GreenerPasture.com

Sign In



FREE ancestry since 1999 - History belongs to all of us!

Add YOUR Family To This Page

flag  History of Somerville, Massachusetts, USA

Journey back in time to Somerville, Massachusetts, USA

Visit Somerville, Massachusetts, USA. Discover its history. Learn about the people who lived there through stories, old newspaper articles, pictures, postcards and ancestry.

Follow us on Instagram      Subscribe to our Youtube channel      Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com Visit Our Old Newspaper Blog Visit Our Life Blog

Do You Have Somerville Roots? Share Your Ancestral Story!

Somerville, Massachusetts, USA - Robinson Round House, built in 1856

Somerville, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA

Somerville honors the memory of Capt. Richard Somers, naval officer in the war with Tripoli.
How New England Towns Received Their Names
The Day
New London, Connecticut
October 21, 1914

Somerville was established as a town in 1842, when it was separated from Charlestown.

Somerville includes: Spring Hill, Winter Hill, Bleachery, Brickbottom, Central Hill, Clarendon Hills, and Prospect Hill.
netronline.com


There is MUCH more to discover about Somerville, Massachusetts, USA. Read on!

Somerville Nostalgia: Vintage Photos, Ads, and Postcards


Somerville, Massachusetts, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
Robinson Round House, built in 1856
Read more about Enoch ROBINSON photo of ancestor

Somerville, Massachusetts, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
Prospect Hill Tower, Somerville, Mass.

Somerville, Massachusetts, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
Somerville, Mass. City Hall.

Somerville, Massachusetts, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
Gilman Square

Somerville, Massachusetts, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
Highland Ave. and Medford St.

Somerville, Massachusetts, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
Somerville Highlands Station

Somerville, Massachusetts, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
Latin High School, 1904

Somerville, Massachusetts, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
Charles Pope School
Read more about Charles Greenwood POPE photo of ancestor

Somerville, Massachusetts, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
Old Tufts House, Sycamore St., 1908

Somerville, Massachusetts, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
Broadway, 1908

Somerville, Massachusetts, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
Old Powder House, 1909

Somerville, Massachusetts, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
The Armory

Somerville, Massachusetts, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
Broadway Park, looking across the Pond

Somerville, Massachusetts, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
Central Park

Somerville, Massachusetts, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
Citadel

Somerville, Massachusetts, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
Engine House, Union Sq.

Somerville, Massachusetts, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
Somerville Hospital

Somerville, Massachusetts, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
High School

Somerville, Massachusetts, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
Winter Hill Station

Somerville, Massachusetts, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
Y.M.C.A.

Somerville, Massachusetts, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
Fountain and Cannons, Central Park

Somerville, Massachusetts, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
First Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene, Davis Square, W. Sommerville

Somerville, Massachusetts, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
Somerville, Mass. View of Tufts College, From Powder House Square

Somerville, Massachusetts, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
Union Square

Somerville, Massachusetts, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
West Somerville, Mass. Elm Street and Davis Square, 1911

Somerville, Massachusetts, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
Fort Park

Somerville, Massachusetts, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
Library

Somerville, Massachusetts, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
Universalist Chapel, Tufts College, West Somerville, Mass.

Somerville, Massachusetts, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
Bean's Pharmacy

Somerville, Massachusetts, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
Edgerly School

Somerville, Massachusetts, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
Congregational Church, College Avenue, West Somerville, Mass.

Somerville, Massachusetts, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
St. Catherine's Church

Somerville, Massachusetts, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
Woodbridge Hotel, West Somerville, Mass. Mr. Frank E. W. Howe, Mgr.

Discover Somerville: History, News, Travel, and Stories

Add informationAdd History/News/Story
  • 1630 - Somerville is settled

    Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates
  • 1842 - Somerville is incorporated

    Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates
  • 1845 - SOMERVILLE. [Pop.1,500. Inc. 1842.]
    This new town, lately set off from Charlestown, was the agricultural part of the township.

    Somerville lies on the western bank of Mystic River; and Prospect Hill, and part of Winter Hill, to which the Americans retreated after the noble struggle at Bunker Hill, are in Somerville.

    The McLean Asylum for the Insane, a noble monument of philanthropy and munificence, is in this town.

    Distance from Concord, 14 miles; from Boston, 2.
    An Elementary Geography for Massachusetts Children by William Bentley Fowle and Asa Fitz, 1845
  • 1854 - Somerville
    Somerville, a post-township of Middlesex county, Massachusetts, intersected by three important railroads, about 3 miles N. N. W. from Boston. It is the seat of the McClean Asylum for the Insane, (see Boston,) and of various manufactories, among which may be mentioned an extensive establishment for bleaching. Tuft's college, an institution chartered in 1852, is located on grounds lying partly in this township and partly in Medford. The village of Somerville is situated on the Boston and Maine and on the Boston and Fitchburg railroads, 2 miles from Boston. The township was incorporated in 1842. Population, 3640.
    A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.
  • News  1870 - Death by Falling into a Kettle of Boiling Fat
    BOSTON, Oct. 11. - In Somerville, last evening, H. C. LINCOLN, of the firm of LINCOLN & CHAMBERLAIN, lard manufacturers, fell into a large kettle of boiling fat. He was immediately taken out and lived one hour.
    The New York Times
    New York, New York
    October 12, 1870
  • 1872 - Somerville is incorporated as a city

    Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates
  • 1877 - April 15 - 1st telephone installed: Boston-Somerville, Mass

    historyorb.com
  • Somerville Massachusetts, 1890
    SOMERVILLE is a beautiful, prosperous and growing city in the southeast section of Middlesex County, three miles northwest of Boston. Through it run the Boston and Maine Railroad and its divisions, the Eastern and the Boston and Lowell; the Fitchburg Railroad; and the Grand Junction Branch of the Boston and Albany Railroad. Street railroads through the Charlestown district, and through Cambridge, also connect it with the metropolis. Sloops approach it by the Mystic on the northeast, and by Miller's River on the southeast. The boundaries are Medford on the northeast, Charlestown on the east, Cambridge on the south and southwest, and Arlington on the northwest. The length of the territory is about four miles northwest and southeast; and its width varies from about 500 feet near Charlestown to two miles for the most part of the eastern section. The assessed area is 1,900 acres. About seven eighths of this has a soil of clay or of clayey gravel, and the remainder is sand.

    The surface... Read MORE...

  • 1906
    Somerville, a city of Middlesex co., Mass., a suburb of the city of Boston, on the Mystio River and on the Bos ton and Albany and the Boston and Maine Rs., 2 miles from the initial station in Boston. It contains some notable public and charitable institutions, a state armory, the Powder House of the Revolutionary period, and extensive slaughtering establishments, tanneries, tube-works, bleaoh- eries, oil-refinery, iron-foundries, and manufactures of funeral-wares, glass, electric goods, pictures, jewelry, bricks, cigars, etc. Many of the residences are elegant and costly. Its post-office is a branch of the Boston post-office. Pop. in 1890, 40,152; in 1900, 61,643.
    Lippincott's New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns ... in Every Portion of the Globe Publisher J.B. Lippincott Company, 1906
  • News  1910 - FIREMAN KILLED IN WRECK.
    Passenger in Collision Near Boston.

    BOSTON, Dec. 25. - One death resulted to-night from a Christmas morning railroad wreck in the Somerville yard of the Boston & Maine Railroad. A freight train, a shifting engine, and a Haverhill bound passenger train met in collision. William J. Noyes, the fireman of the passenger locomotive, died at the Relief Hospital of a broken neck, and seven passengers of the Haverhill train were slightly injured but were able to get to their homes.

    The shifting engine struck a frog the wrong way and crashed into the end of an inbound train from Portland. This swung a number of freight cars about, so that the engine of the passenger train hit them. The people in the first passenger car were badly shaken and the passenger engine toppled over and several cars were smashed.
    The New York Times
    New York, New York
    December 26, 1910
  • 1917 - Archibald Query invented marshmallow Fluff in 1917 in Somerville


    Read more about Joseph Archibald QUERY
  • Marshmallow Fluff dates back as far as 1917 when it was sold door to door in Somerville, Massachusetts.

    wjbq.com




  • 2023 - Whether you're a resident or just visiting, here's a list of places to go and things to do in Somerville:
    Davis Square: This is the heart of Somerville, known for its bustling atmosphere, unique shops, and a wide variety of restaurants and cafes. It's a great place to start your exploration.

    Somerville Theater: A historic theater that hosts movies, concerts, and special events. It's a beautiful venue with an old-school charm.

    Tufts University: Explore the campus of Tufts University, known for its beautiful architecture and green spaces. The campus is open to the public, and you can stroll around the picturesque quad.

    Assembly Row: This area has undergone significant redevelopment in recent years and is now a shopping and entertainment destination. You'll find outlet stores, restaurants, a movie theater, and even a Legoland Discovery Center.

    Mystic River Reservation: Enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, jogging, or picnicking in this beautiful natural reserve. The Mystic River runs through it, offering scenic views and a peaceful escape from the city.

    Bao Bao Bakery: A... Read MORE...

Discover Your Roots: Somerville Ancestry

Ancestors Who Were Born or Died in Somerville, Massachusetts, USA

We currently have information about ancestors who were born or died in Somerville.

View Them Now (sorted by year of birth)



male ancestorJames MOORE (, , Scotland (United Kingdom) - 7 November 1855, Somerville, Massachusetts, USA)
male ancestorHenry H. BRADSHAW (, Boston, Massachusetts, USA - 28 April 1864, Somerville, Massachusetts, USA)
female ancestorMary A. SAVAGE (, , Massachusetts, USA - 9 December 1871, Somerville, Massachusetts, USA)
male ancestorJabez KENDALL (1769, - 12 February 1852, Somerville, Massachusetts, USA)
male ancestorJames W. DAVIS (1771, Truro, Massachusetts, USA - 11 August 1864, Somerville, Massachusetts, USA)
male ancestorThomas DARLING (1775, - 17 September 1852, Somerville, Massachusetts, USA)
male ancestorSamuel JAGNES (1777, Wilmington, Massachusetts, USA - 27 March 1859, Somerville, Massachusetts, USA)
female ancestorJane GABRIEL (1777, , Ireland - 27 April 1870, Somerville, Massachusetts, USA)
male ancestorIsaac CUSHING (30 March 1779, Bellingham, Massachusetts, USA - 6 July 1861, Somerville, Massachusetts, USA)

Ancestors Who Were Married in Somerville, Massachusetts, USA

We currently have information about ancestors who were married in Somerville.

View Them Now

photo of George Henry SALLAWAY George Henry SALLAWAY (12 July 1855 - 7 April 1918) and photo of Anna Mary LEACH Anna Mary LEACH (25 February 1860 - 26 April 1933) married 13 October 1886
male ancestorMarion B PATTEN (1871 - 20 December 1956) and female ancestorMary A GILL (15 October 1869 - 26 August 1941) married 14 October 1890
male ancestorEdwin Percival SAMSON (3 October 1866 - 7 March 1940) and female ancestorEdith Rose FISHER (4 April 1867 - 10 February 1936) married 07 May 1890
photo of Elbridge Joseph GERRY Elbridge Joseph GERRY (15 November 1878 - 27 November 1902) and photo of Emma Petrina (Pauline) ANDERSSON Emma Petrina (Pauline) ANDERSSON (23 April 1879 - 26 March 1960) married 1 March 1898
male ancestorJoseph Archibald QUERY (16 December 1873 - March 1964) and female ancestorElizabeth Margaret RYAN (1881 - ) married 22 July 1901
male ancestorDavid Winslow LOVETT (19 May 1871 - 10 May 1941) and female ancestorAlvanora Robinson "Affie" BROWN (17 November 1880 - 9 June 1978) married 30 June 1902
photo of Arthur William METCALF Arthur William METCALF (1 July 1874 - 22 May 1963) and female ancestorSarah Ann DESJARLAIS (29 September 1882 - 21 June 1966) married 14 June 1910
male ancestorDana Lincoln MURRAY (11 December 1883 - February 1967) and female ancestorRebecca GRAYDON (1890 - ) married 30 August 1912
male ancestorAlbert Joseph GAUDREAU (3 June 1895 - 20 November 1918) and photo of Claircy Marie Blanche TRAHAN Claircy Marie Blanche TRAHAN (26 August 1898 - 11 March 1977) married 14 August 1917
Not the place you are looking for? Try again!

Search for Your Family by Place

To search for a place, specify place name below. Choose name from the list. Then SEARCH.
*Place Name:

Who Are You Searching For?

Search for Your Family by Name

NOTE: If you don't know your ancestor's whole name or are unsure of the spelling, specify part of the name.

First Name:
*Last Name:
Gender:
Born (+/- 2 years):
Died (+/- 2 years):
Match all terms exactly:

Updated: 9/16/2023 10:11:20 PM

Somerville Ancestry Tales: Share Your Unique Story!

If you'd like to be contacted by others who have ancestors from Somerville, leave a message here!
The comments you read here belong only to the person who posted them. We reserve the right to remove off-topic and inappropriate comments.