DFJD's definitions
A "town that's technically a city" of approximately 55,000 residents in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, about 13 miles south-east of downtown Boston.
The town's length is about 7 miles north-to-south; the width is about 3.5 miles east-to-west.
Weymouth is on the South Shore, fondly nicknamed the Irish Riviera.
IMO, one of the town's true gems is Grape Island, located in the southern part of Boston Harbor and within Weymouth's jurisdiction.
The town's length is about 7 miles north-to-south; the width is about 3.5 miles east-to-west.
Weymouth is on the South Shore, fondly nicknamed the Irish Riviera.
IMO, one of the town's true gems is Grape Island, located in the southern part of Boston Harbor and within Weymouth's jurisdiction.
A couple of years ago, a Boston Globe columnist who grew up in Weymouth stated that "Weymouth ain't Wellesley, it's not Weston, and it sure isn't Hingham. And that's a really good thing." That quote is on the Weymouth government web site, BTW.
However, Weymouth, MA is quickly becoming a gentrified town. While it will never vie with nearby Cohasset, Hingham, Milton, or Norwell in overall demographics, the town is rapidly shedding its blue collar reputation.
I wouldn't be surprised if, in five-years time, many people talking about the "old neighborhood" will be referring to Brookline or Cambridge, not necessarily Dorchester, South Boston, or Quincy.
I am seeing more Subaru Outback, Audi Quattro, and Volvo Cross Country cars parked in even the most modest of Weymouth establishments.
Weymouth has traditionally been a "Chevy and Toyota" kind of town.
Although I am happy to see Weymouth progressing economically, I fear that many longtime residents, and first-time home buyers who traditionally consider Weymouth a "step-up" to more affluent communties, will be priced out of this town altogether.
However, Weymouth, MA is quickly becoming a gentrified town. While it will never vie with nearby Cohasset, Hingham, Milton, or Norwell in overall demographics, the town is rapidly shedding its blue collar reputation.
I wouldn't be surprised if, in five-years time, many people talking about the "old neighborhood" will be referring to Brookline or Cambridge, not necessarily Dorchester, South Boston, or Quincy.
I am seeing more Subaru Outback, Audi Quattro, and Volvo Cross Country cars parked in even the most modest of Weymouth establishments.
Weymouth has traditionally been a "Chevy and Toyota" kind of town.
Although I am happy to see Weymouth progressing economically, I fear that many longtime residents, and first-time home buyers who traditionally consider Weymouth a "step-up" to more affluent communties, will be priced out of this town altogether.
by DFJD May 18, 2006
Get the Weymouth mug.A Boston suburb of 20,000 residents, of whom about 17,000 are nouveau riche natives of Dorchester, South Boston, and West Roxbury.
Located on the South Shore, affectionately known as the Irish Riviera.
The town's nemesis is the neighboring blue collar, albeit increasingly yuppiefied town of Weymouth. Nearby Cohasset and Scituate are demographically similar, but do not have the "obnoxious reputation" of Hingham.
Located on the South Shore, affectionately known as the Irish Riviera.
The town's nemesis is the neighboring blue collar, albeit increasingly yuppiefied town of Weymouth. Nearby Cohasset and Scituate are demographically similar, but do not have the "obnoxious reputation" of Hingham.
The good...
There are, indeed, many Hingham residents are decent, empathetic, and modest in demeanor.
The Derby Street Shoppes have finally brought upscale shopping to the South Shore. This plaza is home to the South Shore's first Whole Foods Market.
The four best things to come out of Hingham, in no particular order: Route 3, Route 3A, Route 53, and Route 228.
The bad...
For those familiar with the British sitcom Keeping Up Appearances, Hingham has the highest-percentage of Irish-American Hyacinth Buckets in the country.
Money doesn't necessarily mean class. You can take the kid out of Southie, Savin Hill, Fields Corner, but you can't take the ___ out of the kid!
Hingham, living proof that one doesn't have to live in Texas to be a wealthy, vapid-minded philistine.
Hingham has a disproportionate number of Toyota Land Cruiser and Mercury Mountaineer SUVs, almost 100% of which have never been off-road. (Note: The parking lot of Derby Street Shoppes or the South Shore Plaza does not constitute "off-road" driving)
A Boston Globe columnist from neighboring Weymouth has, rightfully, mercilessly lambasted Hingham for its single-handed roadblocks in the rebuilding of the Greenbush MBTA Commuter Rail line. This columnist, as I have, has taken pains to state that there are many Hingham residents who are just as indignant at these petulant prima donnas as other residents of the South Shore.
There is a Commuter Boat line to Boston from the Hingham Shipyard. However, most of the parking is allocated to Hingham residents, at a discounted price! So the option for Hull, Cohasset, Weymouth, and Scituate residents commuting from the Hingham Shipyard is not always feasible.
Hingham, little more than West Roxbury with some harborfront views.
And, most puzzling of all, many Hingham residents mispronounce their town as "Higgim." Hardly anybody from outside Hingham mispronounces the name of that town.
There are, indeed, many Hingham residents are decent, empathetic, and modest in demeanor.
The Derby Street Shoppes have finally brought upscale shopping to the South Shore. This plaza is home to the South Shore's first Whole Foods Market.
The four best things to come out of Hingham, in no particular order: Route 3, Route 3A, Route 53, and Route 228.
The bad...
For those familiar with the British sitcom Keeping Up Appearances, Hingham has the highest-percentage of Irish-American Hyacinth Buckets in the country.
Money doesn't necessarily mean class. You can take the kid out of Southie, Savin Hill, Fields Corner, but you can't take the ___ out of the kid!
Hingham, living proof that one doesn't have to live in Texas to be a wealthy, vapid-minded philistine.
Hingham has a disproportionate number of Toyota Land Cruiser and Mercury Mountaineer SUVs, almost 100% of which have never been off-road. (Note: The parking lot of Derby Street Shoppes or the South Shore Plaza does not constitute "off-road" driving)
A Boston Globe columnist from neighboring Weymouth has, rightfully, mercilessly lambasted Hingham for its single-handed roadblocks in the rebuilding of the Greenbush MBTA Commuter Rail line. This columnist, as I have, has taken pains to state that there are many Hingham residents who are just as indignant at these petulant prima donnas as other residents of the South Shore.
There is a Commuter Boat line to Boston from the Hingham Shipyard. However, most of the parking is allocated to Hingham residents, at a discounted price! So the option for Hull, Cohasset, Weymouth, and Scituate residents commuting from the Hingham Shipyard is not always feasible.
Hingham, little more than West Roxbury with some harborfront views.
And, most puzzling of all, many Hingham residents mispronounce their town as "Higgim." Hardly anybody from outside Hingham mispronounces the name of that town.
by DFJD May 18, 2006
Get the Hingham mug.An affectionate nickname for the South Shore suburbs of Boston, Massachusetts. The "epicenter" of the Irish Riviera are the towns of Scituate and Marshfield. However, from north to south, Weymouth, Hingham, Hull, Cohasset, Duxbury, and Kingston are also considered to be part of the "Riviera."
The close-to-Boston suburbs of Milton, Quincy, and Braintree are arguably considered a part of the "Irish Riviera." They are definitely a part of the South Shore.
Inland South Shore towns including Holbrook, Abington, Rockland, Norwell, Hanover, and Pembroke are often considered part of the "Irish Riviera."
The Marshfield neighborhood of Fieldston is the most Irish-American section of the second-most Irish-American suburb in the country. The town of Stoneham, north of Boston, home to figure skater Nancy Kerrigan, has the highest-percentage of people with Irish ancestry in the USA.
Inland South Shore towns including Holbrook, Abington, Rockland, Norwell, Hanover, and Pembroke are often considered part of the "Irish Riviera."
The Marshfield neighborhood of Fieldston is the most Irish-American section of the second-most Irish-American suburb in the country. The town of Stoneham, north of Boston, home to figure skater Nancy Kerrigan, has the highest-percentage of people with Irish ancestry in the USA.
by DFJD May 18, 2006
Get the Irish Riviera mug.A neighborhood in Scituate, Massachusetts, soon to be a terminus for a reinstated (dormant since the 1950's) commuter railroad.
The Greenbush Line will travel from Boston's South Station, making stops in Quincy, Braintree, Weymouth, Hingham, Cohasset, and Scituate.
The upper-South Shore is the last area in Greater Boston without adequate commuter transit. There is a Commuter Boat from Hingham, but most parking is reserved for Hingham residents, at discounted rates!
A boorish, vocal group of Hingham residents tried every trick in the book to "de-rail" the Greenbush Line. A Boston Globe columnist from nearby Weymouth mercilessly, and justifiably, described these NIMBY activists as petulant primadonnas.
The upper-South Shore is the last area in Greater Boston without adequate commuter transit. There is a Commuter Boat from Hingham, but most parking is reserved for Hingham residents, at discounted rates!
A boorish, vocal group of Hingham residents tried every trick in the book to "de-rail" the Greenbush Line. A Boston Globe columnist from nearby Weymouth mercilessly, and justifiably, described these NIMBY activists as petulant primadonnas.
by DFJD May 18, 2006
Get the Greenbush mug.I'll be the only 17 year old at Higgim High to have a TWO-YEAR-OLD Acura. Boo-hoo; life's so un-fee-yah!
by DFJD May 18, 2006
Get the Higgim mug.I am referring to Norwood, Massachusetts, a middle-class suburb 15 miles south-west of Boston.
Norwood is located near the geographic center of Norfolk County.
The town's population has remained relatively steady at around 30,000, although the demographics have changed somewhat over the last couple of decades.
Approximately 80% of the population is white, most of whom are Catholic (predominantly Irish, with smaller groups of Italian, Polish, and Lithuanian).
15% of the population is Asian, with an almost equal number of Middle Easteners and Indians.
The remaining population is mainly Brazilian and African-American.
Norwood is located near the geographic center of Norfolk County.
The town's population has remained relatively steady at around 30,000, although the demographics have changed somewhat over the last couple of decades.
Approximately 80% of the population is white, most of whom are Catholic (predominantly Irish, with smaller groups of Italian, Polish, and Lithuanian).
15% of the population is Asian, with an almost equal number of Middle Easteners and Indians.
The remaining population is mainly Brazilian and African-American.
Along with Marshfield, Braintree, and Stoneham, Norwood has traditionally been a bastion of Irish-American residents, many of whom are justifiably proud of their heritage.
There is a fairly large, and active, Middle Eastern community in Norwood. Iranians, Syrians, and Lebanese are the predominant groups. Norwood is one of the largest towns in Massachusetts with a sizeable Muslim population not to have a Mosque.
Norwood does have a Synagogue, although Muslims easily outnumber Jewish residents at least 10-1.
There is convenient mass transit to Boston. There are three Commuter Rail stops, Norwood Depot, Norwood Central, and Windsor Gardens.
In addition, the Forest Hills to Walpole bus traverses Washington Street.
Most Norwood neighborhoods are solidly middle-class with relatively little turnover.
Norwood has one of the highest concentrations of apartment and condominium complexes in the area. Windsor Gardens is noted not only for its train station, but also a large transient population, many of whom are Indian or Pakistani.
South Norwood, aka "The Flats," is a working-class neighborhood centered around the corner of Washington and Dean Streets. Some areas are somewhat seedy; many of the two-decker and three-decker homes look as if they came straight out of Jamaica Plain or Dorchester. I would hardly classify the area as "ghetto," though.
If there is a truly "posh" section of Norwood, it would be the area adjacent to Willett Pond/New Pond near St. Timothy's Church, plus the southern part of Nichols Street (and adjacent side streets). This area abuts the more-affluent town of Westwood.
Norwood is most famous to outsiders for the "Automile," along Route 1/Providence Highway. Although most Automile dealerships are indeed in Norwood, some dealerships are just across the town line in Dedham, Westwood, or Walpole.
The late Ernie Boch, Sr. is famous for spearheading the Automile. His strong accent was a staple in Boston media for years. Example: "Boch Toyota*, Route One Nah-wood, my name is Ernie Boch, come on down!"
* If I recall, he pronounced Toyota as "Tie-oda"
There is a fairly large, and active, Middle Eastern community in Norwood. Iranians, Syrians, and Lebanese are the predominant groups. Norwood is one of the largest towns in Massachusetts with a sizeable Muslim population not to have a Mosque.
Norwood does have a Synagogue, although Muslims easily outnumber Jewish residents at least 10-1.
There is convenient mass transit to Boston. There are three Commuter Rail stops, Norwood Depot, Norwood Central, and Windsor Gardens.
In addition, the Forest Hills to Walpole bus traverses Washington Street.
Most Norwood neighborhoods are solidly middle-class with relatively little turnover.
Norwood has one of the highest concentrations of apartment and condominium complexes in the area. Windsor Gardens is noted not only for its train station, but also a large transient population, many of whom are Indian or Pakistani.
South Norwood, aka "The Flats," is a working-class neighborhood centered around the corner of Washington and Dean Streets. Some areas are somewhat seedy; many of the two-decker and three-decker homes look as if they came straight out of Jamaica Plain or Dorchester. I would hardly classify the area as "ghetto," though.
If there is a truly "posh" section of Norwood, it would be the area adjacent to Willett Pond/New Pond near St. Timothy's Church, plus the southern part of Nichols Street (and adjacent side streets). This area abuts the more-affluent town of Westwood.
Norwood is most famous to outsiders for the "Automile," along Route 1/Providence Highway. Although most Automile dealerships are indeed in Norwood, some dealerships are just across the town line in Dedham, Westwood, or Walpole.
The late Ernie Boch, Sr. is famous for spearheading the Automile. His strong accent was a staple in Boston media for years. Example: "Boch Toyota*, Route One Nah-wood, my name is Ernie Boch, come on down!"
* If I recall, he pronounced Toyota as "Tie-oda"
by DFJD May 18, 2006
Get the Norwood mug.A suburb of Boston in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Best known to outsiders as the hometown of figure skater Nancy Kerrigan and to the Stone Zoo, often referred to as the "Stoneham Zoo."
Coloquially known as "New Charlestown," due to the large number of middle-class people from that neighborhood who moved 8 miles north when Charlestown became a yuppie stronghold. Although most South Boston residents head to the South Shore when they move out of the city, some have headed north to Stoneham.
Coloquially known as "New Charlestown," due to the large number of middle-class people from that neighborhood who moved 8 miles north when Charlestown became a yuppie stronghold. Although most South Boston residents head to the South Shore when they move out of the city, some have headed north to Stoneham.
Stoneham has the highest percentage of Irish-Americans of any town in the country. Loyalty to the IRA is such that a BBC reporter visiting the town in 1994, shortly after Nancy Kerrigan's injury by her thug-rival, Tonya Harding, was insulted verbally and threatened with bodily harm. Eventually, the Massachusetts State Police escorted the BBC Reporter on his rounds in Stoneham.
A British tourbook on Boston warns Britons to avoid South Boston, Charlestown, and Stoneham due to the strong anti-British sentiment in those communities.
The average Stonehamite is a third-generation Irish American who hasn't been any closer to the "olde sod" than Good Harbor beach in Gloucester. However, this person talks about the "f-ing Brits" as if s/he grew up in West Belfast.
A Stonehamite's depiction of a "monster:" A black person who grew up in London and speaks with a British accent.
A British tourbook on Boston warns Britons to avoid South Boston, Charlestown, and Stoneham due to the strong anti-British sentiment in those communities.
The average Stonehamite is a third-generation Irish American who hasn't been any closer to the "olde sod" than Good Harbor beach in Gloucester. However, this person talks about the "f-ing Brits" as if s/he grew up in West Belfast.
A Stonehamite's depiction of a "monster:" A black person who grew up in London and speaks with a British accent.
by DFJD May 18, 2006
Get the Stoneham mug.