Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1050416
NORTHSHOREMAG.COM 32 NOVEMBER 2018 PHOTOGRAPHS BY ROBERT BOYD / F A C E S + P L A C E S / Winchester often comes as a surprise to those experiencing it for the first time. e town sits just eight miles north of Boston, nes- tled between the bustling suburbs of Woburn, Malden, Medford, and Arlington. Yet, in the middle of all this activity, Winchester retains a small-town charm, community feeling, and— for the past few years—culinary cred that come as an unexpected delight to new visitors. "It's sort of a quintessential New England town," says Judy Manzo, owner of local bookshop Book Ends and former president of the Winchester Chamber of Commerce. "It's really a hidden gem." e area known today as Winchester was first settled by Europeans in 1640. It was origi- nally named Waterfield, a nod to the many ponds, rivers, and streams in the area. More than 200 years later, the village—then called South Woburn—decided to incorporate as its own town, and today's Winchester was born. While many New England town centers evolved organically over the centuries, downtown Winchester was largely purpose- built to be—and look like—the town's civic center. In the late 1800s, the stately brick town hall was constructed, to be joined a few years later by the Romanesque Winchester Savings Bank building. In 1931, the granite- faced public library joined the downtown. From these anchors stretch rows of brick- fronted shops and eateries, and the compact town center is surrounded by graceful residential neighborhoods, making Winches- ter an eminently walkable community. Still, the town has seen some changes, particularly over the past decade, as changes to the town's liquor licensing regulations have attracted more restaurants to town, helping turn Winchester into something of an unsung foodie haven. "In the last five-plus years, a lot of places have opened up," says Craig Rabe, president of the Winchester Chamber of Commerce. "We don't have to go into the city as much now." D A T E O F S E T T L E M E N T 1640 D A T E O F I N C O R P O R A T I O N 1850 A R E A 6.3 square miles P O P U L A T I O N 22,491 Z I P C O D E 01890 M E D I A N H O U S E H O L D I N C O M E $ 149,321 Ambrose Elementary School, Lincoln Elementary School, Lynch Elementary School, Muraco Elementary School, Vinson-Owen Elementary School, McCall Middle School, Winchester High School Anchorwoman Kim Khazei, Olympian Alicia Sacramone, professional wrestler Kofi Kingston, Boston Bruins coach and general manager Harry Sinden, classical clarinetist Richard Stoltzman S C H O O L S N O T A B L E R E S I D E N T S THE DETAILS Winchester's downtown was designed as the civic center.