Carly Bolton's Blog

 Cambridge Tour  Memorial Hall / Sanders Theatre Memorial Hall, completed in 1878, honors Harvard alumni who died fighting for the Union in the Civil War. The building’s stained-glass windows by Tiffany and La Farge depict the Massachusetts regiments, and its grand Gothic Revival architecture is capped with a 200-foot tower. Sanders Theatre, inside, features Victorian design and superb acoustics and hosts performances and academic ceremonies. Memorial Hall reflects Harvard’s complex history with the Civil War, commemorating Union soldiers and supporting the abolitionist cause. Its role as a memorial and a cultural venue highlights the university’s transformation from a colonial institution into a hub of American intellectualism and values tied to national unity and social justice. John Harvard Statue The statue of John Harvard, erected in 1884 in Harvard Yard, has become a symbol of the university. Often called the “Statue of Three Lies” due to historical inaccuracies, it has ...

Exploring the 2020 Census Data for the City of Cambridge, Massachusetts To dive into Cambridge’s present-day demographic and educational characteristics, I explored the 2020 Census data from data.census.gov, comparing Cambridge's data to Massachusetts’ overall statistics. This analysis of population age distribution and educational attainment reveals the city’s vibrant, youthful, and educated demographic—a legacy influenced by the growth of housing, social, and educational institutions over the 20th century. Population Age Distribution: Cambridge’s Youthful Demographic Median Age and Young Adult Population Cambridge has a notably young population, with a median age of 30.4 years (± 1.3), which is well below Massachusetts' median of 40.3 years (± 0.1). This age difference highlights the city’s high concentration of students and young professionals, drawn largely by educational institutions like Harvard and MIT. The age distribution shows a strong representation among residents a...

     Cambridge, Massachusetts, is home to two vastly different cemeteries that speak to changing American attitudes about death, spirituality, and remembrance. The Old Burial Ground and Mount Auburn Cemetery reflect the shift from a Puritanical, moralistic view of mortality to a more Romantic, individualized approach that celebrates life and the afterlife. Each cemetery captures the cultural and religious ideals of its time, providing insight into the evolving American psyche. Old Burial Ground  The Old Burial Ground, established in 1635 in Harvard Square, is one of the oldest cemeteries in Cambridge. Its modest, slate gravestones adorned with symbols of death and judgment echo the Puritan worldview that defined early New England life. For Puritans, death was a constant companion, and life was seen as a preparation for the afterlife. The cemetery reflects this ethos through its minimalistic, somber design and the choice of grave markers. A notable memorial in the Old...

  Elmwood In J.L. Bell’s George Washington's Headquarters in the Longfellow House, the role of Tory Row estates, like Elmwood, is crucial to understanding the shifting allegiances and tensions that characterized Cambridge in the pre-Revolutionary era. One of the themes in Bell’s study that informs the events surrounding Elmwood is the relationship between loyalist figures and the colonial resistance, especially in the context of Cambridge’s growing revolutionary sentiment. Elmwood, as the estate of Thomas Oliver, the last Royal Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony, became a flashpoint in the larger conflict between the British authorities and colonial resistance. Bell’s work highlights how figures like Oliver were central to the political struggle, as they embodied royal authority in the colonies. The example of the Powder Alarm and the subsequent mob action against Oliver illustrates a key aspect of Bell’s discussion: the increasingly public and direct confrontation bet...

  Potential project Ideas to Explore:  1. The Evolution of Public Transportation in Cambridge: From Trolleys to Buses Overview: This paper will trace the history of Cambridge’s transportation system, focusing on the shift from trolleys to buses and how these changes influenced city planning. Goal: To explore how transportation developments impacted urban expansion, commercial activity, and residential distribution, and how each shift in transit reshaped daily life and mobility patterns. 2. Housing Crisis: Voices from Realtors and Residents Overview: This project focuses on the perspectives of both realtors and residents struggling with Cambridge’s housing crisis, examining rising rents and property values. Goal: To gather personal stories that reveal the human impact of the affordability crisis, and analyze policy proposals aimed at creating long-term housing solutions, focusing on both market forces and city initiatives. 3. The Transformation of Kendall Square: From Industria...

Exploring Cambridge through the lens of the Cambridge Chronicle reveals critical shifts in crime, school policies, industrial growth, and housing over time. Each period reflects how these issues evolved in response to broader economic, political, and social changes in the city. Late 19th Century: Urban Growth & Crime In the 1880s-1890s, the Cambridge Chronicle provided detailed reports that captured the socio-economic pressures accompanying rapid urbanization. Crime reports frequently highlighted issues like public disturbances, petty theft, and street violence, which were symptomatic of the densely populated industrial neighborhoods. These areas, home to working-class families and new immigrants, were marked by poor living conditions, exacerbated by a lack of infrastructure planning. Articles often connected crime to overcrowding and unsanitary housing, illustrating the tensions between rapid industrial growth and the city’s ability to manage its expanding urban population. Labor ...