City of Somerville Archives

The city of Somerville was founded in 1842. This blog features highlights of the municipal archives collections. If you have questions about the documents you see here, or the history of the municipal government, contact the archivist through ask.

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18-20 Stone Avenue, photographed circa 1978.

Historic Preservation Collection, HisPre145.

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15-17 Stone Avenue, photographed circa 1978. Historic Preservation Collection: HisPre144

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14-16 Stone Avenue,  photographed circa 1978. Historic Preservation Collection: HisPre143

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10-12 Stone Place, photographed 1978. Historic Preservation Collection HisPre-142

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100 Years Ago - Somerville's Public Safety Committee was drawing up plans to prepare for World War I. From the Board of Aldermen Meeting Minutes March 29,1917.

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100 Years Ago in Somerville- The Board of Aldermen remembered the first native born Somerville Mayor.

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Two Truths and a Lie

Which one of these "facts" is actually a lie?

LESLIE E. KNOX (1936 - 1938) • Mayor Knox’s skills at baseball and singing built the base of his popularity that won him the mayoral election.

• After his term as Mayor, Knox went on to become a successful musician.

• Mayor Knox raised funds to send a Somerville girl to compete in the Olympics in 1936.

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5-7 Stone Place, photographed circa 1978.

Historic Preservation Collection: HisPre140

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417-433 Somerville Avenue photographed  circa 1978.

Historic Preservation Collection: HisPre-136

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Happy President's Day! President Taft visited Somerville in 1910. Here is an excerpt regarding Tufts visit from the Board of Aldermen Meeting Minutes.

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417-433 Somerville Avenue photographed circa 1978. Somerville Historic Preservation: HisPre-135

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Happy Valentine's Day!  Don't forget to pick up something sweet for someone special.   Law Department, Closed Case Files  2501-LAW-009-0045 Deluxe Candy Shop, 11 Davis Square, photographed May 7, 1952.

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417-433 Somerville Avenue photographed circa 1978. Historic Preservation Collection: HISPRE135

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Somerville Mayors - Two Truths and a Lie

Which of these "facts" did we make up?

• Mayor Curley presented Mayor Murphy with a bronze traffic booth, the base of which weighed nearly 3 tons.

• In 1930, Mayor Murphy caused controversy for blocking permits for a miniature golf course in Somerville.

• Mayor Murphy proposed that a golf course to be located in Somerville include a large orange dinosaur, and when the proposal was voted down, the dinosaur became a legendary landmark in a course along Route 1 in Massachusetts.

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15 School Street photographed circa 1978. 

Historic Preservation Collection: HISPRE133

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Somerville Mayors - Two Truths and a Lie

Can you tell which of these is statements is a lie about Mayor Webster?

JOHN M. WEBSTER (1922-1926) • In his Inaugural Address of 1924, Webster proposed that Somerville and Medford unite to become the new city of “Somerford.”

• Mayor Webster took Prohibition seriously. He even participated in enforcement by driving officers to the site of a police raid.

• In his Inaugural Address of 1924, Webster proposed re-uniting with Charlestown and once again becoming part of Boston proper.

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27 School Street photographed circa 1978. Historic Preservation Collection: HISPRE132