Cyclist's Road-Book of Boston and Vicinity

By A. L. Atkins188655 chapters

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Contents

• Route One: Boston to Chestnut Hill Reservoir via Highlands (opens in a new tab)

  Nine and three-quarter miles by Columbus Avenue, West Chester Park, Jamaica Plain and Boylston Station to the Reservoir's rear entrance. The text describes the Reservoir drive as a training track, with E. P. Burnham's bicycle record of 3 min 15 s and W. A. Rhodes's tricycle record of 3 min 43 s.
• Route Two: Boston to Chestnut Hill Reservoir via Brighton (opens in a new tab)

  Five miles by Beacon Street, Brighton, Winship Street and Chestnut Hill Avenue to the Reservoir's main entrance. The text calls it the regular route out of the city and notes the Faneuil House, the League hotel for Brighton.
• Route Three: Chestnut Hill Reservoir to Boston via Brookline and Longwood (opens in a new tab)

  Five miles back to Trinity Square through Brookline and Longwood by Marion Street, Sewall Avenue, Kent Street and Dudley Street. The text calls it one of the finest and most popular routes about Boston and a favourite return for moonlight parties.
• Route Four: Chestnut Hill Reservoir to Corey Hill (opens in a new tab)

  One and a half miles from the Reservoir by Englewood Avenue, Beacon Street and Summit Hill Avenue to the foot of Corey Hill.
• Route Five: Boston to Corey Hill (opens in a new tab)

  Two and four-fifths miles by Dartmouth Street, Beacon Street and Summit Hill Avenue. The text gives W. W. Stall's bicycle climbing record of 3 min 24 1-5 s, John Williams's tricycle record of 3 min 46 2-5 s, and the hill's length, height and steepest grade of 1 foot in 7.85.
• Route Six: Boston to Harvard Square (opens in a new tab)

  Four and three-quarter miles by Beacon Street, Brighton Avenue, Cambridge Street and North Harvard Street. The text notes Harvard University, Hemenway Gymnasium, Memorial Hall and the Washington Elm, and the return by Mt. Auburn Street.
• Route Seven: Boston to Beacon Park (opens in a new tab)

  Three and three-quarter miles by Commonwealth Avenue, Gloucester Street, Harvard Street and Cambridge Street to Beacon Park. The text recalls the L. A. W. championship races of 1882 held in the Park and the Boston and Massachusetts inter-club races.
• Route Eight: Boston to Cambridgeport (opens in a new tab)

  Three and a quarter miles by Brookline Bridge, Chestnut Street and Magazine Street to Central Square, Cambridgeport. The return is by River Street to Allston Station, and the text notes the Harvard, Union and City rowing courses on the Charles River.
• Route Nine: Boston to Brookline (opens in a new tab)

  Three routes to Brookline of 3 3-8, 4 1-4 and 3 1-8 miles, the third by Western Avenue and Tremont Street, with a return by Warren, Boylston and Brighton Streets to the Chestnut Hill Reservoir. The text says the first section is the finest suburban ride, the second the best of the three, and the last the most direct but the poorest riding.
• Route Ten: Boston to Hotel Faneuil (opens in a new tab)

  Four and three-quarter miles by Beacon Street, Brighton Avenue and Cambridge Street to Hotel Faneuil, the League hotel for Brighton. The text says McCurdy, Munger, Huntley, Ives and Rhodes started and finished their long-distance road races there in the fall of 1885.
• Route Eleven: Boston to Middlesex Fells and Spot Pond (opens in a new tab)

  Ten and a quarter miles by Harvard Square, North Avenue, Porter's Station, Medford and Forest Street to Spot Pond. The text calls the pond a favourite resort for cycle picnics where boats can be hired, with no good hotel near by and hilly roads.
• Route Twelve: Boston Around Great Sign Boards (opens in a new tab)

  Fifteen miles by Brighton, Newton, Newtonville, West Newton and the Great Sign Boards to Chestnut Hill Reservoir, with a return by Route 3 or the reverse of Route 1 or 2. The text says it stands second in the favour of Boston wheelmen and is much used for moonlight and short club runs.
• Route Thirteen: Boston to Somerville (opens in a new tab)

  Six miles by Brookline Bridge, Cambridgeport, Central Square, Prospect Street and Webster Avenue, beside the railroad track, to Union Square, Somerville.
• Route Fourteen: Boston to Mt. Auburn (opens in a new tab)

  Five and three-quarter miles by Harvard Square, North Harvard Street and Mt. Auburn Street to Mt. Auburn. The text says Mount Auburn was established by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society in 1831 and is the oldest garden cemetery in America.
• Route Fifteen: Boston to Hunnewell Estate (opens in a new tab)

  Fourteen and a half miles by Winship Street, the Chestnut Hill Reservoir, Newton Lower Falls and Wellesley Hills to the Hunnewell Estate. The text says the estate is private, but the public is generally admitted on application at the mansion, and its English-style gardens overlook Lake Wauban and Wellesley College.
• Route Sixteen: Boston to Ridge Hill Farm and Hotel Wellesley (opens in a new tab)

  Thirteen and a quarter miles by Newton Centre, Newton Lower Falls and Wellesley to Ridge Hill Farm and Hotel Wellesley, which the text calls Baker's Gardens. Ridge Hill Farm illustrates the peculiar style of its owner, W. E. Baker, full of strange conceits and out-of-door surprises.
• Route Seventeen: Boston to Echo Bridge, Newton (opens in a new tab)

  Nine and three-quarter miles through the Chestnut Hill Reservoir, Newton Centre and Newton Highlands to Echo Bridge. The text advises trying the echo under the bridge with a bugle, and says the return route is abundant in magnificent coasts.
• Route Eighteen: Boston to Lexington via Arlington (opens in a new tab)

  Twelve and a half miles by Harvard Square, Porter's Station and Arlington to Lexington Common and the Monument. The text says the road is substantially the path of the British troops on the way to Lexington and Concord, with many memorials of that event, while Route 20 gives better wheeling.
• Route Nineteen: Boston to Hotel Boscobel, Lynn (opens in a new tab)

  Seventeen and a quarter miles by Harvard Square, Medford, Malden and East Saugus to Hotel Boscobel, at the head of Lynn Common, run by W. P. Comee. The text says the house is much patronised by the Cambridge, Somerville, Wakefield and other suburban clubs, and that the Lynn bicycle track is reached from Elm Street.
• Route Twenty: Boston to Lexington via Waverley (opens in a new tab)

  Thirteen and a half miles by Mt. Auburn Street, Belmont Street, Waverley and East Lexington to Lexington. The text says it is about a mile longer than Route 18, with an excellent road bed, and recommends it to riders who prefer good riding to viewing historical landmarks.
• Route Twenty-One: Boston to Massapoag House, Sharon (opens in a new tab)

  Twenty miles by Columbus Avenue, Forest Hills, Dedham, Ponkapoag and South Canton to the Massapoag House, Sharon, on Lake Massapoag. The text notes it as the first night's stop of the Wheel Around the Hub tourists, and that the roads beyond Dedham are somewhat below the average of suburban roads.
• Route Twenty-Two: Boston to Concord (opens in a new tab)

  Fourteen and a half miles by Harvard Square, Arlington and Lexington to Concord Common. The text names the old Hawthorne house and the Emerson homestead, Wright Tavern, the One-Arch Bridge where the Battle of Concord was fought, the Thoreau house, and the C. E. Davis collection of relics in the old Court House.
• Route Twenty-Three: Boston to Concord (opens in a new tab)

  Eighteen and three-quarter miles by North Beacon Street, Watertown, Waltham, the Western Station and the Fitchburg railroad fork to Walden Pond and Concord. The text says the road bed is better than Route 22's, which more than compensates for the greater distance.
• Route Twenty-Four: Boston to Wakefield (opens in a new tab)

  Sixteen and a quarter miles by Harvard Square, Medford, Malden and Melrose to Wakefield. The text notes that Tufts College is passed on the left, that Mystic Trotting Park lies on Medford Street, and that an old Revolutionary powder house stands on Elm Street, Somerville.
• Route Twenty-Five: Boston to Essex House, Salem (opens in a new tab)

  Twenty-two and a half miles by Harvard Square, Medford, Maplewood, Lynn Common and Essex Street to the Essex House, Salem, where the text says wheelmen are likely to be found at dinner. It notes a shorter run by the Chelsea Ferry and an after-dinner trip by Beverly, Manchester and Gloucester along the shore road.
• Route Twenty-Six: Boston to Union Market House (opens in a new tab)

  Five and a quarter miles by Brighton Avenue, North Beacon Street, the Charles River Bridge and the United States Arsenal to the Union Market House. The text says the Massachusetts Bicycle Club often chooses it for a breakfast run and praises its steaks.
• Route Twenty-Seven: Boston to Woodlawn Park Hotel (opens in a new tab)

  Nine and a half miles by Brighton, Newton, Newtonville and West Newton to the Woodlawn Park Hotel. The text calls the hotel the country headquarters of the Massachusetts Bicycle Club, and gives the return by the Great Sign Boards and Beacon Street to the Reservoir.
• Route Twenty-Eight: Boston to Bailey's Hotel, South Natick (opens in a new tab)

  Sixteen miles by the Reservoir, the Great Sign Boards, Newton Lower Falls and Wellesley Hills to Bailey's Hotel, South Natick. The text says the hotel is the starting place of the Boston Bicycle Club's 100-mile road races and that the Eliot Memorial Monument stands opposite it, near Eliot's Oak.
• Route Twenty-Nine: Boston to Cobb's Tavern (opens in a new tab)

  Fourteen miles by Columbus Avenue, Dorchester, the Neponset River Bridge and Milton Lower Mills, with a coast down Codman Hill to be taken carefully. The text says Cobb's Tavern is the turning point of most of the Boston Bicycle Club's club runs, and that the building looks like a farmhouse of a century ago.
• Route Thirty: Boston to South Abington and Brockton (opens in a new tab)

  Twenty-eight miles by Columbus Avenue, Chester Park, Neponset Avenue and Quincy to South Abington and Brockton. Intermediate places are Wollaston Heights, Quincy, Weymouth Landing, North Abington and Abington.
• Route Thirty-One: Boston to West Roxbury Park (opens in a new tab)

  Three and three-quarter miles by Columbus Avenue, Chester Park, Harrison Avenue and Blue Hill Avenue to West Roxbury Park. The text says the City has bought about 500 acres of wild fields and woodland there, and that holidays bring picnics and band concerts.
• Route Thirty-Two: Boston to Milton and Quincy (opens in a new tab)

  Eleven and a half miles by Dorchester, the Neponset River Bridge, Milton Lower Mills and East Milton to Quincy, with the Codman Hill coast to be taken with care. The text calls Milton Hill a very hard climb to be coasted only by skilful riders with the brake on, and Quincy the home of the Adams family.
• Route Thirty-Three: Boston to Mattapan (opens in a new tab)

  Eight and a half miles by Columbus Avenue, Walnut Avenue, Warren Street and Dorchester to Mattapan. The text says the participants in the Wheel Around the Hub of 1880 and 1884 started from the corner of Warren Street and Walnut Avenue, and that the roads around Mattapan form part of the road race courses.
• Route Thirty-Four: Boston to Arnold Arboretum and Hyde Park (opens in a new tab)

  Six and a half miles by Walnut Avenue, Morton Street and Forest Hills Station to the Arnold Arboretum and Bussey Farm, then to Hyde Park. The text describes the Arboretum's collection of shrubs and herbaceous plants that can be grown in the open air in this climate, and the Bussey Farm as Harvard's agricultural and horticultural department.
• Route Thirty-Five: Milton Lower Mills to West and South Quincy (opens in a new tab)

  Five miles from Milton Lower Mills by Adams Street, Milton Hill, East Milton, West Quincy and Franklin Street to South Quincy. The text names the birthplaces of John Adams and John Quincy Adams at the foot of Franklin Street hill, and Penn's Hill, from which Mrs. John Adams and young Quincy Adams watched the Battle of Bunker Hill.
• Route Thirty-Six: Boston to Foxboro (opens in a new tab)

  Twenty-five and a quarter miles by Columbus Avenue, Chester Park, West Roxbury, Dedham and Norwood to Foxboro, through East Walpole, Walpole and South Walpole.
• Route Thirty-Seven: Boston to Brockton (opens in a new tab)

  Twenty-five and two-fifths miles by Columbus Avenue, Chester Park, Adams Street, East Milton, Quincy, Braintree and Randolph to Brockton.
• Route Thirty-Eight: Boston to Nantasket Beach (opens in a new tab)

  Nineteen and a quarter miles by Codman Hill, Milton Lower Mills, Quincy, North Weymouth and Hingham to Nantasket P. O. The text says to take Jerusalem Road to the right for the shore hotels and restaurants at Cohasset, that the beach roads are sandy in dry weather, and that the return can be made by cars or steamer.
• Route Thirty-Nine: Boston to Downer's Landing (opens in a new tab)

  Eighteen and three-quarter miles by Codman Hill, Milton Lower Mills, Quincy, North Weymouth and Hingham to Downer's Landing. The text describes it as a seashore summer resort in Boston Harbor whose clam and fish dinners are popular with members of the Boston Bicycle Club.
• Route Forty: Boston to Bunker Hill Monument (opens in a new tab)

  Seven and a half miles by Harvard Square, Kirkland Street, Washington Street and Somerville to the Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown. The text says the monument is reached without passing over any paved or poor streets.
• Route Forty-One: Boston to Revere Beach, Point of Pines, Beachmont, Ocean Spray, Great Head and Point Shirley (opens in a new tab)

  Harvard Square, Medford, Malden and Maplewood, then Beach Road to the shore and a branch to each resort. The text describes Point of Pines as a seaside resort with a skating rink, band concerts and illuminations, and says the North Shore resorts lie about a mile apart and are served by frequent trains.
• Route Forty-Two: Boston to Nahant (opens in a new tab)

  Twenty and a quarter miles by Harvard Square, Medford, Maplewood, East Saugus and Lynn Common to Nahant. The text describes Nahant as an aristocratic watering place with Pirates' Cave, Natural Bridge, Pulpit Rock, Spouting Horn and Cauldron Cliff, and notes that the Chelsea Ferry can shorten the run.
• Route Forty-Three: Bailey's Hotel to Echo Bridge, via South Bank of Charles River (opens in a new tab)

  From Bailey's Hotel, South Natick, by Pleasant Street, Charles River Street and South Bank River Road, past Needham (4 3-4 miles) and Newton Upper Falls (7 1-4 miles) to Echo Bridge.
• Route Forty-Four: Bailey's Hotel, South Natick, to Newton Centre, via North Bank of Charles River (opens in a new tab)

  Nine miles from Bailey's Hotel by Pleasant Street, Charles River Street, Pine Street, Central Avenue and Great Plain Avenue, through Needham Plains, Highlandville and Newton Highlands to Newton Centre.
• Route Forty-Five: South Natick to Framingham and Southboro (opens in a new tab)

  From Bailey's Hotel, South Natick, by Union Street and Natick, past Lake Cochituate and South Framingham to Framingham Centre and Southboro. The text says the sand-paper district at Framingham Reservoir practically ends, the riding to Southboro is fair, and the Deerfoot Farms are at Southboro.
• Route Forty-Six: Trinity Square to Auburndale, via Reservoir Road (opens in a new tab)

  Ten miles from Trinity Square by Commonwealth Avenue, Beacon Street, Centre Street and Woodlawn Street to Auburndale. The return is by Washington Street and Newton.
• Route Forty-Seven: Chestnut Hill Reservoir to Norfolk House, Dedham (opens in a new tab)

  Seven and three-quarter miles from the Reservoir by Hammond Street, Newton Street, West Roxbury, the Charles River Bridge and Washington Street to Norfolk House, Dedham. The text says the house is well patronised by members of the Boston Club and by parties from the Reservoir.
• Route Forty-Eight: Mattapan to Massapoag House, Sharon (opens in a new tab)

  Thirteen and a quarter miles by Blue Hill Avenue, Washington Street, Dedham Street and South Canton to Sharon and the Massapoag House on Lake Massapoag. The text praises the view from the highest of the Blue Hills, which takes in Boston, twenty towns and the ocean across more than 400 square miles.
• Route Forty-Nine: Jamaica Plain to West Roxbury and Dedham (opens in a new tab)

  Seven miles from Jamaica Plain to Dedham by Eliot Street, Pond Street, Newton Street and Centre Street through West Roxbury. The return to Boston is by High Street, Mill Village and Hyde Park.
• Route Fifty: Chestnut Hill Reservoir to Mattapan, via Roslindale (opens in a new tab)

  Seven and a quarter miles from the Reservoir by Beacon Street, Hammond Street, Newton Street and South Street, past Roslindale Station, then across Washington Street and Hyde Park Avenue to Mattapan.
• Route Fifty-One: Chestnut Hill Reservoir to Arnold Arboretum (opens in a new tab)

  Seven and a half miles from the Reservoir by Beacon Street, Newton Centre, Centre Street, Parker Street, Dedham Street and Weld Street to the Arnold Arboretum.
• Route Fifty-Two: Harvard Square to Woburn, via Middlesex Fells and Spot Pond (opens in a new tab)

  Twelve and a quarter miles from Harvard Square by North Avenue, Porter's Station, Medford, the Mystic River and Spot Pond to Woburn. The return by Main Street, Winchester, Wedge Pond and Grove Street reaches West Medford in 4 1-4 miles.
• Route Fifty-Three: Boston to Reading (opens in a new tab)

  Twelve and a half miles from Boston by Harvard Square, Medford, Stoneham and Main Street to Reading, returning by Wakefield, Greenwood, Melrose and Malden. The text notes that Forest Street gives a direct way to Reading, but its road bed is very poor.
• Route Fifty-Four: Boston to Gloucester (opens in a new tab)

  Thirty-seven miles from Boston by Harvard Square, Salem, Lynn, Essex, Beverly, Manchester and Magnolia to Gloucester. The text names John Wood, Jr.'s bicycle store on Rantoul Street, Beverly, as the local cycling headquarters.
• Route Fifty-Five: Beverly to Newburyport (opens in a new tab)

  From Beverly by Rantoul Street, North Beverly, Wenham, Hamilton and Ipswich, then Rowley and Newbury, to Newburyport, with Rowley 16 miles out. The text says this route was part of the original 100-mile road race and that the roads beyond Beverly are fully up to the average of country roads.