Roslindale

In the early 18th century Roslindale began to distinguish itself from Roxbury, which at the time included Roslindale, Jamaica Plain, and West Roxbury. The approximate 45 families living in the area were tired of their weekly 6 mile commute over tough roads to the First Church in Jamaica Plain. Residents appealed to the church to build their own parish, but when they did not receive a response they built one anyway.¹ The townspeople formed the Second Church of Roxbury, which later became Theodore Parker Church and is now known as Holy Name Parish.⁴

Before the late 1800s, the rural area between northern Roxbury and West Roxbury was known as “South Street Crossing.” In 1870, the residents of this area asked the U.S Post Office for a local post office. The U.S Post office agreed but rejected “South Street Crossing” as a name for the new district. John Pierce, a prominent English resident at the time, suggested the name "Roslindale" since the terrain reminded him of Roslyn, a small town outside of Edinburgh, Scotland.³

Once referred to as the "Suburb Superb", the streetcars and railroad which ran through the area aided in Roslindale's rapid development.⁴ Between 1870 and 1920, a building boom converted Roslindale’s open spaces into the middle class suburb we see today. Families chasing the American Dream built single and multi-family residences while still maintaining open green spaces such as the Arnold Arboretum and George Wright Golf Course. Currently, the multiple family homes and green spaces are still notable features of the Roslindale neighborhood. At one point, there even existed a billboard on Washington Street near the Forest Hills train station, which read, “Welcome to Roslindale—Gateway to Suburbia."² 

In the heart of Roslindale lies Roslindale Village, a once a major shopping district in Boston, which has since died down to small shops and restaurants. Adams Park, the green space in the middle of Roslindale Village is named after Irving W. Adams, the first man from MA to die in WWI.² Cummins highway, a major street through Roslindale was named after Reverend John F. Cummins, who was the first pastor of the town’s Sacred Heart Church.² Today, Roslindale is a beaming and diverse residential neighborhood with various schools, religious institutions, and local businesses.