I approached Dorchester for the first time with an open mind. I assumed the neighborhoods in Boston were all similar. Though this may be true to some extent, I found Dorchester at least to contain many subtleties setting it apart from its neighbors. An orderly little slice of the Boston area, Dorchester has much to offer, as its residents can attest to. You’ll hear people say “this is an historic place” over and over and for good reason. The oldest house in Boston, the James Blake House, is one of many notable sites of preservation. One longtime resident, an old man we’ll call Howard, said, “A lot changes here, but it all feels the same in the end.” For over a hundred years Dorchester has been a diverse and working class community. Indeed, each of the residents I spoke to was unique in their own way.
I had expected to encounter a stuck-up people, but I was hastily proved wrong. Those I held conversation with seemed friendly and fun loving. One gentleman, probably in his thirties, suggested I check out his favorite spot, the Franklin Park Zoo. With two colleges around, students are not an uncommon sight. They seem to know where all the best restaurants are. One girl, fresh out of college, bragged about the local bar scene. “Dorchester has my favorite bar in Boston, the Banshee,” she said. I asked the same girl what she knew about the Battle of Dorchester Heights and was impressed when she noted the fight resulted in the British evacuation of Boston. Even the kids I talked to were well versed in Revolutionary War history. A twelve-year old boy pointed out the actual site of battle, which I had not even noticed.
Misconceptions often skew the fact of a matter. Who I thought would be elitists Bostonians turned out to be hard working and down to Earth individuals. Sure, there were some fancy boutiques and restaurants with names I could not pronounce, but beneath the surface lies an area rich in history home to some of the nicest people I’ve encountered in Boston.
-Matthew Lee
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Showing posts with label Dorchester. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dorchester. Show all posts
Friday, May 8, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
Dorchester
I traveled to this historic area of Boston for the first time one sunny afternoon to interview some locals. I think I talked to a nice variety of people. Here is what the people of Dorchester had to say -
How long have you lived in the neighborhood?
Fourteen, nearly fifteen years coming this July.
Why did you move to this area?
I got a job working as a temp with a software company located here. I moved from Connecticut after I graduated Fairfield University. Now I’m running my own business here in Dorchester.
How has this neighborhood changed since you have lived here?
I’ve seen plenty of shops come and go; plenty of restaurants and little convenience stores. Several streets have had their names changed. The people around my neighborhood pretty much have remained the same though.
What places in the neighborhood are interesting to you and why?
There’s a neat little zoo nearby that’s fun to go to on a sunny day. I like to look at the animals. It’s a fun place.
If you were giving a tour of your neighborhood what are the three places that visitors should see?
The Parish Church is worth checking out. A lot of really old houses around here too. There’s the Trotter House, Blake House, there’s a bunch. A lot well preserved history around here.
Male, 38
How long have you lived in the neighborhood?
Had a place here a little over two years.
Why did you move to the area?
Got a good deal on a condo that was close to my job, I’m a waitress.
How has the neighborhood changed since you have lived here?
I haven’t seen too much change, no. Seems like there are more people than there used to be, more kids.
What places in the neighborhood are interesting to you and why?
The bowling alley is always fun. Couple of nice bars too. I go to the Banshee a lot.
If you were giving a tour of your neighborhood what are the three places that visitors should see?
You could take people to the JFK Museum. There’s a library too. A few nice schools. The expo center usually has something going on.
Female, estimated age: 29
How long have you lived in the neighborhood?
All of my life. Forty-nine years. Born and raised here.
Why did you move to the area?
My father and mother moved here before they had me from Vermont. They got jobs, bought a house and had a slew of kids, myself included.
How has the neighborhood changed since you have lived there?
A lot of Haitians have moved in. The whole neighborhood has just gotten much more ethnic, diverse. Been a lot of construction in all that time, things being torn down and built right back up. Roads have been expanded, reworked. A lot has changed.
What places in the neighborhood are interesting to you and why?
There’s plenty of history around this area. Revolutionary war battlegrounds, some old museums. The oldest house in Boston is in Dorchester, you know.
If you were giving a tour of your neighborhood what are the three places that visitors should see?
The Blake house and all of the other museums, definitely. Commonwealth Museum is a nice one.
Male, 49
How long have you lived in the neighborhood?
I’d say about nine years.
Why did you move to the area?
I moved in with my girlfriend, she has a place here. We’ve been together ever since, but we actually got a nicer place just a few blocks away.
How has the neighborhood changed since you have lived there?
My favorite coffee shop closed down a few years ago, that sucked.
What places in the neighborhood are interesting to you and why?
I like a lot of the old restaurants. There’s a great bakery I go to that’s been here forever, Anna’s. That’s where I met my girlfriend.
If you were giving a tour of your neighborhood what are the three places that visitors should see?
Savin Hill park is great, or may be McConnell park. There’s always museums and stuff for history buffs.
Male, 30
How long have you lived in the neighborhood?
Let me think…ten months? About a year.
Why did you move to the area?
I was born in Salem and went to school at Harvard. I’ve been living here since I graduated, trying to figure out what I want to do.
How has the neighborhood changed since you have lived there?
I don’t think I’ve really lived here long enough to notice any real change. I’ve seen a couple new shops open, maybe, but that’s it.
What places in the neighborhood are interesting to you and why?
I need to get out more! First Parish Church is a pretty big tourist spot, I’ve been there, it’s pretty cool.
If you were giving a tour of your neighborhood what are the three places that visitors should see?
I would just take people to all my favorite stores and restaurants.
Female, estimated age: 24
How long have you lived in the neighborhood?
Fourteen, nearly fifteen years coming this July.
Why did you move to this area?
I got a job working as a temp with a software company located here. I moved from Connecticut after I graduated Fairfield University. Now I’m running my own business here in Dorchester.
How has this neighborhood changed since you have lived here?
I’ve seen plenty of shops come and go; plenty of restaurants and little convenience stores. Several streets have had their names changed. The people around my neighborhood pretty much have remained the same though.
What places in the neighborhood are interesting to you and why?
There’s a neat little zoo nearby that’s fun to go to on a sunny day. I like to look at the animals. It’s a fun place.
If you were giving a tour of your neighborhood what are the three places that visitors should see?
The Parish Church is worth checking out. A lot of really old houses around here too. There’s the Trotter House, Blake House, there’s a bunch. A lot well preserved history around here.
Male, 38
How long have you lived in the neighborhood?
Had a place here a little over two years.
Why did you move to the area?
Got a good deal on a condo that was close to my job, I’m a waitress.
How has the neighborhood changed since you have lived here?
I haven’t seen too much change, no. Seems like there are more people than there used to be, more kids.
What places in the neighborhood are interesting to you and why?
The bowling alley is always fun. Couple of nice bars too. I go to the Banshee a lot.
If you were giving a tour of your neighborhood what are the three places that visitors should see?
You could take people to the JFK Museum. There’s a library too. A few nice schools. The expo center usually has something going on.
Female, estimated age: 29
How long have you lived in the neighborhood?
All of my life. Forty-nine years. Born and raised here.
Why did you move to the area?
My father and mother moved here before they had me from Vermont. They got jobs, bought a house and had a slew of kids, myself included.
How has the neighborhood changed since you have lived there?
A lot of Haitians have moved in. The whole neighborhood has just gotten much more ethnic, diverse. Been a lot of construction in all that time, things being torn down and built right back up. Roads have been expanded, reworked. A lot has changed.
What places in the neighborhood are interesting to you and why?
There’s plenty of history around this area. Revolutionary war battlegrounds, some old museums. The oldest house in Boston is in Dorchester, you know.
If you were giving a tour of your neighborhood what are the three places that visitors should see?
The Blake house and all of the other museums, definitely. Commonwealth Museum is a nice one.
Male, 49
How long have you lived in the neighborhood?
I’d say about nine years.
Why did you move to the area?
I moved in with my girlfriend, she has a place here. We’ve been together ever since, but we actually got a nicer place just a few blocks away.
How has the neighborhood changed since you have lived there?
My favorite coffee shop closed down a few years ago, that sucked.
What places in the neighborhood are interesting to you and why?
I like a lot of the old restaurants. There’s a great bakery I go to that’s been here forever, Anna’s. That’s where I met my girlfriend.
If you were giving a tour of your neighborhood what are the three places that visitors should see?
Savin Hill park is great, or may be McConnell park. There’s always museums and stuff for history buffs.
Male, 30
How long have you lived in the neighborhood?
Let me think…ten months? About a year.
Why did you move to the area?
I was born in Salem and went to school at Harvard. I’ve been living here since I graduated, trying to figure out what I want to do.
How has the neighborhood changed since you have lived there?
I don’t think I’ve really lived here long enough to notice any real change. I’ve seen a couple new shops open, maybe, but that’s it.
What places in the neighborhood are interesting to you and why?
I need to get out more! First Parish Church is a pretty big tourist spot, I’ve been there, it’s pretty cool.
If you were giving a tour of your neighborhood what are the three places that visitors should see?
I would just take people to all my favorite stores and restaurants.
Female, estimated age: 24
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