Quincy History Lives at One Chestnut Place

Known as the “City of Presidents” Quincy, Massachusetts is rich with history. If only John Hancock and John Adams could see what Quincy looks like today, they would be shocked. Boston’s real estate boom has spilled south of the city into Quincy and has completely changed the landscape (and the skyline!). One Chestnut Place will be opening this Fall 2020. Let go back in Quincy history and take a look at what has inspired our floor plan names.

Squantum – The name Squantum comes from Squanto – an Indian Chief who visited the area in 1621. Now a neighborhood of Quincy, Squantum proper is surrounded on all four sides by water offering scenic waterfront views of Boston Harbor and the Boston skyline. Some of Quincy’s most expensive homes are located in Squantum. This area also includes two of Quincy’s public beaches, Nickerson Beach and Orchard Beach, and the Squantum Point Park.

The Fore floor plan at One Chestnut Place in Quincy

  The Fore layout at One Chestnut Place

Fore – Named after the Fore River Bridge which connects Quincy to Weymouth on Route 3A. It’s over 2,200 feet long and is characterized by a signature light grey color with LED blue lighting. It opened in 2018 after the original bascule bridge from 1936 was demolished in the early 2000s. Rent one of the Fore apartments on floors 12 through 15 and you’re sure to spot this city landmark!

Neponset – The Neponset Indians were the original inhabitants of this district which features the famous Neponset River. Twenty-nine miles of long, meandering river run through more than 13 towns in Massachusetts before finally reaching the mouth at Dorchester Bay between Quincy and Dorchester. In Quincy, the river is host to many outdoor activities such as kayaking, fishing, and paddleboarding!

Crane – Thomas Crane Public Library first opened in 1881 and was named after Thomas Crane, a wealthy stone contractor who got his start in the Quincy quarries. This is no ordinary library- it’s famous for its architecture which was designed by the same architect that built the Trinity Church in Boston. In 2001, Harper’s Weekly called it “the best village library in the United States”. One Chestnut Place is only a 6-minute walk from this local hotspot.

Wollaston – Wollaston is another neighborhood within Quincy divided by Hancock Street and Route 3A. It’s also home to Wollaston Park and the Wollaston T Station. Fun fact: Richard Wollaston was an English sea captain that did not get along with Captain John Smith and left the colony to build log huts in what is now present-day Wollaston.

Lyons – The Lyons Turning Mill was built in 1894 and depicts the history of quarrying and stone cutting in Quincy, which was significant to the industrialization of this industry. The granite from these quarries became famous throughout the nation as Quincy became the epicenter for producing beautiful granite. One Chestnut Place will feature natural stone finishes as part of the lobby design.

Granite – Well, this one goes without saying. Granite is a staple of Quincy, so it comes as no surprise that the city would name a street after the stone. Granite Street runs through Quincy Center and features many homes, restaurants and coffee shops. There’s also the Granite Railway which was one of the first railroads in the United States and used horse-drawn carts to carry massive blocks of granite. Today, it’s a walking path.

Winthrop – Winthrop Street runs through Houghs Neck, a one-square-mile peninsula surrounded by Quincy Bay, Hingham Bay, and Rock Island Cove. Most likely named after John Winthrop, the 3rd Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630. There’s also a Winthrop Park just around the corner from One Chestnut Place. If you’re new to Massachusetts, you will quickly realize the number of streets or neighborhoods with this namesake.

The model unit at One Chestnut Place is the Adams floor plan.

The Adams layout at One Chestnut Place

Adams – The 6th U.S. President, John Quincy Adams, was born in Quincy. He also served as the Massachusetts Senate and the United States Senate and taught at Harvard. Adams National Historic Park is located on Hancock Street and offers guided tours of 3 presidential homes in Quincy.

Hancock – “John Hancock” synonymous in the United States for one’s signature, was our 1st and 3rd Governor of Massachusetts, the President of the Continental Congress and the first signer of the Declaration of Independence. Like Adams, he was also born in Quincy. Many streets have been named after John Hancock, including the Hancock Street that runs directly behind One Chestnut Place, through Quincy Center and eventually turns into Route 3A.

As the tallest building in the city, One Chestnut Place has made its mark in the history books of Quincy.