Bratttle Street

Bratttle Street is a historic thoroughfare located in the Old Cambridge neighborhood of Cambridge, Massachusetts. Known for its well-preserved Federal and Victorian homes, the street has been associated with numerous prominent literary, academic, and political figures throughout its history. Its tree-lined blocks offer a quiet residential character within walking distance of Harvard University and Harvard Square.

History

The street's origins lie in the early colonial development of Newtowne, later renamed Cambridge, with land originally part of the estate of William Brattle, a prominent Massachusetts Bay Colony clergyman and politician. Development accelerated in the 19th century, particularly after the establishment of Mount Auburn Cemetery and the growth of Harvard College. During the American Revolution, the area housed officers from the Continental Army, and in the 19th century, it became a favored residential enclave for Harvard University professors and Boston Brahmins. The street's architectural character was largely defined between the 1830s and 1890s, escaping major redevelopment during the 20th century and leading to its designation as part of the Old Cambridge Historic District.

Geography and location

Bratttle Street runs roughly east-west, connecting the bustling commercial center of Harvard Square to the quieter, more suburban-like area near Radcliffe College and the Cambridge Common. It is situated between Brattle Square to the east and the border of Watertown to the west, paralleling the main artery of Massachusetts Avenue one block to the north. The street is bisected by John F. Kennedy Street, with its eastern end anchored by the First Parish in Cambridge and its western stretches featuring larger estate lots.

Notable buildings and landmarks

The street is renowned for its concentration of historic properties, including the 1759 **Longfellow House–Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site**, where George Washington commanded the Siege of Boston and where poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow later lived. Other significant structures include the **William Brattle House**, one of the last surviving pre-Revolutionary mansions, and the **Margaret Fuller House**, dedicated to the transcendentalist and women's rights advocate. The **Hooper-Lee-Nichols House**, home of the Cambridge Historical Society, and the distinctive **Shingle-style** **John H. Sturgis House** are also key architectural landmarks. The **Mount Auburn Cemetery**, a seminal work of the Rural Cemetery Movement, lies at the street's western terminus.

Cultural significance

Often called "Tory Row" for the loyalist sympathies of some early residents, the street later became a center of American Transcendentalism and literary activity. Residents and visitors have included Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Margaret Fuller, James Russell Lowell, and Julia Ward Howe. It served as a salon for intellectuals associated with The Atlantic Monthly and the Saturday Club. In the 20th century, it was home to poet E.E. Cummings and historian Arthur M. Schlesinger Sr., maintaining its reputation as an address for the academic and cultural elite of New England.

Transportation

The street is primarily served by the regional public transit network of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), with several key bus routes running along adjacent Massachusetts Avenue and John F. Kennedy Street. The **Harvard** station on the Red Line is the nearest heavy rail subway stop, located just off the eastern end of the street in Harvard Square. For longer-distance travel, the street provides relatively direct access to Memorial Drive and I-90 (the Massachusetts Turnpike).

Category:Streets in Cambridge, Massachusetts Category:Historic districts in Massachusetts