WCOP & WBZ

[A. Joseph Ross]

On 29 Jan 2008 at 17:41, kvahey@comcast.net wrote:

> Where Allston ends and Brighton begins is one of the great mysteries
> of Boston. The general rule of thumb is the zip code 02134 which BZ is
> in is Allston. When I was growing up the border along the Charles was
> based as if Cambridge was on the other side it was Allston and if
> Watertown it would be Brighton. Everett St marks that spot on Soldiers
> Field Road. Allston begins at the BU Bridge allong that part of
> Commonwealth that Boston kept when Brookine broke away from Boston in
> the late 1800's. Brookine wanted nothing to do with Boston or Suffolk
> County and was given to Norfolk County even though the town does not
> touch any other part of the county. In any event WBZ is in Allston.
 
No, Brookline did not break away in the late 1800s.  It broke away in 
November 1705.  The town celebrated its 300th anniversary a couple of 
years ago.  When Brighton was annexed to Boston, there was also a 
move to annex Brookline, but Brookline rejected annexation by a vote 
of 707-299.  However, a portion of Brookline along the Charles River 
was annexed to Boston in order to connect Brighton to the rest of 
Boston.  See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brookline-
Boston_annexation_debate_of_1873

When the Legislature created Norfolk County in 1793, from the 
southern part of Suffolk, it included Brookline, West Roxbury, and 
Hyde Park, and Brookline was not geographically separate from the 
rest of the county.  When West Roxbury, and Hyde Park were annexed to 
Boston, those towns became part of Suffolk County, and Brookline at 
that point became noncontiguous with the rest of the county  See 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norfolk_County%2C_Massachusetts

Cohasset is also a non-contiguous part of Norfolk County.  This, 
according to the Wikipedia article, is because Hingham and Hull were 
originally to be part of Norfolk County but, for some reason, were 
transferred to Plymouth County instead.

-- 
A. Joseph Ross, J.D.                           617.367.0468
 92 State Street, Suite 700                   Fax 617.507.7856
Boston, MA 02109-2004           	         http://www.attorneyross.com