Dorchester

Images of America: Massachusetts

by Anthony Mitchell Sammarco

Dorchester was settled in 1630 by Puritans from England, and for over two hundred years it remained a small farming community. However, the arrival of the Old Colony Railroad brought first a flood of wealthy new residents from the city of Boston, and soon a second wave of newly-arrived immigrants who introduced a new diversity and vibrancy to the area. Renowned local historian and author Anthony Mitchell Sammarco has brought together more than two hundred compelling images of the town of Dorchester, showing the events, places, and faces that defined Dorchester during the exciting period between its annexation to Boston in 1870 and the early 1920s. The photographs show a community which has constantly embraced change and diversity without losing its sense of tradition and pride in its heritage. They bring to life the history of such neighborhoods as Meeting House Hill, Grove Hall, Codman Square, Pope’s Hill, and Neponset, showing buildings long gone and many that are still familiar features of the local landscape, as well as busy street scenes and images of Dorchester residents at work and play during fifty key years of the town’s history.

128 pages, Paperback

First published August 6, 1995

About the author

Anthony Mitchell Sammarco is a noted historian and author of over sixty books on the history and development of Boston, and he lectures widely on the history and development of his native city. He commenced writing in 1995, and his books Lost Boston, The History of Howard Johnson’s: How A Massachusetts Soda Fountain Became a Roadside Icon, and The Baker Chocolate Company: A Sweet History
are among his many books that have made local bestseller lists.

Reviews

[Joanne Fate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is part of the Images of America series published in 1995. Anthony Sammarco is a well-known local historian who has written at least 75 books. He does a thorough job researching, adding photos, maps, etc, and writing excellent captions. I found this at my local library sale. As I'm OFD - Originally From Dorchester - I should have read this years ago. He breaks it into different sections of Dorchester, some of which are more familiar to me than others. The pictures are a mix of old and new with many of places that no longer exist. I really enjoyed it and need to read more of his work soon.