History of Gilman Square

Some history on Gilman Square:

1842-1886
Rich landowners in East Somerville, such as Charles E. Gilman, Oliver Tufts, and Rufus Stickney, subdivided and sold their large tracts of land for residential development in the area that later became Gilman Square [1].

1885-1900
Gilman Square formed the interection of Pearl, Medford and Marshall Streets, developed into a commercial center adjacent to the then Boston and Lowell commuter station. The Boston and Lowell line, constructed in 1835, was the first passenger railway in the state and connected Boston to the Merrimack Valley textile mills [2]. As more residential homes were constructed, a pharmacy, an athletic equipment store, a post office, and a furniture repair shop sprung up in the neighborhood [1].
[Note: The existing commuter train tracks appear to be in the same location as the Boston and Lowell line].

1888
A large granite station was constructed on the south side of the train tracks [1].
[Note: The station used to be where the NSTAR service boxes are currently located].

1890
As the community grew, a three-story building called the Citizen Building, which housed offices of a local newspaper, the Somerville Citizen, and the Grand Army of the Republic Hall, was built at the intersection of Medford and Pearl Streets [1].
[Note: This building was later razed down].

1895
The Signet Commandery Building was built at 341 Medford Street [1].
[Note: This is the historic building across the street from the Homans Building].

1940
The commuter rail service was discontinued and the Boston and Lowell station was removed [1].


Sources:
(1) Zellie, C. 1990. Beyond the Neck: The Architecture and Development of Somerville, Massachusetts. St. Paul, Minnsota: Landscape Research.
(2) Binford, H. C. 1985. The First Suburbs: Residential Communities on the Boston Periphery, 1815-1860. Chicago, Illinois: The University of Chicago Press.