Harvard Square: Ava's Thoughts

Locations: First Church in Cambridge Christ Church Cambridge The First Parish Cambridge The Old Burial Ground Harvard University  Memorial Church  St. Paul’s Parish  Old Cambridge Baptist Church  The tour I have designed is a tour of religious institutions and religious history in Cambridge. Cambridge boasts some extremely historical and beautiful churches and Harvard University itself began as a seminary. The first stop will be the First Church in Cambridge which was founded in 1636 as the 11th church in Massachusetts. The next stop will be the Christ Church in Cambridge which was built in 1759 by a missionary. This church was also the sight of numerous historical civil war events. The third stop on the tour will be the First Parish Cambridge which is located right by Harvard University and is locally involved with the Y2Y homeless shelter. The fourth stop will be the Old Burial Ground connected to the First Parish Cambridge to discuss the history of the burial grou...

The Weld Boathouse The Weld Boathouse, built by the George Walker Weld family in 1906, sits on the bank of Charles river on the east side of John F. Kennedy Street. The grand boathouse is several stories high with two docs to walk down to the water. It has a reddish roof with red brick accents on a beige facade. With large arched black steel windows and two symmetrical chimneys the boathouse also features a balcony on the riverfront. Weld Boathouse from the Intersection of JFK St and Memorial Dr The boathouse sits at the halfway point of the Head of the Charles course, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. The Weld family hoped the boathouse would encourage “university-wide rowing” and the house is a close walk to Harvard University, Harvard Square, and the surrounding Cambridge area. Weld Boathouse (upper right) and the Head of the Charles Regatta The boathouse has become a famous Cambridge landmark denoting one’s arrival at the historic Harvard University and Cambr...

  I’ve chosen the graves of a deceased female slave and the wife of a former president of Harvard in the Old Burial Ground. The graves are remarkably similar all throughout the graveyard. The graves of the slave, Cicely, and the free women of high standing, Margarit Holyoke, exemplify this in their striking similarity. The design of their headstones is pretty much identical. The only notable difference is the inscription which obviously must be adjusted per person. Death is the ultimate equalizer and there is no special reverence given to the any of the occupants of the Old Burial Ground whether they be slave or former president of Harvard.  The Grave of Margarit Holyoke The Grave of Cicely Mt. Auburn Cemetery tells a different story. The memorial I’ve chosen from Mt. Auburn Cemetery is the Mary Baker Eddy Monument. Mary Baker Eddy was an American religious leader and author who founded The Church of Christ, Scientist in 1879. The monument consists of fifteen foot pillars with...

Harvard Yard became the site of a military brawl during the revolution between the “fishermen of Marblehead and the Virginia riflemen'' which required then-General Washington’s intervention. Marblehead soldiers were being housed in some of Harvard’s buildings and began poking fun at the Virginians eventually resulting in a thousand-person brawl in the snow. Though Harvard’s students were prevented from fighting in the war, their university became the site of this large military brawl and witnessed General Washington’s quick intervention which luckily merely resulted in some scolding. This story has been recounted with varying hyperbole, painting Washington as a great hero and leader, joining America's canon of folklore. Harvard Yard during the Revolution The Washington Elm was thought to be the tree in Cambridge Common under which Washington took command of the American army in 1775. Though recent discovery has largely disproved this claim, the Washington Elm became a centr...

Harvard Square 1636 I have chosen to include three maps of Harvard Square; one from Harvard’s Founding , one from 1854 , and one modern day map. These maps reveal not only the expansion of Harvard University but also the immense growth of Cambridge. Harvard University and Harvard Square have coexisted and grown together since the beginning. But Harvard now owns 9.56 % of the land in Cambridge. Harvard Square 1854 Harvard University has had a direct impact on the makeup of Harvard Square bringing in diverse students from all across the globe and Cambridge cost of living has steadily increased along with Harvard’s growth. As Harvard has continued to grow and purchase more land, prices of nearby land skyrocket, pricing out small businesses and families. Small businesses are forced to make way for the growing university as Harvard embarks on endless construction projects. Harvard Square 2022 The construction of the Smith center saw the closure of several small businesses , including the...

I am interested in tracing the religious foundations of Cambridge and more specifically the evolution of religious beliefs as religious pluralism increased in the colonies. Though early pilgrims were fleeing religious persecution, the colonies they established were not necessarily religiously tolerant. But with an increase in religious pluralism, churches in the United States had to adapt in unique ways. I think I could trace this evolution through tracking the history of the First Church in Cambridge. I have found some preliminary information on the history of church, church schisms, and a lineage of pastors. I believe I can find more information from the Cambridge historical commission.  First Church in Cambridge I am also interested in the permanence of certain buildings or businesses over the history of Cambridge. I think it would be interesting to interview residents of Cambridge and professors at Harvard who have lived/worked in Cambridge their entire lives. I would love to a...