In the coming weeks, I will be posting about the history of transportation, particularly public transit, in Cambridge, from toll roads to the horse-drawn street railway to the Red Line.
There are many routes this post could go in (pardon the pun), from the 1830's legal controversy over the right to build toll bridges to the 1960's origin of young people hanging out in "the pit" surrounding Harvard Station. Depending on what I decide to cover, this may be one post or a series.
Do you have any questions about the history of transportation in the area? Are there subjects in particular you want to know more about? Please let me know in the comments!
Welcome to Cambridge Considered: the colorful history of Cambridge, MA. This blog is not just for historians or scholars, it's intended for anyone who lives in or likes Cambridge. It updates sporadically.
I often hear people say that the roads are so terrible because they were laid on old cow paths. I never really questioned this because it made a certain amount of sense, but I'd like to know how much truth there is to it.
ReplyDeleteYou could also look at some of the cultural phenomenon spawned by public transportation. Explore how it shaped the development of the city, especially the early railroads. Of course, it seems fitting if you talk about Charlie on the MTA. And I've always been intrigued by Interstate 695 and other such unrealized plans.
ReplyDelete