What you see at Teele Square today is the result of centuries of change. Let’s dive into the history of this Somerville hub. Teele Square sits at the meeting point of Broadway Holland Street and Curtis Street.
Jonathan W. Teele is the square’s namesake. He lived in what was once Charlestown. This area became part of Somerville in 1842. Jonathan was quite the character. In 1836 he built the Teele House. This was a roadhouse for travelers. It stood at the corner of Broadway and Curtis Street. The Teele family acquired much land on Clarendon Hill. This land stretched between Professors Row and the Cambridge line.
After the Civil War Somerville began to grow westward. The junction between Arlington Cambridge and Medford expanded rapidly after 1867. The extension of Holland Street from Davis Square to Broadway and Curtis created Teele Square.
Jonathan’s son Samuel was important to the Teele family. He was a farmer on his father’s land. The land spanned over eighty-two acres. During the Civil War Camp Cameron was located on Clarendon Hill. Thousands of troops trained there. These troops sometimes raided Teele’s farm for food. These raids were overlooked because they supported the northern cause.
In Teele Square you will find a diverse community. There is a large Haitian American population. There is also a large white American population. Compared to the neighborhoods around it Teele Square is a lower income area.
Teele Square is close to many places. Tufts University is a short walk away. The town lines of Cambridge Arlington and Medford are also nearby.
The square offers a variety of places to eat. You can also find three convenience stores a barbershop three hair salons and a liquor store. Davis Square is more popular than Teele Square. It is about a third of a mile to the east.
In 2011 a fire broke out in Teele Square. It destroyed four businesses and a police sub-station. The Somerville Fire Department’s Ladder 3 and Engine 6 are located in Teele Square.
If the Teeles could visit Teele Square today I think they would be proud. Their lives and work are honored at its heart. The market gardens the farmers and their family names have not been forgotten. Teele Square continues to evolve. It still honors its past.