Arlington Massachusetts Real Estate

The village of Menotomy was originally settled by British colonists in 1635, taking its name from an Algonquin Indian word meaning ‘swift running water.’ The town was incorporated as “West Cambridge” in 1807. In 1867, the town renamed itself Arlington in honor of soldiers buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. The town was the site of some of the bloodiest Revolutionary War battles as the British retreated East towards Boston, and was the birthplace of Samuel Wilson, a Minuteman who fought at age nine, and who later became known as Uncle Sam. The town common and many historic sites and homes from the eighteenth and nineteenth-century have been well-preserved or reconstructed, such as the Whittemore-Robbins house, a mansion built in 1800 open to visitors. Harvard College’s first black graduate, Dr. George F. Grant, was from Arlington.

With its diverse and growing population of young families and professionals, Arlington’s cultural and entertainment offerings are increasingly sophisticated and cosmopolitan. Arlington boasts one of the top community theatre companies in the area, the Arlington Friends of the Drama, whose first-rate productions are anticipated and very well attended by residents and visitors alike. Cultural offerings also include the Capitol Theater, an independent art-house and repertory movie theatre. The Regent Theater showcases campy musicals, theatrical spoofs and comedy, as well as first-run international films. Top-of-the-line Mediterranean and Asian restaurants can be found in Arlington and Arlington Heights. Gourmet food shopping is available as well as traditional supermarkets, delis, coffee shops and bakeries. Public transportation into Boston and Cambridge is convenient and efficient.

Located within the Mystic River watershed, Arlington contains over 200 acres of public parkland, which are protected and preserved by the town, the municipality, and community organizations. The Menotomy Rocks Park, a hidden gem, offers a playground, walking trails for people and dogs, barbecue stations for grilling in the summer, a pond for skating in winter and fishing in summer. Skyline Park at Robbins Farm offers spectacular views of the Boston skyline, only six miles away. Every July 4, the town hosts a celebration where the fireworks over Boston can be seen in the distance or on big-screen televisions. Mill Brook, once a powerful stream, was used to grind grain in the eighteenth century. In the days before refrigeration, Spy Pond was used for the ice industry. Agriculture thrived in Arlington at one time, with its lettuce trade competing with California. Today, green spaces and bodies of water are treasured natural sanctuaries for Arlington residents and visitors. The 12-mile Minuteman bikeway runs from Arlington to Bedford, but intrepid riders can cross over a few streets to cycle all the way into Cambridge and Boston for a more challenging ride. A very strong town recreation department includes a skating rink. Arlington also has a new park, Reeds Brook, with playing fields and a track.

Arlington’s public school system is very well regarded, with several newly built or completely renovated schools. Arlington is also home to the International School of Boston’s French Pre-school and Kindergarten, and an excellent home-schooling network as well. The public schools’ sports teams are very competitive and accomplished. Arlington boasts two libraries, the Robbins and the Fox, which are connected to area libraries as part of the Minuteman Network. In 1837, the first free public library in Massachusetts was established in Arlington (then called West Cambridge). For adults, the Arlington Community Education programs include tai chi and yoga, financial planning, cooking and crafts. The Cyrus E. Dallin museum showcases the work of the 19th century sculptor and resident best known for his statue of Paul Revere at the Old North Church in Boston, and the statue “Appeal to the Great Spirit” in front of the Museum of Fine Arts, also in Boston.

Arlington | Bedford | Concord | Lexington