History of Brookline, Massachusetts, USA

It separated from Cambridge and Roxbury.

On Sunday, between the hours of worship, the house owned and occupied by Capt. Benj. Bradlee, on the Worcester turnpike, in Brookline, with all the outbuildings, excepting the barn, were totally destroyed by fire, the furniture being practically saved. The fire took from one of the chimneys, and when first discovered, were wrapped in flames. This house was situated on one of the loftiest eminences in the vicinity of Boston, and to the difficulty of access to it, a deficiency in water, and the prevalence of considerable wind, and the rapidity of the destructive element very shortly on the spot, and with an alacrity which did the department great credit, those also from Roxbury and the Plains, and very soon after, two from the metropolis (Nos, 8 and 12) arrived.

Among the most active of the inhabitants in directing and using his exertions at the fire until the Roxbury Engineers arrived, was the well-known senior clergyman of that village, the Rev. Dr. Pierce.

Brookline, Massachusetts
Norfolk county. This delightful town is connected with Boston by the mill-dam across Charles river bay; one of the most beautiful and expensive avenues leading to the city. It is distant from Boston about 5 miles S.W. and from Dedham 5 miles N.N.E. Incorporated, 1705. Population, 1837, 1,083. This town is remarkable for its varied surface, high state of cultivation, elegant country seats and gardens, excellent roads, and for its rich and picturesque scenery. Many gentlemen of taste and fortune make this their residence.

Brookline so called, it is supposed, because separated from Cambridge and Roxbury by Brooks, was once a part of Boston, and called Muddy River.

In 1821, it was connected with Boston by the Mill Dam, or Western Avenue, on which is one of the best roads in the country.

Brookline is distinguished for its beautiful country-seats, and its high state of cultivation.

Dr. Zabdiel Boylston, an eminent Physician, who introduced
Inoculation for the Small Pox into America, was a native of Brookline, and his name was given to a town in Worcester County.

Distance from Dedham, 6 miles ; from Boston, 4.

This town, before its incorporation in 1705, belonged to Boston, from which it was separated by a bay formed by Charles river. Wood, the author of "New England's Prospect," in describing &ston and other places in the vicinity, in 1633, says- "The inhabitants of this place, [Boston] for their enlargement, have taken to themselves farm houses in a place called Muddy River, [Brookline] two miles from the town, where there is good ground, large timber, and store of marsh land and meadow. In this place they keep their swine and other cattle in the summer, whilst the corn is in the ground at Boston, and bring them to town in the winter." As early as 1686, the inhabitants at Muddy River had obtained an order that said hamlet should thence forth be free from paying taxes to the town of Boston, and to have the privilege of annually choosing three men to manage their affairs. The conditions were, that they should bear their own expenses, erect a school-house, and maintain a reading and writing...

Brookline, a post-township of Norfolk county, Massachusetts, 5 miles S. W. from Boston, with which it is connected by a mill dam across Charles River bay. Population, 2516.

BROOKLINE, a township of Norfolk co., in the state of Massachusetts, 4 m. SW of Boston. It presents a diversified and richly cultivated surface, and is adorned with may fine villas. Pop. 1,365.