Arlington's Great Residential Boom (1900s-1930s)

The real estate market may be booming in Arlington, but the most dramatic change to the town occurred in the early 1900s when commercial farms were subdivided into housing lots at break-neck speed. W. W. Rawson, a local market gardener, had predicted in the 1890s that within two decades very few of Arlington’s commercial farms would still exist, and he was right. Residential development yielded extraordinary profits. Savvy operators such as Jacob W. Wilbur offered land at bargain prices plus the promise of an enhanced quality of life. The vision of a modern home in an attractive neighborhood brought new residents flocking to the bucolic town of Arlington. Learn the fascinating stories of how this mix of newcomers and established citizens defined the “Arlington Dream.”

Dee Morris is an independent scholar and educational consultant specializing in 19th-century history of greater Boston. She presents walking tours at Forest Hills Cemetery (Jamaica Plain) and programs at libraries, schools, and historical societies. Her goal is to connect people with their civic ancestors.