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Volunteers at the Dorchester Historical Society, 2009

Edward Everett Square is rich in its history of community. English Colonists first settled at this crossroads in 1630, a place with evidence of Native American habitation from 10,000 years ago. Edward Everett Square is the site of America’s first town meeting (1633), first tax supported school (1641), and still features the Blake House, the oldest house in Boston built in 1640. Dorchester was a largely agricultural community that changed dramatically in the late 1800’s when large country estates were divided to create housing for new immigrant populations. Throughout these changes, civic government, local control and strong family traditions thrived.

Today the area still represents a crossroads of people and activism. There are more union halls in Dorchester than any other community in Massachusetts, while more public meetings are held here than anywhere else in Boston. Political and social organizations, youth and veteran groups, peace, civic and historic associations thrive and work to serve the members of the community. It is a place where people and their sense of place matter, whether they grew up and raised their families here, or have just moved in.

Image courtesy of the Dorchester Historical Society