Custom Home Builders & Remodeling Contractors Brighton MA

Boston City Hall
1 City Hall Square
Boston, MA 02201-2013
Phone: (617) 635-4500

• Assessing Office
• Inspectional Services
• Public Works

Brighton MA ZIP Codes: 02135

• Devlin’s – 322 Washington Street – Brighton, MA 02135 – 617-779-8822
• Grasshopper – 1 N Beacon Street Allston MA 02134 – 617-254-8883
• Barcelona Wine Bar – 1700 Beacon Street in Brookline MA 02446 – 617-364-8900

History

Brighton is a neighborhood in Boston. It was formally a part of Cambridge known as Little Cambridge until it was separated from Cambridge in 1807. The neighborhood was annexed to Boston in 1874. The neighborhood of Allston was also a part of the town of Brighton until it was separated and assumed the name “Allston Brighton for the merged area.

In 1630, Allston-Brighton and Newton were part of Watertown until in 1634 when the Massachusetts Bay Colony transferred the ownership of the Southside of the Charles River comprising of Allston-Brighton, Newtown, Watertown, and Newtown. The area was later renamed to Cambridge.

The first English settlers crossed the Charles River from Cambridge. Little Cambridge now Brighton was a farming community before the American Revolutionary War. The neighborhood was home to wealthy merchants from Boston, such as Benjamin Fanueil.
In 1775, a cattle market was set up in the neighborhood to supply the continental army after the revolutionary war. It was established by Jonathan Winship I & II. In the 1820s, Brighton became one of the most important gardening communities in Boston. Its finesse in horticultural practice contributed to its beautiful scenery.

In 1834, the Boston & Worcester Railroad was constructed. Rail transport contributed to the cattle trade by easing the transportation of meat across Boston. By 1866, the town had 41 slaughterhouses. These were merged into Brighton Abattoir and Brighton Stock Yards. Brighton is bordered by Cambridge, Newton, Brookline, and Watertown. Brighton is separated from Cambridge and Watertown by the Charles River.

What to do or see in Brighton MA

Chestnut Hill Reservation is a historic and public recreation area that surrounds the Chestnut hill reservoir. It is located in the Chestnut Hill and Brighton neighborhoods. Chestnut hill reservation is a landmark in the City of Boston, and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Chestnut Hill Reservoir was constructed in 1870 to supplement the need for water in Boston. It currently serves as an emergency backup for the city of Boston, and it is a Boston Landmark recognized on the National Register of Historic Places.

The McMullen Museum of Art is the University Art Museum of Boston College in Brighton. The museum offers educational programs, social events, exhibitions of classical and Asian antiques, Italian baroque paintings, medieval artifacts, American art from the 19th century, prints, photographs, etc. The museum is open to the public free of charge.

Notable people

• William Henry Baldwin (1826 -1909) was a businessman and social reformer. He attended Brighton High School and graduated in 1843 as one of its first students.
• Michael Rubens Bloomberg is an American politician, businessman, philanthropist, and author. He is a major stakeholder and co-founder of Bloomberg L.P. He also served as New York City Mayor from 2002 -2014. He resided in Allston-Brighton.
• Sarah Willis Eldredge “Fanny Fern” (1811 – 1872) was a popular American female writer in her day. She was a bestselling author, and she resided in Brighton with her family.