Brookline Historical Society
Upcoming Event: Ride of William Dawes
Patriot's Day at the Edward Devotion House
Annual Ride of William Dawes
Monday, April 20, 2026
9:30-10:30 AM
Edward Devotion House, 347 Harvard St.
Dawes Riding
Join us at the Devotion House on the morning of Patriots' Day for an open house and the annual visit of "William Dawes" in a recreation of his ride through Brookline on his way to Lexington in 1775 to warn the colonial militia that the British troops were coming.

For more information on the history of the original ride, go to massmoments.org or view our map of the rides of Paul Revere and William Dawes.

Free and open to the public
9:30 AM: Gathering in front of the Edward Devotion House
10:00 AM: Arrival of "William Dawes"! Watch him ride up Harvard Street on horseback to warn citizens of Brookline about the British Regulars' move towards Lexington and Concord.
10:15 AM: The Devotion House will be open for visits immediately after William Dawes' departure.
 
Our Latest Archive Additions
We are adding new historical photos weekly. Follow our latest additions here:
Longwood Ave., circa 1898
Longwood Ave., circa 1898
Standing at 197/199 Longwood Ave. looking east at the old wooden bridge at Chapel St. The bridge is closed which most likely indicates that construction of the new stone bridge is about to commence. Note two people seated in the hill in the distance on the right.
[Courtesy of the Digital Commonwealth (CC BY-NC-ND). From the Brookline Photograph Collection published by the Public Library of Brookline]
President Ken Liss Blogs on Brookline Past & Present
Brookline Record Stores: From Edison's Phonograph to Village Vinyl

In 2024, I sold my collection of a few hundred vinyl record albums to Jonathan Sandler of Village Vinyl & Hi-Fi in Coolidge Corner. They were mostly jazz albums I'd bought in the 1970s and 1980s, including quite a few older albums I'd picked up in used record bins during those pre-CD years.

The covers of the album, as well as the music on them, carried a lot of sentimental value for me. But I hadn't actually owned a turntable for years, and I was glad that, in addition to providing me some extra cash, the music would find new owners/listeners, especially amid a growing appreciation for vinyl.


I also gave Jonat...