Timeline Of Waltham, Massachusetts
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Waltham ( ) is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, and was an early center for the
labor movement The labour movement or labor movement consists of two main wings: the trade union movement (British English) or labor union movement (American English) on the one hand, and the political labour movement on the other. * The trade union movement ...
as well as a major contributor to the American Industrial Revolution. The original home of the
Boston Manufacturing Company The Boston Manufacturing Company was a business that operated one of the first factories in America. It was organized in 1813 by Francis Cabot Lowell, a wealthy Boston merchant, in partnership with a group of investors later known as The Boston A ...
, the city was a prototype for 19th century industrial city planning, spawning what became known as the
Waltham-Lowell system The Waltham-Lowell system was a labor and production model employed during the rise of the textile industry in the United States, particularly in New England, amid the larger backdrop of rapid expansion of the Industrial Revolution in the early 1 ...
of labor and production. The city is now a center for research and higher education, home to Brandeis University and Bentley University as well as industrial powerhouse Raytheon Technologies. The population was 65,218 at the census in 2020. Waltham has been called "watch city" because of its association with the watch industry.
Waltham Watch Company The Waltham Watch Company, also known as the American Waltham Watch Co. and the American Watch Co., was a company that produced about 40 million watches, clocks, speedometers, compasses, time delay fuses, and other precision instruments in the Un ...
opened its factory in Waltham in 1854 and was the first company to make watches on an assembly line. It won the gold medal in 1876 at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. The company produced over 35 million watches, clocks and instruments before it closed in 1957.


History

Waltham was first settled in 1634 as part of Watertown and was officially incorporated as a separate town in 1738. Waltham had no recognizable town center until the 1830s, when the nearby
Boston Manufacturing Company The Boston Manufacturing Company was a business that operated one of the first factories in America. It was organized in 1813 by Francis Cabot Lowell, a wealthy Boston merchant, in partnership with a group of investors later known as The Boston A ...
gave the town the land that now serves as its central square. In the early 19th century, Francis Cabot Lowell and his friends and colleagues established in Waltham the
Boston Manufacturing Company The Boston Manufacturing Company was a business that operated one of the first factories in America. It was organized in 1813 by Francis Cabot Lowell, a wealthy Boston merchant, in partnership with a group of investors later known as The Boston A ...
—the first integrated textile mill in the United States, with the goal of eliminating the problems of co-ordination, quality control, and shipping inherent in the subcontracting based textile industry. The Waltham–Lowell system of production derives its name from the city and the founder of the mill. The city is home to a number of large estates, including Gore Place, a mansion built in 1806 for former Massachusetts governor
Christopher Gore Christopher Gore (September 21, 1758 – March 1, 1827) was a prominent Massachusetts lawyer, Federalist politician, and U.S. diplomat. Born into a family divided by the American Revolution, Gore sided with the victorious Patriots, establis ...
, the Robert Treat Paine Estate, a residence designed by architect Henry Hobson Richardson and landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted for philanthropist
Robert Treat Paine, Jr. Robert Treat Paine Jr. (December 9, 1773 – November 13, 1811) was an American poet and editor. He was the second son of Robert Treat Paine, signer of the Declaration of Independence. Born Thomas Paine (after his paternal grandfather), he chan ...
(1810–1905), and the
Lyman Estate The Lyman Estate, also known as The Vale, is a historic country house located in Waltham, Massachusetts, United States. It is now owned by the nonprofit Historic New England organization. The grounds are open to the public daily for free; an ad ...
, a estate built in 1793 by Boston merchant
Theodore Lyman Theodore Lyman may refer to: * Theodore B. Lyman (1815–1893), American bishop * Theodore Lyman II (1792–1849), American philanthropist, politician, and author * Theodore Lyman III (1833–1897), American natural scientist, military staff offic ...
. In 1857, the
Waltham Model 1857 The Waltham Model 1857 is a watch made by the American Watch Company, later called the Waltham Watch Company in Waltham, Massachusetts. The Model 1857 was first made in 1857. Prior to that year, pocket watches were not made of standard parts and ...
watch was produced by the
American Watch Company The Waltham Watch Company, also known as the American Waltham Watch Co. and the American Watch Co., was a company that produced about 40 million watches, clocks, speedometers, compasses, time delay fuses, and other precision instruments in the Un ...
in the city of Waltham, Massachusetts. In the late 19th and early 20th century, Waltham was home to the brass era automobile manufacturer Metz, where the first production motorcycle in the U.S. was built. Another first in Waltham industrial history involves the method to mass-produce the magnetron tube, invented by Percy Spencer at Raytheon. During World War II, the magnetron tube technology was applied to radar. Later, magnetron tubes were used as components in microwave ovens. Waltham was also the home of the
Walter E. Fernald State School The Walter E. Fernald State School, later the Walter E. Fernald Developmental Center, was the Western hemisphere's oldest publicly funded institution serving people with developmental disabilities. Originally a Victorian sanatorium, it became a ...
, the western hemisphere's oldest publicly funded institution serving people with developmental disabilities. The storied and controversial history of the institution has long been covered by local and, at times, national media.


Timeline

* 1703 –
Grove Hill Cemetery The Grove Hill Cemetery is a historic cemetery at 290 Main Street in Waltham, Massachusetts. Established in 1703, the cemetery was Waltham's only cemetery until 1857, when Mount Feake Cemetery opened. It was authorized in 1703, but its initial ...
established. * 1738 – Town of Waltham incorporated from Watertown, Massachusetts. * 1755 – Part of Cambridge annexed to Waltham. * 1793 – The Vale (residence) built. * 1810 – Waltham Cotton and Wool Factory Company formed. * 1813 –
Boston Manufacturing Company The Boston Manufacturing Company was a business that operated one of the first factories in America. It was organized in 1813 by Francis Cabot Lowell, a wealthy Boston merchant, in partnership with a group of investors later known as The Boston A ...
in business. * 1820 ** First Congregational Church founded. ** Manufacturers' Library active. ** Waltham Bleachery built. * 1827 – Rumford Institute organized. * 1833 – ''The Hive'' newspaper begins publication. * 1835 – Waltham Bank established. * 1837 – Methodist Episcopal Church organized. * 1849 ** Part of
Newton Newton most commonly refers to: * Isaac Newton (1642–1726/1727), English scientist * Newton (unit), SI unit of force named after Isaac Newton Newton may also refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Newton'' (film), a 2017 Indian film * Newton ( ...
annexed to Waltham. ** Christ Episcopal Church built. * 1851 – Tornado. * 1852 – Baptist Church organized. * 1853 – Waltham Gas Light Company incorporated. * 1854 – American Horologe Company relocates to Waltham. * 1856 – ''Waltham Sentinel'' newspaper begins publication. * 1857 ** Waltham and Watertown Railroad constructed. **
Mount Feake Cemetery Mount Feake Cemetery is a historic cemetery at 203 Prospect Street in Waltham, Massachusetts. Overview Established in 1857, it is the city's second cemetery, after Grove Hill Cemetery, and is one of the best-preserved garden cemeteries in the s ...
established. ** Waltham Agricultural Library Association formed. * 1859 – Town of
Belmont Belmont may refer to: People * Belmont (surname) Places * Belmont Abbey (disambiguation) * Belmont Historic District (disambiguation) * Belmont Hotel (disambiguation) * Belmont Park (disambiguation) * Belmont Plantation (disambiguation) * Belmon ...
separates from Waltham. * 1863 – ''Waltham Free Press'' begins publication. * 1865 – Public Library founded. * 1866 – Emmet Literary Association formed. * 1870 ** Waltham Horological School established. ** Waltham Foundry Co. established. * 1876 ** ''Waltham Weekly Record'' begins publication. ** Davis & Farnum Manufacturing Company in business. * 1879 – Leland Home for aged women established. * 1880 – Music Hall built. * 1881 – Emery Wheel Company in business. * 1882 – Parmenter Crayon Company chartered. * 1884 ** City of Waltham incorporated. **
Harrington Block The Harrington Block is a historic commercial and retail building at 376–390 Moody Street in Waltham, Massachusetts. The three-story brick building was built 1884-85 by Charles Harrington, a local real estate speculator who was also employe ...
built. * 1885 ** Board of Trade organized. ** Waltham Hospital founded. ** Waltham Training School for Nurses established. * 1886 – Robert Treat Paine Estate built. * 1888 – Sesquicentennial. * 1890 ** Population: 18,707. ** Massachusetts School for the Feeble-Minded relocates to Waltham. * 1891 –
O'Hara Waltham Dial Company The O'Hara Waltham Dial Company was a historic factory building at 74 Rumford Avenue in Waltham, Massachusetts. The three story brick structure was built in 1897 by Daniel O'Hara, and housed his company, a spinoff from the Waltham Watch Company w ...
organized. * 1893 ** ''Waltham Evening News'' begins publication. ** Waltham Manufacturing Company established. **
Beaver Brook Reservation Beaver Brook Reservation is a public recreation area covering on the dividing line between the town of Belmont and the city of Waltham, Massachusetts. The state park is managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. H ...
and Charles River Reservation established. * 1894 **
Linden Street Bridge The Linden Street Bridge is a historic bridge on the abandoned Central Massachusetts Railroad over Linden Street ( Massachusetts Route 60) in Waltham, Massachusetts. It is a riveted lattice through truss bridge, built in 1894 by the Pennsylvania S ...
constructed. ** Waltham Bicycle Park opens. * 1902 –
Metz Company The Metz Company was a pioneer brass era automobile maker established by Charles Herman Metz in Waltham, Massachusetts, from 1909 to 1922. History C. H. Metz began in business in 1886 making bicycle parts, and in 1893 formed the Waltham Manufac ...
in business. * 1908 – Company F State Armory built. * 1910 – Population: 27,834. * 1915 – Waltham Historical Society incorporated. * 1924 – '' Waltham News Tribune'' newspaper in publication. * 1928 – Middlesex College of Medicine and Surgery relocates to Waltham. * 1933 – First Parish Church rebuilt. * 1935 – Gore Place Society founded. * 1936 – Hovey Players (theatre group) founded. * 1938 – County Courthouse built. * 1941 – Waltham Garden Club founded. * 1948 – Brandeis University established. * 1961 – Rose Art Museum founded at Brandeis University. * 1968 ** Bentley University relocates to Waltham. **
WBRS WBRS is a student-run community and college radio station in Waltham, Massachusetts, west of Boston. The broadcast license is held by the Trustees of Brandeis University and the studio and transmitter are located on the Brandeis campus. WBRS br ...
on air. * 1970 – Population: 61,582. * 1971 ** Waltham Museum established. **
Robert Drinan Robert Frederick Drinan (November 15, 1920 – January 28, 2007) was a Jesuit priest, lawyer, human rights activist, and Democratic U.S. Representative from Massachusetts. Drinan left office to obey Pope John Paul II's prohibition on politica ...
becomes
Massachusetts's 3rd congressional district Massachusetts's 3rd congressional district is located in northeastern and central Massachusetts. Massachusetts congressional redistricting after the 2010 census has greatly changed the borders of this congressional district, largely dividing it ...
representative. * 1975 –
Aerosmith Aerosmith is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Boston in 1970. The group consists of Steven Tyler (lead vocals), Joe Perry (musician), Joe Perry (guitar), Tom Hamilton (musician), Tom Hamilton (bass), Joey Kramer (drums) and Brad Whi ...
musical group rents Wherehouse. * 1976 – Waltham Mills Artists Association open studios begins (approximate date) * 1980 –
Charles River Museum of Industry Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation is a museum of the American Industrial Revolution located on the Charles River Bike Path, near the intersection of the Charles River and Moody Street in Waltham, Massachusetts. It houses and displays ...
established. * 1982 – Parexel International Corporation headquartered in Waltham. * 1985 – Waltham Philharmonic Orchestra formed. * 1987 –
Joseph P. Kennedy II Joseph Patrick Kennedy II (born September 24, 1952) is an American businessman, Democratic politician, and a member of the Kennedy family. He is a son of former United States Senator Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Kennedy, and he is also a nephew ...
becomes Massachusetts's 8th congressional district representative. * 1988 – Global Petroleum Corporation headquartered in Waltham (approximate date). * 1995 –
Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc. Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc. is a worldwide musical instrument manufacturing and marketing conglomerate (company), conglomerate, based in Astoria, New York, the United States. It was formed in a 1995 merger between the Conn-Selmer#The H&A Se ...
headquartered in Waltham. * 1996 ** Lionbridge Technologies Inc. headquartered in Waltham. ** City website online. * 1999 – Waltham Land Trust incorporated. * 2003 – Raytheon Company and Roving Software Inc. headquartered in Waltham. * 2004 ** Jeannette A. McCarthy becomes mayor. ** Brandeis University's Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism nonprofit established. * 2006 –
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is an American supplier of scientific instrumentation, reagents and consumables, and software services. Based in Waltham, Massachusetts, Thermo Fisher was formed through the merger of Thermo Electron and Fisher Sci ...
headquartered in Waltham. * 2007 **
PerkinElmer, Inc. PerkinElmer, Inc., previously styled Perkin-Elmer, is an American global corporation focused in the business areas of diagnostics, life science research, food, environmental and industrial testing. Its capabilities include detection, imaging, in ...
headquartered in Waltham. **
Waltham Symphony Orchestra The Waltham Symphony Orchestra (WSO) is an American Civic Symphony Orchestra based in Waltham, Massachusetts. Origin It was created in December 2007 by a group of local individuals who wanted to see a professional-level symphony orchestra serving ...
formed. * 2010 – Population: 60,632. * 2011 ** A triple homicide occurs on September 11. **
Watch City Steampunk Festival Watch City Steampunk Festival, previously known as "International Steampunk City" and the "Watch City Festival," is the oldest annual open-air, indoor/outdoor steampunk festival in the United States, and is held in Waltham, Massachusetts. It beg ...
begins. * 2013 – Katherine Clark becomes Massachusetts's 5th congressional district representative.


Pronunciation

The name of the city is pronounced with the primary stress on the first syllable and a full vowel in the second syllable, , though the name of the Waltham watch was pronounced with a reduced
schwa In linguistics, specifically phonetics and phonology, schwa (, rarely or ; sometimes spelled shwa) is a vowel sound denoted by the IPA symbol , placed in the central position of the vowel chart. In English and some other languages, it rep ...
in the second syllable: . As most would pronounce in the British way, "Walthum", when people came to work in the mills from Nova Scotia, the pronunciation evolved. The "local" version became a phonetic sounding to accommodate French speakers who could not pronounce in the British way. In some areas, the city is referred to as "The Waltham".


Geography

The Waltham is located at (42.380596, −71.235005), about north-west of downtown Boston, Massachusetts, and approximately northwest of Boston's
Brighton Brighton () is a seaside resort and one of the two main areas of the City of Brighton and Hove in the county of East Sussex, England. It is located south of London. Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates back to the Bronze A ...
neighborhood. The heart of the city is Waltham Common, which is home to the City Hall and various memorial statues. The Common is on Main Street, which is home to several churches, the town library and Post Office. The city stretches along the Charles River and contains several dams. The dams were used to power textile mills and other endeavors in the early years of the industrial activity. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and (6.69%) is water.


Neighborhoods

Waltham has several neighborhoods or villages, including: * Angleside * Banks Square * The Bleachery (named after the former Waltham Bleachery and Dye Works) * Cedarwood * The Chemistry (named after the former Newton Chemical Company) * Ellison Park * Gardencrest * Headyland * The Highlands * The Island (formerly Morse Meadow Island) * Kendal Green (mostly in Weston) * Kendall Park * Lakeview * The Lanes * Northeast * The North Side * Piety Corner * Prospectville (defunct in 1894, now under Cambridge Reservoir) * Rangeley Acres * Ravenswood * Robert's * Rock Alley * The South Side * Warrendale * West End * Wildwood Acres


Adjacent towns

It is bordered to the west by Weston and Lincoln, to the south by
Newton Newton most commonly refers to: * Isaac Newton (1642–1726/1727), English scientist * Newton (unit), SI unit of force named after Isaac Newton Newton may also refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Newton'' (film), a 2017 Indian film * Newton ( ...
, to the east by
Belmont Belmont may refer to: People * Belmont (surname) Places * Belmont Abbey (disambiguation) * Belmont Historic District (disambiguation) * Belmont Hotel (disambiguation) * Belmont Park (disambiguation) * Belmont Plantation (disambiguation) * Belmon ...
and Watertown, and to the north by Lexington.


Demographics

As of the census in 2020, there were 65,218 people and 23,891 households in the city. The population density was 5,117.9/mile². According to 2021 census estimates, the racial makeup of the city was 70.5% White, 7.6% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American or Alaska Native, 11.8%
Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 5.3% from other races, and 4.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or
Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...
of any race were 14.3% of the population. There were 23,891 households, 19.8% of which included children under the age of 18 and 28.4% with people 65 and older. 39.7% of households were
married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...
living together, 9.9% cohabitating couples, 21.2% male householders with no partner present, and 29.2% female householders with no partner present. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 3.02. 32.7% of households spoke a language other than English at home. The age distribution is as follows: 13.7% under 18, 20% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 9.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% 65 or older. The median age was 34. The population was 48.3% male and 51.7% female. The median income for a household was $95,851, and per capita was $44,977. In 2020, 9.2% of the population and 5% of families lived below the poverty line. 11.7% of those under 18 and 8.45% of those 65 and older lived below the poverty line.


Foreign-born residents

As of 2020, 26.6% of Waltham residents were born outside of the United States. Of foreign-born residents, 41.5% were born in Asia, 32.7% in Latin America, 11.9% in Europe, and 9.7% in Africa.


Economy

Among the companies based in Waltham are the defense contractor Raytheon, medtech corporation PerkinElmer, biopharmaceutical services provider Paraxel, energy supply company
Global Partners Global Partners LP () is an American energy supply company ranked 361 in the 2018 Fortune 500. The company is organized as a master limited partnership, and its operations focus on the importing of petroleum products and marketing them in North A ...
, data services provider
Lionbridge Lionbridge Technologies, Inc is an American company that provides translation and localization services. Based in Waltham, Massachusetts, the company has operations in 26 countries. History Lionbridge was founded in 1996. In 2005, they acquired B ...
,
Steel Connect Steel Connect, Inc. is an American company that provides supply chain management services to software companies. During the dot-com bubble, the company, which was then known as CMGI, Inc., had a market capitalization of $41 billion and owned the n ...
, broker-dealer
Commonwealth Financial Network Commonwealth Financial Network is a privately held Registered Investment Adviser–independent broker/dealer based in Waltham, Massachusetts, and 110 Plaza in San Diego, California. The company was founded in 1979 by Joseph S. Deitch and was in ...
, technology companies
Care.com Care.com is an online marketplace for Child care, childcare, Senior Care, senior care, special needs care, tutoring, Pet sitting, pet care, and housekeeping through membership in a two-sided marketplace. The firm is based in Austin, Texas, Austi ...
and StudentUniverse, research and development organization
Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC) Education is a purposeful activity directed at achieving certain aims, such as transmitting knowledge or fostering skills and character traits. These aims may include the development of understanding, rationality, kindness, and honesty. Va ...
, provisioner of scientific instrumentation Thermo Fisher Scientific, and the marketing firm
Constant Contact Constant Contact, Inc. is an online marketing company, headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, with additional offices in Loveland, Colorado; and New York, New York. The company was founded in 1995 by Randy Parker and was later sold to Endur ...
. Footwear manufacturer Wolverine World Wide, Inc. moved their regional headquarters from Lexington to the CityPoint campus in July 2016. C & J Clark America, Inc. moved their headquarters from Newton to the Polaroid site in October 2016. Retail activity is concentrated on Main Street, Moody Street, Lexington Street, River Street, parts of Route 60, and the First Avenue area. New retail development has also been active at a former
Polaroid Polaroid may refer to: * Polaroid Corporation, an American company known for its instant film and cameras * Polaroid camera, a brand of instant camera formerly produced by Polaroid Corporation * Polaroid film, instant film, and photographs * Polar ...
site.


Top employers

According to the city's 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top ten non-city employers in the city are as follows.


Arts and culture

Waltham's combination of population (especially in central and south Waltham) parks, public transit, stores, and trails gives it 62 (out of 100) walkability ranking on
walkscore.com Walk Score, a subsidiary of Redfin, provides walkability analysis and apartment search tools. Its flagship product is a large-scale, public access walkability index that assigns a numerical walkability score to any address in the United States, Un ...
. This is often reflected downtown and along the Charles Riverwalk, which is often crowded on summer nights by people fishing, jogging, or walking off a meal at one of the many restaurants. Moody Street in downtown Waltham offers its own brand of entertainment with a colorful assortment of shops, restaurants, and bars, including The Gaff, Outer Limits, Gourmet Pottery, and the Embassy Cinema. Moody Street's booming nightlife, convenience to the commuter rail and lower rents have attracted younger professionals to Waltham in growing numbers in recent years. Moody Street is also referred to as "Restaurant Row" and has become a destination because of the number, variety and quality of its locally owned restaurants. The city of Waltham has a free "Tick Tock Trolley" on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings from 6pm–11pm for visitors that provides easy access to local municipal parking lots. Starting in 2020, the City of Waltham in Massachusetts has shut down a large portion of the main road, Moody St., to vehicular traffic from May 1 until October 31 annually. Moody Street is lined with restaurants and other small businesses but typically has high volumes of automobile passage. In an effort to assist these businesses in a difficult time, the Waltham Traffic Commission closed off a segment of the road to allow businesses to have outdoor dining and storefronts amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Bus stops that would typically be on the blocked off part of Moody St. are temporarily relocated to nearby spots. Moody Street is a wide road, and with its closure, many residents of Waltham have began walking the length of the closure frequently to get outdoors. Waltham has a high immigrant population, and a high population of people without cars. Providing a space that is for pedestrians and cyclists only has increased the number of chance encounters residents have, hence improving social connections. Many restaurants have brought in tents with lighting, while others just bought picnic tables and umbrellas and set them outside. Some restaurants have brought in green spaces or features, creating a biophilic experience for those passing by or eating. These changes have overarching public health benefits for local residents utilizing the space. Additionally, the Moody St. closure has had a traffic calming effect on surrounding traffic, as it requires street furniture and closures. The shift of Moody St. from an automobile road to a pedestrian road for a significant share of the year challenges the automobility paradigm by reclaiming the space for pedestrians. Without the barrier effect that cars often have on Moody Street, the street is open and enjoyable to walk around. The dense rows of restaurants and other businesses lining the road make for an engaging experience for people who walk the street during the street closure. Restaurants are supportive of the closure, as they can offer outdoor seating and increase their capacity for business. However, Moody Street has a variety of other businesses like small grocery stores, clothing stores, and jewelers. Some of these non-restaurant business owners oppose repeating the plan in the future, arguing that closing off the road makes their businesses less accessible due to a lack of automobile access. While Waltham has included a variety of stakeholders in the process of the street closure, it is crucial that they continue to do so in order to continue using a democratic process for city-wide decision-making. For over 25 years, the Waltham Arts Council has sponsored "Concerts On Waltham Common", featuring a different musical act each week of the summer, free of charge to attendees. "Concerts On Waltham Common" was created and organized by Stephen Kilgore until his death in 2004. Waltham's cultural life is enriched by the presence of two major universities and a number of arts organizations throughout the city. The Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University is devoted to modern and contemporary art. The Rose holds a variety of exhibitions and programs, and collections are free and open to the public. The city's history is also celebrated at a number of museums, monuments, and archives. The
Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation is a museum of the American Industrial Revolution located on the Charles River Bike Path, near the intersection of the Charles River and Moody Street in Waltham, Massachusetts. It houses and displays ...
, the Waltham Watch Factory historic district, the Gore Estate, the Lyman Estate, and the Robert Treat Payne Estate are among the most well known of the 109 sites in the city on the National Register of Historical Sites. Many festivals are held at these sites each year, such as the annual sheep shearing festival at the Gore Estate. The National Archives and Records Administration Northeast regional branch is located in Waltham. The Waltham Public Library has extensive archives regarding the city's history. The Waltham Museum is devoted solely to the history of the city. Mark Gately is the only stakeholder left of the Waltham Museum. Waltham is known for its embracing of literary arts. Local author Jessica Lucci has written a series of books about Waltham which can be found at the Waltham Museum, The Waltham Historical Society, and many other regional establishments devoted to promoting literary arts. The Waltham Mills Artists Association is located in one of the former factories of the Boston Manufacturing Company. The WMAA Open Studios takes place each year on the first weekend of November. The 76 artists of the WMAA open their homes and studios to the public. Works of all media imaginable are demonstrated, displayed and discussed. The Waltham Philharmonic Orchestra, a civic symphony of the MetroWest area, began in 1985 under the direction of local musicians David J. Tierney and Harold W. McSwain, Jr. With almost 60 professional, semi-professional, and amateur musicians, the orchestra's mission is to provide the Waltham community with the opportunity to perform in and attend classical concerts of the highest quality. WPO musicians come from Waltham as well as from Boston and surrounding communities. The ensemble includes players of a wide range of ages and professions. There are five to six concerts throughout the season, including one that features the winner of the annual Youth Concerto Competition, which provides opportunities for young musicians to perform solo works with the WPO. Annual concerts have included summer Concerts on the Common and the December Holiday Pops. Waltham is home to the
Waltham Symphony Orchestra The Waltham Symphony Orchestra (WSO) is an American Civic Symphony Orchestra based in Waltham, Massachusetts. Origin It was created in December 2007 by a group of local individuals who wanted to see a professional-level symphony orchestra serving ...
, a high-level semi-professional civic orchestra. The 55 piece orchestra performs five concerts each season at the Kennedy Middle-school Auditorium. Its music director is French-born American conductor, Patrick Botti. Open space in the city is protected by the
Waltham Land Trust The Waltham Land Trust is a private, non-profit corporation that seeks to preserve Open space reserve, open space in Waltham, Massachusetts. The trust currently sponsors many projects, including the protection of the grounds of the former Gaebler C ...
. Waltham embraces its ethnic diversity in a number of festivals. The annual Latinos en Acción Festival celebrates the many Puerto Rican, Mexican, Peruvian, and Guatemalan residents. It is held by Latinos in Action, is a local nonprofit group that helps the Latino population register to vote, understand the laws and find scholarships. The festival includes a parade, music, food, and a beauty pageant. Waltham has in recent decades become a center for Ugandan culture, with an estimated 1500 Ugandans living in the city, leading some to call Waltham "Little Kampala". The Ugandan North America Association is headquartered in Waltham, along with St. Peters Church of Uganda Boston, as well as Karibu, a well regarded Ugandan eatery. Wilberforce Kateregga, a Ugandan immigrant to Waltham has since established Waltham College Uganda, a boarding school for over 300 orphans and children affected by AIDS. The school was named in honor of Kateregga's new home city.


Points of interest

* Gore Place *
Lyman Estate The Lyman Estate, also known as The Vale, is a historic country house located in Waltham, Massachusetts, United States. It is now owned by the nonprofit Historic New England organization. The grounds are open to the public daily for free; an ad ...
* Robert Treat Paine Estate *
Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation is a museum of the American Industrial Revolution located on the Charles River Bike Path, near the intersection of the Charles River and Moody Street in Waltham, Massachusetts. It houses and displays ...
* Prospect Hill – third-highest point in the region (after two of the Blue Hills) * Charles River – Riverwalk on Moody St. * Embassy Cinema *
A. Wherehouse The Wherehouse, officially titled A. Wherehouse, is a warehouse located at 55 Pond Street in Waltham, Massachusetts, United States. It was rented out by the rock band Aerosmith, starting in 1975 and continuing into the 1980s. The warehouse feat ...
* Rose Art Museum * Metropolitan State Hospital (Massachusetts) *
Norumbega Tower The Norumbega Tower is a stone tower erected by Eben Norton Horsford in 1889 to mark the supposed location of Fort Norumbega, a legendary Norse fort and city. It is located in Weston, Massachusetts at the confluence of Stony Brook and the C ...
*
American Waltham Watch Company Historic District The American Waltham Watch Company Historic District encompasses the former factory of the Waltham Watch Company, the leading American watch manufacturer of the 19th century and the city's largest employer. Located on Crescent Street and the ban ...


Government

Waltham is governed by a mayor and a city council. The current mayor is Jeanette A. McCarthy. There are 15 members of the city council, each elected to two-year terms in non-partisan elections. The current president of the city council is Paul J. Brasco. The city is in Massachusetts's 5th congressional district and is currently represented in the United States House of Representatives by Katherine Clark. Waltham is also represented in the Massachusetts House of Representatives by State Representative John J. Lawn and State Representative Thomas M. Stanley, and in the Massachusetts Senate by Senator Michael Barrett.


Mayors of Waltham

* Jeannette A. McCarthy, 2004– * David F. Gately, 1999–2003 * William F. Stanley, 1985–1999 * Arthur Clark, 1968–1984. * Austin D. Rhodes 1959 * Paul V. Shaughnessy 1956–1958 * Henry A. Turner, 1953–1955 * Chauncey Cousens, 1949–1952 * John Devane, 1942–1948 * Arthur A. Hansen 1938–1942 * Frederick L. MacDonald 1937 * Henry W. Beal, 1922–1927 * George Raynolds Beal 1917–1922 * Eben J. Williams, 1915–1917 * Thomas K. Keans, 1913–1915 * Patrick J. Duane 1911–1913; 1930–1933 * Edward A. Walker, 1908–1911 * John L. Harvey, 1904–1908 * Murray D. Clement, 1902–1904 * Mahlon Leonard, 1901–1902 * George L. Mayberry 1898–1901 * Charles Bond 1897–1898 * Arthur Lyman 1896–1897 * Henry Milton 1895–1896 * Erskine Warden 1892–1895 * George L. Mayberry 1890–1891 * Henry N. Fisher 1887–1889 * Charles F. Stone 1886 * Byron B. Johnson (first mayor) 1884


Education


Public schools

The
Waltham Public Schools Waltham Public Schools is a school district headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts Waltham ( ) is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, and was an early center for the labor movement as well as a major contributor to the Amer ...
system includes seven elementary schools (Northeast, Fitzgerald, MacArthur, Plympton, Whittemore, Stanley, and the Waltham Dual Language Elementary School), two middle schools (McDevitt, Kennedy), and one senior high school (
Waltham High School Waltham High School is a public high school located in Waltham, Massachusetts, United States. It is the only high school operated by Waltham Public Schools. History The current Waltham High School was constructed in 1968 and expanded in 1998 a ...
). Waltham High School's sports teams had been referred to as the Watchmen and the Crimson, before they changed the name to the Hawks.


Private schools

* Chapel Hill – Chauncy Hall School * Gann Academy – The New Jewish High School of Greater Boston * Our Lady's Academy (formally Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted School) (Pre-K through 8) * Saint Jude School (Pre-K through 8) closed in 2019


Higher education

Waltham is home to: * Bentley University * Brandeis University *
Center for Digital Imaging Arts at Boston University The Boston University Center for Digital Imaging Arts at Boston University focused on career-oriented education and training in the rapidly emerging digital arts fields of Digital data, digital filmmaking, photography, 3D computer graphics, 3D anim ...
which closed in 2014.


Media

Waltham is home to the ''Waltham News Tribune'' (formerly ''
The Daily News Tribune ''The Daily News Tribune'' (formerly called the ''News-Tribune'' and the ''Waltham Evening News'') was an afternoon daily newspaper in Waltham, Massachusetts, United States, covering that city and the neighboring city of Newton. In its last ye ...
''), a weekly paper which is published each Thursday, year-round owned by Gatehouse Media. The '' Waltham Patch'' covers the local, daily news and invites locals to post their own blogs, events and opinion online only. In 2018, Waltham writer Jessica Lucci was chosen as the "Mayor" of Waltham Patch. WCAC-TV is the cable access and provides opportunities for community members to learn how to create their own local-interest television programming. Waltham news sometimes appears in '' The Boston Globes GlobeWest section, as well. Waltham was formerly the home of classical radio station WCRB (99.5 FM), which relocated to the WGBH studios in Brighton in 2006. Brandeis University runs a low-power station,
WBRS WBRS is a student-run community and college radio station in Waltham, Massachusetts, west of Boston. The broadcast license is held by the Trustees of Brandeis University and the studio and transmitter are located on the Brandeis campus. WBRS br ...
(100.1 FM).


Infrastructure


Transportation

Waltham is close to several U.S. interstate highways.
Interstate 95 Interstate 95 (I-95) is the main north–south Interstate Highway on the East Coast of the United States, running from U.S. Route 1, US Route 1 (US 1) in Miami, Miami, Florida, to the Houlton–Woodstock Border Crossing between M ...
, multiplexed with Route 128, runs through the western part of the city. Exits in Waltham are 26, 27, and 28.
Interstate 90 Interstate 90 (I-90) is an east–west transcontinental freeway and the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It begins in Seattle, Washington, and travels through the Pacific Northwest, Mountain West, Great Plains, Midwest, and ...
, which is also the Massachusetts Turnpike, is just to the south in Newton, Massachusetts. Due to its proximity to the center of the Greater Boston metropolitan area, a number of state highways are within a few miles. The
MBTA The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (abbreviated MBTA and known colloquially as "the T") is the public agency responsible for operating most public transportation services in Greater Boston, Massachusetts. The MBTA transit network in ...
commuter rail has two stops in Waltham as part of the Fitchburg-Boston Line: one in Central Square Waltham across from the City Hall and
one 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1. I ...
near Brandeis University. MBTA bus service also covers the city, including routes 61, 70, 170, 505, 553, 554, 556 and 558. The Charles River runs through Waltham, and bike and walking paths cover most of the south bank, as well as part of the north bank from Prospect Street to Moody Street. Some commuters ride the path to offices in Cambridge and Boston.


Fire department

The city of Waltham is protected by the 166 full-time, paid firefighters of the city of Waltham Fire Department (WFD). Established in 1816, the Waltham Fire Department is currently organized into three divisions of operations: fire suppression, fire prevention, and training.


Emergency Medical Services

Armstrong Ambulance Service currently provides 24/7 Advanced Life Support emergency medical services to the City of Waltham.


Notable people

*
Luther Atwood Luther Atwood (November 7, 1820 – November 5, 1868) was an American chemist. He is known for creating new chemical products from the distillation of coal and petroleum. Early life Atwood was born at Bristol, New Hampshire on November 7, 182 ...
, chemist in the oil industry *
Keith Aucoin Keith M. Aucoin (born November 6, 1978) is an American former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Carolina Hurricanes, Washington Capitals, New York Islanders, and St. Louis Blues. Playing career ...
, hockey forward for
New York Islanders The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference ( ...
*
F. Lee Bailey Francis Lee Bailey Jr. (June 10, 1933 – June 3, 2021) was an American criminal defense attorney. Bailey's name first came to nationwide attention for his involvement in the second murder trial of Sam Sheppard, a surgeon accused of murdering ...
, lawyer * Nathaniel Prentice Banks, Union General in the Civil War, 24th Governor of Massachusetts,
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives The speaker of the United States House of Representatives, commonly known as the speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives. The office was established in 1789 by Article I, Section 2 of the U. ...
*
Anya Battaglino Anya Packer (; born November 19, 1991) is an American retired ice hockey player and the current general manager of the Metropolitan Riveters of the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF). She played three PHF seasons with the Connecticut Whale before ...
, professional hockey player in the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL) * Mackenzy Bernadeau, guard for NFL's Dallas Cowboys * Suzanne Brockmann, author *
Nellie Marie Burns Nellie Marie Burns (ca. 1850 – June 16, 1897) was a 19th-century American actor and poet. Biography Ellen Marie Sherman was born and educated in Waltham, Massachusetts, about 1850. She was a daughter of Dr. Newell Sherman, of Waltham, a descend ...
(–1897), actor and poet * Annie Payson Call, author *
Rob Chiarelli Rob Chiarelli (born January 13, 1963) is an American record producer, mix engineer, musician, published author and multiple Grammy Award winner. Widely recognized as a music producer for Will Smith and ''Men in Black II'' (2002), Chiarelli's wo ...
, multiple Grammy Award winner *
JP Dellacamera John Paul "JP" Dellacamera (born January 11, 1952) is an American play-by-play sportscaster primarily for Major League Soccer with the Philadelphia Union, as well as major soccer tournaments and ice hockey. Commentary career Soccer In the 1980 ...
, play-by-play commentator of Major League Soccer for ABC and ESPN *
Ryan Gallant Ryan may refer to: People and fictional characters *Ryan (given name), a given name (including a list of people with the name) *Ryan (surname), a surname (including a list of people with the name) Places Australia * Division of Ryan, an elector ...
, professional skateboarder * Alan Griffin, professional basketball player for the Newfoundland Growlers of the
Canadian Elite Basketball League The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) is a men's professional minor league basketball organization. The CEBL was founded in 2017 and began play in 2019 with six teams competing all owned and operated by ownership group Canadian Basketball ...
*
James N. Hallock James Nelson Hallock (born January 23, 1941) is an American physicist. He has contributed to NASA's Gemini and Apollo missions and served on the Columbia Accident Investigation Board. He is a leading scientist in wake vortices, and co-authored ...
, scientist, known for his work on the Columbia Accident Investigation Board *
John Peabody Harrington John Peabody Harrington (April 29, 1884 – October 21, 1961) was an American linguist and ethnologist and a specialist in the indigenous peoples of California. Harrington is noted for the massive volume of his documentary output, most of which h ...
, ethnologist and linguist *
Sophie Chantal Hart Sophie Chantal Hart (August 20, 1868 – December 4, 1948) was an American professor of English composition and head of the English department at Wellesley College from 1906 to 1936. Early life Hart was born in Waltham, Massachusetts, the dau ...
, professor at
Wellesley College Wellesley College is a private women's liberal arts college in Wellesley, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1870 by Henry and Pauline Durant as a female seminary, it is a member of the original Seven Sisters Colleges, an unofficial g ...
*
Lorenza Haynes Lorenza Haynes (April 15, 1820 – June 6, 1899) was an American librarian, minister, school founder, suffragist, and writer. Hayne began her early career as a teacher, working at schools in Lonsdale, Rhode Island, as well as Leicester and Lowel ...
(1820–1899), librarian, minister, school founder, suffragist, writer * Clarence Hobart, six-time national doubles champion in tennis; born in Waltham *
Abbie Hoffman Abbot Howard "Abbie" Hoffman (November 30, 1936 – April 12, 1989) was an American political and social activist who co-founded the Youth International Party ("Yippies") and was a member of the Chicago Seven. He was also a leading proponen ...
, born in Worcester, MA; author, radical political activist, founder of the Youth International Party * C. D. Howe, WWII and postwar Canadian politician; Waltham native *
Gail Huff Gail Huff Brown ('' née'' Huff; born February 9, 1962) is an American broadcast journalist. Huff most recently worked as a special correspondent and news contributor for WWJE-DT. Huff also previously worked with WJLA-TV, an ABC station, in Washin ...
, television reporter for WCVB-TV, wife of
Scott Brown Scott Brown may refer to: Sportsmen *Scott Brown (American football), American college football coach of Kentucky State * Scott Brown (baseball) (born 1956), former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds *Scott Brown (footballer, bor ...
, former U.S. Senator from Massachusetts * Deena (Drossin) Kastor, Olympic bronze medal-winning marathon runner *
Pauline R. Kezer Pauline Ryder Kezer (born February 4, 1942) is an American politician who served as Secretary of the State of Connecticut from 1991 to 1995. She previously served in the Connecticut General Assembly. Since August 2014 she has served as president ...
, Secretary of the State of Connecticut (1991–1995); born and raised in Waltham * John Leary, Major League Baseball first baseman and catcher for the St. Louis Browns *
Jeff Lazaro Jeffrey Adam Lazaro (born March 21, 1968) is an American former professional ice hockey player. Biography As a youth, Lazaro played in the 1981 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Boston Braves minor ice hockey team. Lazaro ...
, former Boston Bruins forward *
Samuel Livermore Samuel Livermore (May 14, 1732May 18, 1803) was a U.S. politician. He was a U.S. Senator from New Hampshire from 1793 to 1801 and served as President pro tempore of the United States Senate in 1796 and again in 1799. Life and career Livermore ...
, United States Senator from New Hampshire *
Mel Lyman Melvin James Lyman (March 24, 1938 – March 1978) was an American musician and writer, and the founder of the Fort Hill Community, which has been variously described as a family, commune, or cult. Early life Lyman grew up in California and Oreg ...
, musician, filmmaker, writer and founder of the Fort Hill Community * John Lynch, Governor of New Hampshire * Shawn McEachern, Boston Bruins forward * Paul Moody, Inventor, developer of cotton loom; namesake of Moody St. in downtown Waltham * Angelo Mosca, former Canadian Football League player and professional wrestler *
Richard Thomas Nolan Richard Thomas Nolan (born May 30, 1937, Waltham, Massachusetts; dual citizenship in the Republic of Ireland, 2011) is a canon of Christ Church Episcopal Cathedral in Hartford, Connecticut and a former college professor of philosophy and religi ...
, Episcopal Church Canon, writer, philosophy and religion professor, LGBT advocate * Dave Pino, member of the band Powerman 5000 *
Ida Annah Ryan Ida Annah Ryan (1873–1950) was a pioneering United States architect known for her work in Massachusetts and Florida. She was the first woman to receive a Master of Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the first woman to re ...
, first woman to earn a master's degree in architecture (from
M.I.T. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private land-grant research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Established in 1861, MIT has played a key role in the development of modern technology and science, and is one of the m ...
) * Evelyn Sears, U.S. Open tennis champion *
Fred Smerlas Frederic Charles Smerlas (born April 8, 1957) is a former American football nose tackle who was a five-time NFL Pro Bowl selection during a 14-year career as a nose tackle with the Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots. S ...
,
NFL The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the major ...
defensive lineman with
Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo metropolitan area. The Bills compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. ...
, San Francisco 49ers, and
New England Patriots The New England Patriots are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston area. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East divisio ...
* Caroll Spinney, puppeteer; performed the roles of Big Bird and
Oscar the Grouch Oscar the Grouch is a Muppet character created by Jim Henson and Jon Stone for the PBS/HBO children's television program ''Sesame Street''. He has a green body, no visible nose, and lives in a trash can. Oscar's favorite thing is trash, as eviden ...
on '' Sesame Street'' *
Mary Watson Whitney Mary Watson Whitney (September 11, 1847 – January 20, 1921) was an Americans, American astronomer and for 22 years the head of the Vassar Observatory where 102 scientific papers were published under her guidance. Early life and education ...
, astronomer, Vassar professor of astronomy, Vassar observatory director * Bob Weston, American bass guitarist and music producer, known for his work in the minimalist rock band Shellac * Chris Wilson, guitarist for the
Flaming Groovies Flamin' Groovies is an American rock band that formed in San Francisco in 1965, originally co-led by Roy Loney and Cyril Jordan. After the Groovies released three albums, on Epic ('' Supersnazz'') and Kama Sutra (''Flamingo'' and '' Teenage Head' ...
and The Barracudas * Gordon S. Wood, recipient of the 1993
Pulitzer Prize The Pulitzer Prize () is an award for achievements in newspaper, magazine, online journalism, literature, and musical composition within the United States. It was established in 1917 by provisions in the will of Joseph Pulitzer, who had made h ...
for History *
Franz Wright Franz Wright (March 18, 1953 – May 14, 2015) was an American poet. He and his father James Wright are the only parent/child pair to have won the Pulitzer Prize in the same category. Life and career Wright was born in Vienna, Austria. He graduat ...
,
Pulitzer Prize The Pulitzer Prize () is an award for achievements in newspaper, magazine, online journalism, literature, and musical composition within the United States. It was established in 1917 by provisions in the will of Joseph Pulitzer, who had made h ...
–winning poet * Paramahansa Yogananda, author of '' Autobiography of a Yogi'' built his first ashram in America here


See also

* Greater Boston * Mayor-council government *
New Covenant Church of Cambridge New Covenant Church of Cambridge is located in Waltham, Massachusetts. It is a Haitian church and is headed by the Reverend Esther and the Reverend Thomas St. Louis. History The Protestant congregation began in 1984 as a gathering of the extended ...
* Norumbega *
List of mill towns in Massachusetts * Adams * Amesbury * Athol * Attleboro * Chicopee * Clinton * Dalton * Dedham * Fall River * Fitchburg * Framingham * Gardner * Grafton * Greenfield * Haverhill * Holyoke * Hopedale * Hudson * Lawrence * Lowell * Ludlow * Lynn * ...


References


Further reading

* Barry, Ephraim L.
''City of Waltham, Massachusetts.''
1887. * Federal Writers' Project
"Waltham,"
in ''Massachusetts: a Guide to its Places and People.'' Federal Writers' Project, 1937. * Eaton, Percival R.
"Works of the Watch City,"
''New England Magazine,'' May 1906. * Gitelman, Howard M., ''Workingmen of Waltham: Mobility in American Urban Development, 1850–1890.'' (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press, 1974). * Hurd, D. Hamilton
"Waltham,"
in ''History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts.'' W. Lewis and Co., 1890. * Starbuck, Alexander. "Waltham," in Samuel Adams Drake (ed.), ''History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts.'' vol. 2, pp. 407–433.1879–80. * Toomey, Daniel P.
"Waltham,"
in ''Massachusetts of Today.'' Boston: Columbia Publishing Co., 1892.
"Waltham,"
in ''Anthony's Standard Business Directory and Reference Book of Woburn, Winchester, Arlington, Lexington, Belmont, Watertown, Waltham, Newton, Massachusetts.'' Anthony Publishing Co., 1898.
''Directory of...Waltham and Watertown.''
W.A. Greenough & Co., 1887.


External links

*
Waltham Historical Society
* * {{authority control Cities in Massachusetts Populated places established in 1634 Cities in Middlesex County, Massachusetts 1634 establishments in Massachusetts