Bay Village: Boston’s Best Kept Secret – One of the best-kept secrets in Boston is the quaint neighborhood of Bay Village. Lit by gas lamps and wedged between the Back Bay, South End, and the Theatre District, Bay Village features immaculate redbrick rowhouses and beautiful brick sidewalks. Coming in at a whopping 25 acres over 12 square blocks, this “officially recognized” Boston neighborhood is deemed the smallest and is home to just over 1,300 residents.
The western part of Bay Village actually began as the “Back Bay” which was a body of water that was landfilled in. Bay Village went on to have several different names including Kerry Village, South Cove, and Church Street District.
Architecturally, many of the townhomes in Bay Village look like those in Beacon Hill, mainly because the people who built the homes on Beacon Hill would go on to build homes of their own. These home styles included the Greek Revival style and Victorian Style.
Before the “tiny house” trend swept the world, there was The House at 1 Bay Street, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It’s officially been named the “tiniest house in Boston” and is a 2 1/2 story home on a lot that’s only 650 square feet. The home features 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, a fireplace, and a private stone patio and garden. The Federal Style house was built in 1830 by Benjamin Bosworth and is an attraction to tourists who are visiting the city.
Fun Fact: Poet Edgar Allen Poe was born in Bay Village. Both of his parents were actors in the Theatre District and lived at 62 Carver Street which no longer exists. In 2009, the intersection of Boylston and Charles Streets is named Edgar Allen Poe Square.
Enjoy reading Bay Village: Boston’s Best Kept Secret? Let’s have a look at all the properties in Bay Village. Give us a call at 617-262-4500!