Consider this: a glacial drumlin sculpted by the receding glaciers of the Pleistocene epoch. This is Spring Hill. It is a ridge in the heart of Somerville Massachusetts. It is also a residential neighborhood perched atop the ridge.
Spring Hill runs northwest to southeast. Highland Avenue, Somerville Avenue, Elm Street and Willow Avenue roughly bound it. Summer Street marks the hill’s crest.
But Spring Hill wasn’t always like this. It was once an agricultural area. Development was slow until the mid-19th century. Central, Lowell, and Cedar Streets emerged in the mid-17th century. However, few other roads disturbed the open space.
Most of Spring Hill’s development occurred between the 1840s and early 1900s. You will see Greek Revival houses and Victorians. Second Empires, Italianates, Gothic Revivals, and Queen Annes add to the architectural mix. There are large houses, smaller worker homes and attached houses. Triple-deckers filled the remaining land in the early 1900s.
A portion of Spring Hill earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. The Spring Hill Historic District includes Summer, Central, Atherton, and Spring Streets.
George O. Brastow played a vital role in Spring Hill’s development. He was an influential businessman and Somerville’s first mayor. In 1843, he created one of Somerville’s first residential subdivisions. It was located on the hill’s south side between Central and Belmont Streets. Some original houses still stand on Atherton Street and off Harvard Street.
Alexander Wadsworth, a Boston surveyor, assisted Brastow. He designed the subdivision to attract substantial homes. These homes were for privileged suburbanites in managerial jobs. The views of Cambridge and Boston were expansive. The Fitchburg Railroad provided easy access to Boston.
In 1889, a water standpipe was built on the hill between Belmont and Lowell Streets. It is now Bailey Park. This provided municipal drinking water to Somerville residents. It also spurred further housing development on the higher ground.
By the end of the 19th century, the street grid achieved its present form. Multi-family homes filled the neighborhood. Streetcar lines from Lechmere Square fueled growth. Industrialization along Somerville Avenue and the Fitchburg Railroad also contributed.
Spring Hill is home to significant landmarks. Somerville Hospital opened in 1891 on Highland Avenue. The Round House stands on Atherton Street. The Somerville Museum is located on Central Street.
Interestingly, journalist Howie Carr and Winter Hill Gang leader Howie Winter once lived here. They resided one street apart. Carr revealed this in his book about James “Whitey” Bulger.
There are several structures in Spring Hill that have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Spring Hill developed primarily as a residential neighborhood. Most of its structures reflect this.
The Enoch Robinson Round House on Atherton Street is unique. It is a cylindrical wood-frame building. Hardware manufacturer Enoch Robinson built it in 1856. It is an offshoot of the octagon house style. Phrenologist Orson Fowler popularized this style.
The Martin W. Carr School was built in 1898. It was originally an elementary school. It has been converted to condominiums. The Alexander Foster House is an Italianate-style house on Laurel Street built in 1860.
The House at 16-18 Preston Road is a Colonial Revival triple-decker built in 1910. The Joseph K. James House is a Colonial Revival house built in 1893. The Lemuel Snow Jr. House is a Queen Anne style house built in 1890.
Spring Hill stands as a testament to time and transformation. From its glacial origins to its diverse architecture, Spring Hill offers a glimpse into Somerville’s rich history. Take a walk. Explore its streets. Discover the stories etched into its very foundation.