Tudor Wharf Draft Environmental Impact Report EOEA # 674. 



By 1860, Charlestown was a booming urban 

 city of 25,000. Streetcars made commuting 

 to Medford, Somerville and Chelsea 

 convenient and inexpensive. The fare was 

 five cents. During and after the Civil 

 War, Charlestown again grew rapidly. 

 Commercial activities were dominated by 

 the Navy Yard and shipping enterprises. 



In 1872, Charlestown was annexed by the 

 City of Boston. 



With the turn of the century, a new era 

 in transportation was ushered in. The 

 elevated rapid transit line from Boston 

 was run to City Square and greatly 

 improved access to Downtown Boston. The 

 line ran over the Charles River on a new 

 bridge built for both rapid transit and 

 pedestrian and carriage traffic. This 

 bridge, the Charlestown Bridge, is still 

 in place today. The Boston and Maine 

 Railroad boasted of the largest 

 facilities for the shipment of Maine 

 potatoes in Charlestown and their growing 

 rail yards served commuters and long 

 distance passengers alike. The Navy Yard 

 continued as a major employer and during 

 World War II employed upwards of 47,000 

 persons. 



Major changes in the character of City 

 Square took place with the opening of the 

 Mystic-Tobin Bridge in the 1950's. In 



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