With its bustling commercial center and densely populated, diverse residential area, Coolidge Corner is a busy Boston neighborhood. Originally started as a streetcar suburb of Boston, the area quickly grew into its own impressive neighborhood. Today, it is considered a pedestrian-friendly area. Those living in the community’s turn-of-the-century homes have easy access to Coolidge Corner’s business district, which features a wide variety of commercial amenities, such as restaurants, hotels, bookstores, and pharmacies. The community name comes from the Coolidge family, who built a general store at Harvard and Beacon Street in the late 1800s.
Home designs in Coolidge Corner run the gamut from Cape Cod to Colonial to Tudor. The neighborhood is in the 02446 zip code area and is bounded by St. Paul Street on the east, Babcock Street on the north, Fuller Street on the west, and Vernon Street on the south. The Massachusetts Turnpike (90) lies nearby to the northeast.
Most of Coolidge Corner is residential, except for the bustling commercial district centered at the intersection of Harvard and Beacon Street. The S.S. Pierce Building sits at this corner. This distinctive, historic landmark was built in 1898-99, and constitutes one of the first commercial buildings in the area. The surrounding community soon grew around this hub.
Of the many appealing aspects of Coolidge Corner is the historic Coolidge Corner Theatre. Built in 1906, this restored Art Deco building is a nonprofit cultural institution that features independent films and documentaries. The area is also home to 83 Beals Street, which is the birthplace of President John F. Kennedy. This is a National Historic Site that offers tours of the former president’s home. The house was purchased by Joseph Kennedy in 1914.
Coolidge Corner is also considered family-friendly. The area is home to Devotion Elementary School, which was founded in 1894.