Main Street

Main Street dates back to the 17th century. It was laid out in 1629 and called Country Lane, in 1714 it was Market Street, and Main Street by 1769. It was altered and straightened from the corner of Water Street nearly to the Neck or causeway in 1780. Maps showing Charlestown at the time of the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775 indicate that structures were scattered along Main Street’s entire length with a node of houses at “Mill Village” (at or near the junction of Main, Mill and Eden streets). The completion of the Middlesex Canal at Charlestown Neck in 1803 and construction of the State Prison in the vicinity of what is now Bunker Hill Community College, encouraged development along Main Street during the early 1800s. During the 1840s Charlestown experienced a building boom related to the waves of Europeans-particularly the Irish-who settled in Boston and vicinity. Main Street was once lined with 1840s-1860s wood frame and masonry commercial blocks in the Greek Revival and Italianate styles, however, neglect and 1960s urban renewal resulted in the demolition of many of these buildings, particularly between School Street and Sullivan Square.