Last updated: June 5, 2024
Place
Goddard Land Company
Olmsted Archives
Quick Facts
After moving to Brookline, Massachusetts in 1883, Frederick Law Olmsted would design three subdivisions for his new community, Fisher Hill being one of them. A pair of landowners wrote to Olmsted in February 1884 stating they were combining their properties, and requested Olmsted create a plan for the land. As always, Olmsted referenced the topographical survey to ensure his curving roads would fit into the natural scenery.
Despite curved lines not being a popular choice at the time, Olmsted did have a reason to include them. Fisher Hill lies between two major streets, Beacon, and Boylston, however, only one road connects the two within Fisher Hill, and it lies on the border of the subdivision. This means that those curving residential streets aren’t shortcuts to anywhere. They only travel within Fisher Hill, which discourages outside traffic from cutting through the neighborhood, leaving Fisher Hill a peaceful, quiet area.
The neighborhood has remained, for the most part, unchanged, making it Olmsted’s most intact subdivision in the country. That cohesiveness of the plan is partly to do with Olmsted’s sensitive layout, as well as the fact that most homes were built under a short time, and under deed restrictions.
Source: "Goddard Land Co.," Olmsted Online
For more information and primary resources, please visit:
Olmsted Research Guide Online
Olmsted Archives on Flickr
Despite curved lines not being a popular choice at the time, Olmsted did have a reason to include them. Fisher Hill lies between two major streets, Beacon, and Boylston, however, only one road connects the two within Fisher Hill, and it lies on the border of the subdivision. This means that those curving residential streets aren’t shortcuts to anywhere. They only travel within Fisher Hill, which discourages outside traffic from cutting through the neighborhood, leaving Fisher Hill a peaceful, quiet area.
The neighborhood has remained, for the most part, unchanged, making it Olmsted’s most intact subdivision in the country. That cohesiveness of the plan is partly to do with Olmsted’s sensitive layout, as well as the fact that most homes were built under a short time, and under deed restrictions.
Source: "Goddard Land Co.," Olmsted Online
For more information and primary resources, please visit:
Olmsted Research Guide Online
Olmsted Archives on Flickr