Winter Hill, Somerville, Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
Winter Hill is a neighborhood in Somerville
, Massachusetts
. The neighborhood gets its name from the 120-foot hill that occupies its landscape, the name of which dates back to the 18th century. The neighborhood of Winter Hill is located roughly north of Medford Street, west of McGrath Highway, and east of Magoun Square
.
Winter Hill features a mix of restored homes and aging Triple Deckers
, replete with china gnomes and bathtub Virgin Marys
. Once known as the home base of Irish gangsters Whitey Bulger, James "Buddy" McLean, Howie Winter
and the notorious Winter Hill Gang
, Winter Hill is now, like much of the rest of Somerville, experiencing gentrification
and a resulting rise in property values and rents. Despite these changes, the area continues to hang onto its neighborhood flavor and is home to a large community of Irish and Italian people.
Winter Hill is home to a variety of eateries, such as The Paddock restaurant on Pearl Street, Mama Lisa's and Leone's pizza establishments, the Winter Hill Bakery, and Maria's Italian Cold Cuts. The Theater Coop, one of the Boston area's few new repertory live theaters, is located between Foss Park and the local supermarket. Near Winter Hill in East Somerville is a community pottery studio, called Mudflat, and a collective of stained glass artists called Daniel Maher Stained Glass.
Foss Park abuts Interstate 93 at the base of Winter Hill. The park has a large, colorful mural painted behind the public swimming pool, and is home to a wide variety of sporting matches, especially soccer.
A planned extension of the Green Line
to the Winter Hill area is currently in planning phases, specifically with stations at Medford Street (Gilman Square) and Lowell Street, though estimated completion has been pushed back to 2014. The route of the Green Line Extension has been broadly defined but not finalized.
An apartment in Winter Hill at 365 Broadway Ave was the home of Barack Obama
between 1988 and 1991 while he was a student at the Harvard Law School
.
Somerville, Massachusetts
Somerville is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, located just north of Boston. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 75,754 and was the most densely populated municipality in New England. It is also the 17th most densely populated incorporated place in...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. The neighborhood gets its name from the 120-foot hill that occupies its landscape, the name of which dates back to the 18th century. The neighborhood of Winter Hill is located roughly north of Medford Street, west of McGrath Highway, and east of Magoun Square
Magoun Square
Magoun Square is a neighborhood of Somerville, Massachusetts located at the intersection of two major streets, Broadway and Medford Street, with the smaller Dexter Street. It is close to Tufts University in neighboring Medford, Massachusetts. It is a mixed-use urban area...
.
Winter Hill features a mix of restored homes and aging Triple Deckers
Triple decker
A triple-decker is a three-story apartment building, typically of light-framed, wood construction, where each floor usually consists of a single apartment; although two apartments per floor is not uncommon....
, replete with china gnomes and bathtub Virgin Marys
Bathtub madonna
A bathtub Madonna is an artificial grotto typically framing a Roman Catholic religious figure.-Variations:...
. Once known as the home base of Irish gangsters Whitey Bulger, James "Buddy" McLean, Howie Winter
Howie Winter
Howard Thomas "Howie" Winter is an American mobster. He was the second leader of the infamous Winter Hill Gang.-Early life:...
and the notorious Winter Hill Gang
Winter Hill Gang
The Winter Hill Gang is a structured confederation of Boston, Massachusetts-area organized crime figures, predominantly Irish-American with a small Italian-American faction. It derives its name from the Winter Hill neighborhood of Somerville, Massachusetts north of Boston. Its members have...
, Winter Hill is now, like much of the rest of Somerville, experiencing gentrification
Gentrification
Gentrification and urban gentrification refer to the changes that result when wealthier people acquire or rent property in low income and working class communities. Urban gentrification is associated with movement. Consequent to gentrification, the average income increases and average family size...
and a resulting rise in property values and rents. Despite these changes, the area continues to hang onto its neighborhood flavor and is home to a large community of Irish and Italian people.
Winter Hill is home to a variety of eateries, such as The Paddock restaurant on Pearl Street, Mama Lisa's and Leone's pizza establishments, the Winter Hill Bakery, and Maria's Italian Cold Cuts. The Theater Coop, one of the Boston area's few new repertory live theaters, is located between Foss Park and the local supermarket. Near Winter Hill in East Somerville is a community pottery studio, called Mudflat, and a collective of stained glass artists called Daniel Maher Stained Glass.
Foss Park abuts Interstate 93 at the base of Winter Hill. The park has a large, colorful mural painted behind the public swimming pool, and is home to a wide variety of sporting matches, especially soccer.
A planned extension of the Green Line
Green Line (MBTA)
The Green Line is a streetcar system run by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority in the Boston, Massachusetts area of the United States. It is the oldest line of Boston's subway, which is known locally as the 'T'. The Green Line runs underground downtown and on the surface in outlying...
to the Winter Hill area is currently in planning phases, specifically with stations at Medford Street (Gilman Square) and Lowell Street, though estimated completion has been pushed back to 2014. The route of the Green Line Extension has been broadly defined but not finalized.
An apartment in Winter Hill at 365 Broadway Ave was the home of Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
between 1988 and 1991 while he was a student at the Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
.