Did you know Ten Hills in Somerville boasts a history stretching back to the very beginnings of the Massachusetts Bay Colony? Right here before you stands a neighborhood steeped in history. Its name echoes from Ten Hills Farm a sprawling 600-acre estate granted to John Winthrop the colony’s first governor in 1631. Winthrop himself chose the name for the ten small knolls dotting the property. Those knolls were part of a landscape of orchards and meadows perfect for grazing cattle.
Ten Hills wasn’t always the quiet residential area it is today. The farm changed hands several times. Isaac Royall Sr a plantation owner and slave trader from Antigua even owned a large portion of it. He remodeled a brick house originally built in 1692. This house still stands today known as the Isaac Royall House a sobering reminder of a darker chapter in the area’s past. Later Captain Robert Temple owned the Somerville portion of the farm. He built a grand mansion overlooking the Mystic River a structure that sadly didn’t survive the late 19th century.
Ten Hills played a pivotal role in the lead-up to the American Revolution. In 1774 General Thomas Gage ordered British troops to raid the area. Their target was the Old Powder House. The troops landed right here at Ten Hills Farm. They then marched to the Powder House seizing a significant supply of gunpowder. This act ignited the Powder Alarm a pivotal moment that foreshadowed the Battles of Lexington and Concord.
The land was transformed over the centuries. Much of the high ground was used to fill in surrounding marshlands. Eventually the area became the location of the Charles A Grimmons Elementary School. The school which opened in 1930 closed in 1980 due to low enrollment. A part of the school’s grounds became Grimmons Park a small playground a testament to the neighborhood’s evolution.
Today Ten Hills offers a unique blend of history and recreation. The Blessings of the Bay Boathouse named for Winthrop’s ship sits on the Mystic River. This boathouse is a vibrant hub for rowing enthusiasts. It’s also home to the Gentle Giant Rowing Club. Nearby Grimmons Park provides a space for families and children.
Ten Hills stands as a living testament to Somerville’s rich and complex past. From its origins as a colonial farm to its modern-day charm Ten Hills offers a captivating journey through time. Take a moment to soak in the serenity of the Mystic River and imagine the lives that have unfolded here for centuries.