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West Roxbury



Boston Women's Heritage Trail
shoe imageHannah Davis Richards
(1804-1863)
West Roxbury Post Office
1970 Centre Street
The Richards TavernThe Richards family owned a tavern located at this site. Several decades before Hannah was born, George Washington stopped by the tavern for food and drink. Her grandfather built the first schoolhouse in West Roxbury, the Baker Street School, a one-room K to 5 school, and Hannah taught there. Hannah kept a diary which is now an important source of information about West Roxbury in the early 19th century.
shoe image 2West Roxbury Branch Library
1961 Centre Street
West Roxbury Branch LibraryThe West Roxbury Branch Library is one of the busiest libraries in Boston. It is also the home of the West Roxbury Historical Society. The Society has many artifacts and information about the history of West Roxbury. The first schoolhouse was built on this site in 1767. It was the only schoolhouse in West Roxbury for many years. Alice Hennessey and Pamela Seigle energetically worked on the committee to build an addition to the library, and Ellen McGill volunteers here.
Barbara Henry
Barbara Henry and Ruby BridgesBarbara Henry grew up in West Roxbury and attended Girls’ Latin School. In high school, she met students from diverse ethnic backgrounds. After she graduated from college, Barbara taught the children of Air Force personnel for two years in Europe. These life experiences prepared her for her role in an historic event. In 1960, shortly after Barbara relocated with her husband to New Orleans, she was asked to teach six-year-old Ruby Bridges. Ruby was the first African American child to attend Frantz Elementary School. Some people did not want Ruby at the school. However, Barbara saw Ruby’s potential to learn, and decided to teach her. Barbara and Ruby are still in contact with one another. Barbara’s message to young people is, “Live your life truthfully and positively. Consciously think of living your life the right way. A positive attitude makes it easier for you to do something when crises come.” You can read more about Barbara and Ruby in two books at the library: Ruby Bridges by Robert Cole and Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges.
shoe imageHelen Arnold (1885-1974)
Theodore Parker Church
1859 Centre Street
The Theodore Parker Unitarian ChurchHelen Arnold, wife of Rev. Harold G. Arnold, pastor of this church from 1913-1948, resided in West Roxbury for over 60 years. She was a literary enthusiast and a horticulturalist, especially noted for her work at the Arnold Arboretum. Helen was the U. S. representative to the Bronte Society for 22 years and editor of the Emily Dickinson Yearbook. She was active in the Lend A Hand Society of Boston and a lifelong friend of Helen Keller. In 1952, she and her husband received a bronze medal from the Mass. Horticultural Society for the restoration of their garden on Emmonsdale Road, current site of St. George Orthodox Church.


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