Boston’s metropolitan landscape has been 200 years in the making. From its proto-suburban village centers of 1800 to its far-flung, automobile-centric exurbs of today, Boston has been a national pacesetter for suburbanization. Join James O’Connell at the Hingham Public Library at 3 p.m., on Sunday, Nov. 10, for a talk and slide presentation on his new book, “The Hub’s Metropolis: Greater Boston’s Development from Railroad Suburbs to Smart Growth.” The program is sponsored by Hingham Public Library. A book signing will follow the presentation.
Dubbed, “the Hub,” the city of Boston is compact and consolidated. However, Greater Boston stretches across 1,736 square miles ranking as the world’s sixth largest metropolitan area. Boston suburbs began to develop after 1820, when wealthy city dwellers built country estates that were just a short carriage ride away from their homes in the city. Then, as transportation became more efficient and affordable, the map of the suburbs expanded. The Metropolitan Park Commission’s park-and-parkway system, developed in the 1890s, created a template for suburbanization that represents the country’s first example of regional planning. O’Connell identifies nine layers of Boston’s suburban development, each of which has left its imprint on the landscape. He reminds people that these nine layers of suburban infrastructure are still woven into the fabric of the metropolis. His presentation will include commentary on the South Shore’s role in suburban development.
O’Connell is a community planner at the Boston Office of the Northeast Region of the National Park Service. He has a Ph.D. in American urban and cultural history from the University of Chicago. O’Connell has written many articles and five books on planning and New England history, including “Becoming Cape Cod: Creating a Seaside Resort,” “The Pioneer Valley Reader” and “The Inside Guide to Springfield and the Pioneer Valley.”
For more information, call Hingham Public Library at 781-741-1405 or visit www.hinghamlibrary.org. This program is free and open to the public. Hingham Public Library is handicap accessible and offers free parking.