Five and a half cents a square foot. Can you imagine? That’s what a plot of land in the Lindens cost in 1843. This is Linden Station in Boston though the station itself is gone. We stand where a vibrant planned community once thrived.
The Lindens was Brookline’s earliest planned development. It was a garden suburb. A refuge from Boston’s growing crowds. Think elegant Greek Revival homes. Think carefully laid-out parks. Thomas Aspinwall Davis the then mayor of Boston envisioned this idyllic escape. He subdivided his family’s farm. He created a prestigious neighborhood for Boston’s wealthy merchants.
Davis’s vision included Linden Square. It’s a horseshoe-shaped park. It remains a central feature of the Lindens. Imagine the bustling social life surrounding the square. The social gatherings the elegant carriages. Nearby Linden Place boasts more stunning architecture. Greek Revival homes stand side by side with later additions like the Queen Anne style apartment building. The Scudder House a fine example of Greek Revival architecture stands proudly. The attention to detail is incredible. Notice the intricate moldings the graceful columns.
Aspinwall’s influence extended beyond the initial development. The original layout with its parks and streets remains. Even though the density of buildings has increased dramatically. You can still sense the grandeur of the original design. Imagine the original landscape. Imagine the beautiful woods and brook that once graced the area.
Many of the homes have been altered or replaced. Yet the core essence of the Lindens endures. The streets still wind gracefully. The parks still provide green spaces. Linden Station itself may be gone. But the spirit of this planned community lives on in the surrounding neighborhood. The legacy of a vision. A vision of a tranquil escape from the city’s clamor. A legacy built on five and a half cents per square foot.