Today is ADORE-Chester! day, a celebration of Dorchester, my home neighborhood where I was born, raised, and live in today. There's many great things about Dorchester, but for today's article we'll talk about five of them. For more great points of Dorchester, check out the other blogs participating in ADORE-Chester! Day.
Dorchester's History
Dorchester's Architecture
Dorchester's Diversity
The Polish Triangle
Dot Bike
Leonard Nimoy
- The Dottie Hottie
- The Dot Matrix
- Dot Boston
- The Dorchester Think Tank
- Lower Dot
- Local Spice
- Candeliera Silva
- Social Butterfly Experiment
- dotmass
- Greening of Dorchester
Dorchester is an old place, founded before the City of Boston, filled with historical nuggets and firsts. For instance, did you know Dorchester once literally sprawled over and beyond Greater Boston, coming within just feet of the Rhode Island border?
As noted in my Dorchester Day article for The Dorchester Reporter, Dorchester has staken a claim as the
home of the first free public school in the USA, the first community health center, the first settlement in Suffolk County, and the first government run by town hall meetings
Modern and centuries old structures populate Dorchester's landscape. The William Clapp house was built in 1806, the James Blake house is even older built in 1650. And modern buildings are being built as we speak, with the most recent in progress development being the the new Carpenters Center on Dorchester Avenue overlooking I-93. A much needed modern building in a location that makes for a much more inviting welcome into Dorchester coming into the neighborhood from the city.
Young and old, rich and poor, people of nearly all nationalities fill the streets of Dorchester. Our diversity is one of our strongest strengths, and creates a populace that learns from and leans on each other, rather than viewing people as different.
Well, I am a Polish-American (born in the U.S.A., by two Polish-born parents), so how could I not list The Polish Triangle, an officially recognized area of Boston that is filled with Polish culture and history. We've got great restaurants, friendly neighbors, and a giant pear. A win for all.
As a Boston bicyclist, I love that the Dorchester bicycle community is strong and big. Walking, biking, or driving around Dorchester you can spot bicyclists all over the place. The simple bicycle is a great example of how Dorchester is an economical, efficient, and self-powered place where independence is valued and pride in oneself and one's area is strong.
A bonus point! At the behest of my step-brother, I must add the bonus point that Leonard Nimoy was born in Dorchester. The definitive star trekker began his star tripping in the best neighborhood in Boston, Dot.
These Blogs Adore Dorchester too:
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Post written on 2009-10-04.
12 comments
I didn’t know about the Polish Triangle or that it was designated thus. I will check out Pollonia and Sugar Bowl. It’s funny how many of us adore the same things about our great big community.
thanks for letting me know that Carpenter’s Hall is the name of the building that’s going up. I have been wondering what it was. Ditto about Dorchester being the birth place of Leonard Nimoy.
Yup, the designation was fairly recent ( I believe this year, or within the past year), but it’s appropriate, for some reason Polish people cluster to this little triangular space.
I think we adore the same things because those are Dorchester’s strengths and likely the reason many Dot residents chose the area. Happy Adore-Chester day!
lol… i like the Leonard nimoy part… that’s a hilarious piece of trivia.
Thanks a million for this post! It’s always so nice when the person really likes the native place. Today many people move from one city to another, some of them for work others – just for pleasure. They don’t think much and often can’t say anything about the history and the sights of the city where they live. It’s the great pleasure to read this text which is full of love to Dorchester, I’d like to visit the place which causes such positive emotions.
Dorchester is a loveable place. Leonard Nemoy is from here. So is the man who played the scarecrow in the film version of the Wizard of Oz. So are many, many other people. The old Dot is home town to all sorts of folks you've never heard of who have made good. Thanks, Adam, for hitting the highlights. Dorchester, Dorchester, uber alles.
Leonard Nimoy – great the way these little bits of trivia leak out about a place. I'm just near the site of the bloodiest battle of the English civil war !
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hi
Looks like an interesting place & about it,s history & architecture aspect & definitely the polish triangle will be a proper part of history.
Regards !
Smith
Tnx for good information.
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This post of yours serves as a tribute to your hometown. Everyone will long for a chance to add laurels to their hometown and you did it through this post by familiarizing Dorchestor to many.
I would love to visit this place.I,ll visit it soon.Thanks for the historical info.
A great history about dorchester, which will attract the readers to visit the place of change history.
Good luck for the information, one day i will be plan to come to dorchester on tour
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