City Square A Fight for Survival-Bunker Hill Museum Oct 28, 7:00-8:00pm

City Square now hosts the Court House, commercial space, a dry cleaners, a restaurant, a school, and more. Learn about the rich history of City Square which housed the first City Hall for the new colonies. Built on the site of Old Robbins Tavern 1818 it was the center of government at that time. Before that it included native American locations close to the river and the sea. One of the first key buildings was the Great House, later named the Three Cranes Tavern which served as an Inn and Tavern from 1630 till 1775 when it was burned by the British. Over the years City Square had a very large hotel and the Waverly House which was a predecessor to the department store with many shops offering millinery, fancy goods, food, shoes, boots, and much more. Learn about the bowling alley. City Square was the entry to Charlestown and it was the location of the connection to Boston which was first a penny ferry, then a toll bridge, then a free bridge. Later the horse drawn trolley and then the elevated train came through City Square which housed the major station in Charlestown.
City Square faced many challenges over the years as the state highway department saw City Square as a great place for a major interchange linking the Tobin bridge with the other North South roads. Charlestown citizens fought for years to save City Square from the wrecking ball, and to save this wonderful entry into Charlestown. Ken Stone will present the changing face of City Square on October 28, 2014 from 7:00 to 8:00 pm. The talk is free and open to the public. To be held in the Education Room on the lower level of the Bunker Hill Museum. Presented by: The Charlestown Historical Society | www.charlestownhistoricalsociety.org | The Charlestown Preservation Society | www.charlestownpreservation.org | The Friends of City Square | www.citysquarepark.org