POSTPONED TO SATURDAY, JULY 20: The Pit That Wants to be a Pond: An Industrial and Environmental Tour of North Cambridge

Title text in a white box over black and white aerial photos of houses and ponds

Embark on a captivating exploration of North Cambridge’s rich history on this guided tour. Through the fascinating lens of its claypits and brickyards, unveil the narrative of this dynamic neighborhood. Immerse yourself in the stories of the residents who toiled there, shaping the very foundation of this community. This event was originally schedule for July…

Read More

Watershed: An Excursion in Four Parts

Small pond on a grey day surrounded by autumn trees.

by Emily HiestandFirst published by The Georgia Review and Beacon Press in 1998. Updated slightly in 2021 for publication in This Impermanent Earth, and in 2024 for History Cambridge. Part One | Street Like travelers who want to keep some favorite place from being overly discovered, the residents of our neighborhood sometimes confide to one another in a near-whisper, “There’s no…

Read More

India Pavilion 

Compiled by Deb Mandel, 2022 Years 1979 – present Location 17 Central Square, Western Ave. Website: https://indiapavilion.com/ History Indian food in New England was born here. ​In 1979, Mohan Singh bought a Central Square pizza house and turned it into an Indian restaurant – something not found anywhere else in Boston at the time. Not…

Read More

Culinary History Hub

Man and a woman standing in front of a counter smiling

Culinary History of Cambridge By Rain Robertson, and revised by Deb Mandel, 2022 Cambridge holds a rich and distinctive culinary history. It gave America ice, the Porterhouse steak, Peking ravioli, its first star chef in Julia Child, and a hankering for Indian food. This is a survey of 20th century markets, delis, cafeterias, and local…

Read More