "Going to the dump" was a Saturday ritual for many families that dated back to when it was a real 'dump' or landfill
.
In the 1960s, a gas-fired incinerator
was built on one side of the property. The remainder of the property was used for non-combustible waste such as appliances and metal. The incinerator was forced to shut down in the 1970s because of environmental
concerns about the untreated smoke from the incinerator's furnace
. With the closure of the incinerator, the site was converted to the transfer station that is there now.
Other town services include full-time police and fire departments, the Winchester Board of Health, the Town Clerk, the Post Office, Water and Sewer Deptartment, and the Public Works Department.
Winchester also has a Chamber of Commerce located on the platform of the "Winchester" station of the MBTA Commuter Rail.
59% to Republican John McCain
39%.
In the 2010 United States Senate special election in Massachusetts
, Winchester voted 51% for Republican Scott Brown and 48% for Democrat Martha Coakley.
Borggaard Beach and Splash Park: a recreational and water attraction. The area has 19 above- and below-ground elements and attractions for children as well as numerous games and other activities. The area has restrooms and offers a splash pad as well as season passes for residents.
of St. Germain-en-Laye, France
.
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...
, eight miles north 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...
. With its agricultural roots having mostly disappeared, it is now an affluent suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
. The population was 21,374 at the 2010 United States Census.
Background
The land on which Winchester now sits was purchased from Native Americans by representatives of the settlement 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...
in 1639, and the area was first settled in 1640. In the early years of the settlement, the area was known informally as Waterfield, a reference to its many ponds and to the river which bisected the central village. In its second century, the area was referred to as Black Horse Village, after the busy tavern and hostelry in its center.
Until the middle of the 19th century, Winchester comprised parts of Arlington, Medford, Cambridge, and Woburn. The movement toward incorporation of what, by this time, was called South Woburn was likely precipitated by the rise of the Whig Party in Massachusetts (History of Winchester, Massachusetts by H. S. Chapman and Bruce W. Stone, 1936, 1975).
The Whigs sought to split a new jurisdiction away from heavily Democratic Woburn and found enough supporters in the burgeoning village to organize a movement toward incorporation. Representatives of the planned new town selected the name Winchester in recognition of Colonel William P. Winchester of nearby Watertown, who pledged $3,000 toward the construction of the first town hall. Upon the signature of then Governor Briggs, the town of Winchester was officially incorporated on April 30, 1850. Unfortunately, Colonel Winchester did not live to visit the town that had honored his family name. He succumbed to typhoid fever within months of its incorporation.
The town's early growth paralleled improvements in transportation. Prior to incorporation, 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...
, linking the Merrimack River
Merrimack River
The Merrimack River is a river in the northeastern United States. It rises at the confluence of the Pemigewasset and Winnipesaukee rivers in Franklin, New Hampshire, flows southward into Massachusetts, and then flows northeast until it empties into the Atlantic Ocean at Newburyport...
to Boston, was completed through then Waterfield. It flourished from 1803–36, until the Boston and Lowell Railroad
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...
completed a line which neatly bisected the town and provided it with two stations. Able to deliver passengers as well as goods, the railroad soon bankrupted the canal and spurred more people to move to the area. The first church was built in 1840, the Post Office followed in 1841, and soon after incorporation town schools were started. Industries small and large followed, including the Beggs and Cobb tannery and the Winn Watch Hand factory which would operate well into the 20th century.
By the time of the Civil War, to which Winchester lent many citizens, the need for a municipal water supply became apparent. Engineers convinced a skeptical public to fund a dam in the highlands to the east of town. The structure blocked the creek which flowed from the Middlesex Fells
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...
and produced the first of three reservoirs which continue to provide clear water today.
In the early 20th century, growth continued apace as Winchester evolved from its agri-industrial roots into the bedroom community it is today. A rich mix of immigrants (the Irish in the northern and eastern neighborhoods, a smattering of African-Americans who flocked to the New Hope Baptist Church in the highlands, and finally Italians who came to work in the westside farms and live in the "Plains" to the east) complemented Winchester's Yankee forbears. The constant in these times of change and up to the present day has been the public spirited efforts of all to continue to maintain the innate physical charm of the town.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 town has a total area of 6.3 square miles (16.3 km²), of which, 6.0 square miles (15.6 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it is water. The total area is 3.97% water.
The town is roughly bisected by a central valley which is the remnant of the original course of the Merrimack River
Merrimack River
The Merrimack River is a river in the northeastern United States. It rises at the confluence of the Pemigewasset and Winnipesaukee rivers in Franklin, New Hampshire, flows southward into Massachusetts, and then flows northeast until it empties into the Atlantic Ocean at Newburyport...
. After glacial debris effectively rerouted the Merrimack north to its current location, all that remained of its original course through present day Winchester is the Aberjona River
Aberjona River
The Aberjona River is a , heavily urbanized river in the northwestern suburbs of Boston, Massachusetts.The river arises in Reading, flows roughly south through Woburn and Winchester, and empties into the Mystic Lakes...
and the several ponds it feeds en route to the Mystic Lakes
Mystic Lakes
The Mystic Lakes, consisting of Upper Mystic Lake and Lower Mystic Lake, are closely linked bodies of water in the northwestern suburbs of Boston, Massachusetts....
on Winchester's southern border.
On its eastern third, the valley rises steeply into the wooded hills of 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...
, in which lie the North, Middle, and South Reservoirs. The western edge of the valley yields to Arlington and Lexington heights, and the boundaries with those two towns. To the north, the town's longest border is shared with Woburn.
Winchester has several major bodies of water, including the Mystic Lakes, Wedge Pond, Winter Pond, and the Aberjona River, as well as several minor bodies of water such as Sucker Brook and Sachem Swamp.
Winchester borders the following towns: Woburn
Woburn, 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 :...
, 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 :...
, Medford
Medford, Massachusetts
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...
, Arlington
Arlington, Massachusetts
Arlington is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, six miles northwest of Boston. The population was 42,844 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, and Lexington
Lexington, Massachusetts
Lexington is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 31,399 at the 2010 census. This town is famous for being the site of the first shot of the American Revolution, in the Battle of Lexington on April 19, 1775.- History :...
.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
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 20,810 people, 7,715 households, and 5,724 families residing in the town. The population density was 3,446.3 people per square mile (1,330.3/km²). There were 7,908 housing units at an average density of 1,309.6 per square mile (505.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.10% White, 0.68% African American, 0.14% Native American, 4.62% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 1.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.01% of the population.
There were 7,715 households, of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.1% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.8% were non-families. 21.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 3.9% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.
According to a 2008 estimate, the median income for a household in the town was $125,952, and the median income for a family was $170,580. Males had a median income of $100,000+ versus $70,847 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 town was $68,479. The median home value was $838,420, compared to a U.S. average of $180,000. About 1.3% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under the age of 18 and 2.3% ages 65 or older.
Overall Winchester is safe with crime well below the U.S. average. The most common crime is property crime, with 46 robberies reported in 2009. Violent crimes are very low, with one murder (in 2002) and five rapes reported in 10 years.
Public schools
Winchester has five elementary schoolElementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
s (Ambrose, Lincoln, Lynch, Muraco, and Vinson-Owen), one middle school
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
, McCall Middle School, and one high school, Winchester High School. Winchester public schools have achieved superior performances on the MCAS exams since their inception, and the district is consistently ranked by editorial reviews such as Boston Magazine as one of the best in Massachusetts. The Winchester High School sports teams are known as the "Sachems."
Private schools
Founded in the 1920s, the Children's Own School is among the earlier surviving Montessori schools in the United States. The building it occupies, a former farmhouse, is considered locally historic. The school's founder, Ms. Dorothy Gove, was an acquaintance of Maria MontessoriMaria Montessori
Maria Montessori was an Italian physician and educator, a noted humanitarian and devout Catholic best known for the philosophy of education which bears her name...
, giving her a firsthand opportunity to learn the Montessori concept of learning. Today the school operates as a private, non-religious, Montessori school for children of ages three to six, with classes of up to 25 children.
St. Mary's School is a parochial school of St. Mary's Parish, which opened 134 years ago. The school opened in 1914 and has over 200 students in grades pre-K through 5. The school building also serves as the Sunday school for the parish during Sunday services. The church
St. Mary's Catholic Church (Winchester, Massachusetts)
St. Mary's Catholic Church is a historic church at 159 Washington Street in Winchester, Massachusetts.The church building was built in 1876 and added to the National Historic Register in 1989. The church is part of St Mary's Parish which includes St Mary's School. Both are part of Roman Catholic...
is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Transportation
Winchester has two stops on the MBTA Commuter RailMBTA 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...
Lowell 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...
: Wedgemere
Wedgemere (MBTA station)
Wedgemere is a passenger rail station on MBTA Commuter Rail's Lowell Line. Wedgemere and the following station, Winchester Center, are, according to town legend, two of the closest-together railway stations in the world. The two stations are about 2500 feet apart...
and Winchester Center
Winchester Center (MBTA station)
Winchester Center is a passenger rail station on MBTA Commuter Rail's Lowell Line.-External links:* * *...
. The stops are in easy walking distance of one another. The Lowell 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...
runs from Lowell
Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 106,519. It is the fourth largest city in the state. Lowell and Cambridge are the county seats of Middlesex County...
to Boston's North Station, where one can connect with the "T"
Massachusetts 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...
, Boston's subway system.
There are bus lines going through Winchester to nearby communities such as Medford, Arlington, and Cambridge. Bus route #134 runs between North Woburn and 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 MBTA
Massachusetts 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...
's 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...
in Medford. Bus route #350 runs from the Burlington Mall to Alewife station
Alewife (MBTA station)
Alewife, located at the intersection of Alewife Brook Parkway and Cambridgepark West in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is a local intermodal transportation hub. It is the northern terminus of the MBTA's Red Line, and a bus terminal for several local routes and one intercity route. It opened in 1985.The...
in Cambridge
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
on the MBTA's Red Line
Red Line (MBTA)
The Red Line is a rapid transit line operated by the MBTA running roughly north-south through Boston, Massachusetts into neighboring communities. The line begins west of Boston, in Cambridge, Massachusetts at Alewife station, near the intersection of Alewife Brook Parkway and Route 2...
. A commuter express bus runs from Cummings Park in Woburn to Boston during rush hours. Nearby Anderson Regional Transportation Center
Anderson Regional Transportation Center
Anderson Regional Transportation Center is a train and bus station located at 100 Atlantic Ave., off Commerce Way in Woburn, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston. It can be accessed from Exit 37C off Interstate 93 or the Washington Street exit off Interstate 95/Route 128. It opened on April 28, 2001,...
off I-93 (Commerce Way exit) has Logan Express shuttle bus service to Boston's Logan Airport every 30 minutes, and free shuttle service to the Manchester, N.H. Airport for ticketed passengers every two hours.
Winchester today
Just as its town government of Selectmen and Town Meeting members has remained essentially unchanged for most of its existence, so has Winchester's flavor little departed from the place that a 1970s survey listed as "one of the top fifteen suburbs" in the nation (Ladies Home Journal, August 1975). Since the completion of the present Winchester High School in 1972, with population growth leveling off, town leaders have had more time and funds to devote to maintaining rather than molding Winchester's character.Across the Main Street bypass from the high school sits the Jenks Seniors Center. Town-developed housing for seniors continues to flourish across from Wedge Pond, home to Borggaard Beach and Splash Park, a popular swimming spot which is continually monitored to ensure safe water quality levels. The Kiwanis Club hosts its annual fishing derby on the pond, while the Rotary Club runs its busy auction nearby. Adjacent to the beach are the Packer Tennis Courts, comprising fifteen clay courts, unusual for a public facility. The Winton Club, founded in 1911, raises funds in support of the Winchester Hospital.
Originally popular for canoeing, the Winchester Boat Club now serves as a home base for locals wishing to enjoy the Mystic Lakes with a casual sailing outing or a competitive regatta, and in the summer it is a popular meeting place for local families and their children. Likewise, the Winchester Swim and Tennis Club provides a large swimming pool, several five hard tennis courts, and bocce courts to local residents. The Winchester Country Club offers an 18-hole course in the Myopia Hill neighborhood, which was named after the Myopia Club
Myopia Club
The Myopia Club, regarded by some historians as being the oldest country club, was founded in the 1870s by four brothers with poor vision: Gordon, Charles, Morton, and Frederick Prince. At first it was a neighborhood boys club devoted to boating and tennis, based on the shores of Wedge Pond in...
based there in the late 19th century. The EnKa Society, a revived high school society, continues to raise money for community groups and activities through its annual street fair and carnival. And every year, as for over a century, thousands of fans attend the annual Thanksgiving Day football contest between Winchester High School and its long-time traditional rival, Woburn
Woburn, 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 :...
.
A new Black Horse Tavern opened on August 9, 2010, in Winchester Center on the former site of the Black Horse Bootery, which was demolished in 1892. According to the Massachusetts Historical Society, the town’s original Black Horse Tavern was built in 1742 and served as an important meeting place during the American Revolution.
Town services
Instead of municipal trash pickup in the town, Winchester operates a refuse transfer station and recycling center off Swanton Street. Residents currently pay $175 per family annually for a permit to dispose of their trash at this location, colloquially referred to as "The Dump."As it is a transfer station
Transfer station
A transfer station is a building or processing site for the temporary deposition of waste. Transfer stations are often used as places where local waste collection vehicles will deposit their waste cargo prior to loading into larger vehicles...
, trash is not disposed of at the site; rather the town pays to have it trucked away for incineration or dumping. Although it costs as much to operate the conveniently named "dump" as it would curbside trash pickup, the Selectmen decided that the social interaction of citizens at the site far outweighed the convenience of a more conventional trash service. Local political candidates even make occasional appearances at the dump on Saturdays, shaking voters' hands and handing out literature. Often, high school sports teams will hold fundraisers at the dump offering to pick up trash, usually on a Saturday, for a small donation.
There are private haulers in Winchester, for residents who wish to avoid bringing their trash and recyclables to the dump.
The site started as a primitive landfill in the 1940s and 1950s. "Going to the dump" was a Saturday ritual for many families that dated back to when it was a real 'dump' or landfill
Landfill
A landfill site , is a site for the disposal of waste materials by burial and is the oldest form of waste treatment...
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In the 1960s, a gas-fired incinerator
Incineration
Incineration is a waste treatment process that involves the combustion of organic substances contained in waste materials. Incineration and other high temperature waste treatment systems are described as "thermal treatment". Incineration of waste materials converts the waste into ash, flue gas, and...
was built on one side of the property. The remainder of the property was used for non-combustible waste such as appliances and metal. The incinerator was forced to shut down in the 1970s because of environmental
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
concerns about the untreated smoke from the incinerator's furnace
Furnace
A furnace is a device used for heating. The name derives from Latin fornax, oven.In American English and Canadian English, the term furnace on its own is generally used to describe household heating systems based on a central furnace , and sometimes as a synonym for kiln, a device used in the...
. With the closure of the incinerator, the site was converted to the transfer station that is there now.
Other town services include full-time police and fire departments, the Winchester Board of Health, the Town Clerk, the Post Office, Water and Sewer Deptartment, and the Public Works Department.
Winchester also has a Chamber of Commerce located on the platform of the "Winchester" station of the MBTA Commuter Rail.
Politics
In 2008, Winchester voted for Democrat Barack ObamaBarack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
59% to Republican John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
39%.
In the 2010 United States Senate special election in 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...
, Winchester voted 51% for Republican Scott Brown and 48% for Democrat Martha Coakley.
Points of interest
- John Mason HouseJohn Mason House (Winchester, Massachusetts)John Mason House is a historic house in Winchester, Massachusetts.The house was built in the Italianate style in 1865. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989....
Borggaard Beach and Splash Park: a recreational and water attraction. The area has 19 above- and below-ground elements and attractions for children as well as numerous games and other activities. The area has restrooms and offers a splash pad as well as season passes for residents.
Sister city
Winchester is the sister cityTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
of St. Germain-en-Laye, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Notable residents
- Lars Ahlfors, mathematician and Fields Medalist
- Patrick AufieroPatrick AufieroPatrick Aufiero is a retired American professional ice hockey defenseman. He was drafted in the third round in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Rangers.-Playing career:...
, retired professional ice hockey defenseman - Pat BadgerPat BadgerPat Badger is the bassist in the band Extreme. He is also a former member of Daemon, In The Pink, Super Trans Atlantic, and Tribe of Judah....
, Bass Player Extreme. - Brutus BeefcakeEdward LeslieEdward Harrison "Ed" Leslie is an American professional wrestler, best known for his work in the World Wrestling Federation under the ring name Brutus The Barber Beefcake. He later worked for World Championship Wrestling under a variety of names, mainly as "The Disciple" of real-life best friend...
, former WWF wrestler, and some-time tag team partner of fellow wrestler Hulk HoganHulk HoganTerrance Gene "Terry" Bollea , better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American Semi-retired professional wrestler, actor, television personality, and musician currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
. - Joe BellinoJoe BellinoJoseph Michael Bellino is a former American football halfback in the American Football League for the Boston Patriots. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1960.-Early life:...
, Heisman Trophy winning football player at the United States Naval AcademyUnited States Naval AcademyThe United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States... - Bob BigelowBob BigelowRobert S. Bigelow is a retired American basketball player in the National Basketball Association . A forward, he played college basketball at the University of Pennsylvania...
, retired NBA basketball player - Robert A. BrownRobert A. BrownRobert A. Brown is the 10th president of Boston University. He was formerly the provost of MIT.-External links:*...
, President of Boston UniversityBoston UniversityBoston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers... - Stephen J. Burke , Actor from the film Green
- Ashton CarterAshton CarterAshton Baldwin Carter is a United States national security professional. He is is the United States Deputy Secretary of Defense. Prior to that, He served as Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics for President Barack Obama. He is currently on leave from his post as...
, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy - John CazaleJohn CazaleJohn Holland Cazale , was an American film and theater actor. During his six-year film career he appeared in five films, each of which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture: The Godfather, The Conversation, The Godfather Part II, Dog Day Afternoon and The Deer Hunter.From his...
, was an American film and theater actor. During his six-year film career he appeared in five films, each of which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture: The Godfather, The Conversation, The Godfather Part II, Dog Day Afternoon and The Deer Hunter. - Allan McLeod CormackAllan McLeod CormackAllan MacLeod Cormack was a South African-born American physicist who won the 1979 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work on X-ray computed tomography ....
, one of the recipients of the 1979 Nobel Prize in Physiology or MedicineNobel Prize in Physiology or MedicineThe Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine administered by the Nobel Foundation, is awarded once a year for outstanding discoveries in the field of life science and medicine. It is one of five Nobel Prizes established in 1895 by Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, in his will... - General John M. CorseJohn M. CorseJohn Murray Corse was an American politician and soldier who served as a general in the Union Army in the American Civil War.-Early life and career:...
, hero of Southern campaigns in the Civil War - Edward EverettEdward EverettEdward Everett was an American politician and educator from Massachusetts. Everett, a Whig, served as U.S. Representative, and U.S. Senator, the 15th Governor of Massachusetts, Minister to Great Britain, and United States Secretary of State...
, President of Harvard UniversityHarvard UniversityHarvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, Governor of Massachusetts, and Ambassador to Britain - Jon Favreau (speechwriter)Jon Favreau (speechwriter)Jonathan "Jon" Favreau is Director of Speechwriting for President Barack Obama. Favreau attended the College of the Holy Cross, graduating as valedictorian. In college, he accumulated a variety of scholastic honors, and took part in and directed numerous community and civic programs...
, speechwriter for President Barack Obama - Frankie Fontaine, comedian & singer, most famous for playing the part of "Crazy" Guggenheim on the Jackie Gleason Show
- Edward GelsthorpeEdward GelsthorpeEdward Gelsthorpe was an American marketing executive. He used his creative skills to build markets for new products such as Ban roll-on deodorant at Bristol-Myers, Cran-Apple juice for the Ocean Spray cooperative, and Manwich canned sloppy joe sauce for Hunt-Wesson.-Early life and...
, (1923–2009), marketing executive known as "Cranapple Ed" for his best-known product launch. - Arthur Griffin, Professional Photographer and founder of the Griffin Museum of Photography located in Winchester.
- Kim KhazeiKim KhazeiKim Khazei is a news anchor woman for 7News Boston WHDH-TV and its sister station WLVI-TV .- Career :Kim Khazei began her TV career at KOMU-TV in Columbia, Missouri, then worked for four years at KQTV in Missouri as an evening anchor and reporter....
, Anchorwoman, WHDH-TVWHDH-TVWHDH, digital channel 42 , is an NBC-affiliated television station in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the largest NBC station not owned by the network. Owned by Sunbeam Television, WHDH is a sister station to CW affiliate WLVI... - Will Lakritz, Record Producer
- Louise Le BaronLouise Le BaronLouise Le Baron was an American contralto singer who performed in opera and musical theatre during the early years of the twentieth century.-Biography:...
(née Shepherd) Contralto - Mike LynchMike Lynch (sportscaster)Mike Lynch is the sports director and anchor for WCVB-TV Channel 5 in Boston, Massachusetts. He is seen on the air at 6 and 11 PM from Sunday to Thursday, or when a significant sports event is happening. He has been at WCVB since 1982...
Sports anchor for WCVB-TVWCVB-TVWCVB-TV, channel 5, is a television station located in Boston, Massachusetts, owned by Hearst Television and affiliated with the ABC Television Network. WCVB-TV's studios and transmitter are co-located in Needham, Massachusetts. WCVB is also one of six Boston television stations seen in Canada by...
. - Yo-Yo MaYo-Yo MaYo-Yo Ma is an American cellist, virtuoso, and orchestral composer. He has received multiple Grammy Awards, the National Medal of Arts in 2001 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011...
, Cellist. - Samuel W. McCallSamuel W. McCallSamuel Walker McCall was a member of the United States House of Representatives, and the 47th Governor of Massachusetts...
, ten-time United States Congressman and three-time Governor of Massachusetts - Arthur G. B. Metcalf, founder of the Electronics Corporation of America and 41 year member of the Boston UniversityBoston UniversityBoston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
Board of Trustees, 18 years of which he was Chairman of the Board - Glen Murray, NHL Player for Boston Bruins
- Cam NeelyCam NeelyCameron Michael Neely is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played right wing for the Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League from 1983 to 1996. He currently serves as the president of the Boston Bruins.-Playing career:Cam Neely was born in Comox,...
, retired NHL player - Jess NevinsJess NevinsJohn J. Nevins, MA/MS, is an American author and librarian, born 30 July 1966 and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. He is the author of the World Fantasy Award-nominated Encyclopedia of Fantastic Victoriana , and other works on Victoriana and pulp fiction...
, author - Barry NewmanBarry NewmanBarry Foster Newman is an American film, television, and stage actor, famous for his interpretation of Kowalski in the movie Vanishing Point. He has been nominated for a Golden Globe and Emmy awards.- Life and career :...
, actor - Laurence OwenLaurence OwenLaurence Rochon "Laurie" Owen was a Hall of Fame American figure skater. She was the 1961 U.S. National Champion and represented the United States at the 1960 Winter Olympics, where she placed 6th. She was the daughter of Maribel Vinson and Guy Owen and the sister of Maribel Owen...
, National skating champion whose career was cut short by the plane crash that wiped out the national team in 1961 - Mike PagliaruloMike PagliaruloMichael Timothy Pagliarulo, aka "Pags" , is a former Major League Baseball third baseman during the 1980s and into the mid 1990s...
, ex-pro baseball player for the Minnesota Twins and New York Yankees. - Jay PandolfoJay PandolfoJay Paul Pandolfo is an American professional ice hockey forward currently a member of the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League.He spent most of his career with the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League...
, NHL player - Harry Parker, Olympic rower/coach and current coach of Harvard crew
- Bjorn PoonenBjorn PoonenBjorn Mikhail Poonen is a mathematician, four-time Putnam Competition winner and currently the Claude Shannon Professor of Mathematics at MIT.His research is primarily in number theory and algebraic geometry, but he has occasionally published in other subjects such as probability and computer...
, mathematician - John Quinlan, champion bodybuilder and professional wrestler
- Herb Reed, founding member of The PlattersThe PlattersThe Platters were a vocal group of the early rock and roll era. Their distinctive sound was a bridge between the pre-rock Tin Pan Alley tradition and the burgeoning new genre...
- Hartley Rogers, Jr., mathematician
- Alicia SacramoneAlicia SacramoneAlicia Marie Sacramone is an American artistic gymnast.Sacramone began gymnastics at the age of eight, began competing in the elite ranks in 2002 and joined the U.S. national team in 2003. At US National Championships from 2004 to 2008, she won twelve medals, including four golds on vault and two...
, five-time Gymnastics World Championships medalist and 2010 Olympic Silver Medalist - Richard R. SchrockRichard R. SchrockRichard Royce Schrock is an American chemist and Nobel laureate recognized for his contributions to the metathesis reaction used in organic chemistry.-Biography:...
, one of the recipients of the 2005 Nobel Prize in ChemistryNobel Prize in ChemistryThe Nobel Prize in Chemistry is awarded annually by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences to scientists in the various fields of chemistry. It is one of the five Nobel Prizes established by the will of Alfred Nobel in 1895, awarded for outstanding contributions in chemistry, physics, literature,... - Elizabeth Shepley SergeantElizabeth Shepley SergeantElizabeth Shepley Sergeant was an American journalist and writer....
, journalist and writer - Claude Shannon, engineer and information theorist
- Harry SindenHarry SindenHarry James Sinden was the long-time general manager, coach, and president for the Boston Bruins NHL hockey team, and was the coach of Team Canada during the 1972 Summit Series...
, Former GM and coach of the Boston Bruins. - Whitney SmithWhitney SmithWhitney Smith is a professional vexillologist, i.e., scholar of flags. The term vexillology, which he coined in his 1958 article Flags of the Arab World, refers to the scholarly analysis of all aspects of flags. In 1961, Smith and colleague Gerhard Grahl cofounded The Flag Bulletin, the world's...
, Director of the Flag Research Center. - Dan SpangDan SpangDan Spang is a professional ice hockey defenseman, currently playing for the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League .-Playing career:...
, professional ice hockey defenseman - Richard Stolzman, clarinetist
- John Volpe, three-time Governor of Massachusetts, United States Secretary of Transportation, and Ambassador to Italy
- Brad WhitfordBrad WhitfordBradford Ernest Whitford is the rhythm guitarist for the hard rock band Aerosmith. He graduated Reading Memorial High School in 1970.-Career:...
of AerosmithAerosmithAerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
. - Robert W. WileyRobert W. WileyRobert W. Wiley is a Republican United States politician from Rockingham County, New Hampshire.Wiley served 2 terms as a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, where he represented Derry.-References:...
, a former Republican politician. - Brian Wilson-Baseball relief pitcher/closer for the San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco GiantsThe San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
.
Footnotes
- History of Winchester, Massachusetts by H.S.Chapman and Bruce W. Stone (1936,1975)
- Ladies Home Journal, Aug., 1975
External links
- Winchester official site
- Winchester Public Schools
- Rotary Club of Winchester
- Winchester Historical Society
- Children's Own School of Winchester
- Winchester Community Site
- 1871 Atlas of Massachusetts. by Wall & Gray. Map of Massachusetts. Map of Middlesex County.
- History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Volume 1 (A-H), Volume 2 (L-W) compiled by Samuel Adams Drake, published 1879-1880. 572 and 505 pages. Winchester article by Edwin A. Wadliegh in volume 2 pages 506-525.
