The last town annexed to Boston (in 1912), Hyde Park's history illustrates the original independent identity of many of Boston's neighborhoods, and the steady process of coming under the influences of Boston that each such neighborhood underwent. It had a manufacturing base as far back as the early eighteenth century, with associated residential and commercial development. That manufacturing base was dependent on the major water resource of Hyde Park - the Neponset River. The river was enhanced by the Mother Brook canal, built in the mid-1800's to connect the Neponset to the Charles. The first dam and paper mill was built in 1714 along the Neponset, near where the current Patriot Paper mill is now located. By the late 1800's, industry (paper and cotton mills, and other factories) grew so rapidly from the available water power that the town popoulation increased a startling 900% from 1512 persons in 1887 to 15,000 persons in 1912. Thanks to the extension of rail lines and the proximity to major highways, manufacturing continues to have a large place in Hyde Park's economy. A paper recycling plant, the Patriot Paper mill mentioned above, is now located in Hyde Park.
Another factor in the rapid growth of Hyde Park in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century was the introduction of the trolley and rail lines to and from Boston. New residents who worked not in Hyde Park but in Boston sought the grassy lawns and lower housing density available in Hyde Park. The pull toward Boston was now taking hold. Dissatisfied with town water rates and service, Hyde Park voted to join Boston in 1911.
Hyde Park provided the backdrop for events in the women's suffrage and abolition movements. Speaking out for human rights were such Hyde Park residents as Angelina and Sarah Grimke, Mehitable Sunderland, the first doctor in Hyde Park, and Theodore Weld. The first black regiment mustered for the Civil War, the Massachusetts 54th - subject of the movie "Glory" - was trained at Camp Meigs in Hyde Park, as was James Munroe Trotter, the first black officer of the American Army.
While absorbed into Boston, Hyde Park still maintains a sense of its own independent spirit and identity. Residents were so dissatisfied with the Southwest Expressway proposal that in 1962, they petitioned their legislators to secede from Boston and to join Norfolk County. Both the secession and the expressway proposals failed.
Hyde Park is a community of revitalization and growth. Many former residents who moved to the suburbs are coming back, attracted by Hyde Park's proximity to Boston and moderate housing prices.
Although Hyde Park is a suburban neighborhood, it is a part of Boston both geographically and politically. Formed from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, a high proportion of city workers, city officials, and elected politicians live here. There is an upbeat, enthusiastic, urban-citizen attitude which manifests itself in a strong civic involvement.
Hyde Park falls into the category of a city community that looks and feels like a small town - a valuable quality in this age of resurging interest in city living. It is an urban/suburban community of about 27,000 people, located in the southeast corner of Boston, surrounded by West Roxbury, Roslindale, Mattapan, Dedham, and Milton. It is just a 15-minute commute by rail or car to downtown Boston and only a 10-minute ride from Routes 128 and 95.
Hyde Park is broken up into several smaller communities such as Fairmount, Readville, Sunnyside, and Stonybrook. Neat yards, tree-lined streets, and solid, lovely homes are typical of these neighborhoods. Single and multi-family homes can be found throughout the area. Most are in good condition and moderately priced.
Cleary Square and commercial establishments along Truman Parkway provide a good variety of shopping as well as free parking. There are 11 elementary schools, two junior high schools, one high school, and two parochial schools here. Human service programs for teens and senior citizens are important community projects. Senior citizens are also serviced by a free shuttle bus while the MBTA operates bus service throughout Hyde Park's neighborhoods.
This area also has thousands of acres of open space, large ponds, recreation facilities, and playgrounds. The Stonybrook Reservation is undergoing a multi-million dollar program aimed at conserving its land for better recreational use. This reservation has bicycling and jogging paths, cross country skiing, and plenty of parking. Other recreational facilities in Hyde Park include the George Wright Public Golf Course, public tennis courts, and a concert shell near Truman Parkway.
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