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Milton Community
Colonists settled in 1634, creating an agricultural community growing barley, rye and Indian corn. A powder mill established in 1674 is thought to be the earliest in the colonies, taking advantage of the town's valuable water power sites. Boston investors, seeing the potential of the town and its proximity to the city, developed 18th century Milton as an important industrial site with an iron slitting mill, paper and saw mills and the first chocolate factory in New England in 1764. Situated at the head of a tidewater, the town became a commercial trading center where goods from the interior could be exchanged for West Indian goods. Prosperous Bostonians, including Governor Hutchinson, followed their investments and moved to Milton, creating an early estate district, which grew side-by-side with 125 farms. Also increasing the town's population were immigrants from Ireland, Nova Scotia and Scotland drawn to the jobs the community offered. Harvard University built a stone tower on Big Blue, the tallest hill on the coast between Maine and Florida, to mark the meridian alignment with its observatory in Cambridge. Big Blue assumed an important meteorological role. Laying streetcar lines fueled the rapid expansion of residential development and, between 1870 and 1915, Milton grew into essentially the community it is now, a wealthy streetcar suburb. By 1929 many of the big estates were broken into subdivisions, continuing the town's residential growth. Milton now retains many 19th-century country houses and estates along with 19th century workers’ housing. For more on Milton’s history, also check out wikipedia.com.
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The
town of Milton is an affluent suburban community between the Neponset
River and the Blue Hills, just 15 minutes from Boston.  |