Reminiscing in Brookline

 

Shoshana Baraschi-Ehrlich

 

 

The bite of the cold March wind seeped through my jacket as I made my way off the Green Line at the Brookline Village Station. It was a cold March day, colder than it had been for a while, this time of year. The Winter of 2015 had been a very cold one, my father had always told me stories of the brutal Massachusetts winters he had to endure as a child in the 60’s. As I walked off the platform the sun was shining, creating warmth for the first time in months. I was happy to be able to look up and see the sky in it’s entirety. Just twenty minutes or so from Boylston Street lies Brookline, a quaint little town where the traffic isn't so heavy and buildings aren't quite so tall. The first place I stopped at was Coolidge Corner, just across the street from the train stop. Coolidge Corner has remained the social hub of Brookline since 1857 when the Coolidge and Griggs families built a general store on the corner of Harvard and Beacon Street. After that, the corner has continued to grow as local businesses made, and continue to make, their mark around the general store. As I look up at the tower, which gives Coolidge Corner it’s crowd drawing effect, the S.S Pierce building stands tall among the one story structures that surround it. The S.S Pierce Building, conceptualized and funded in 1898 by Wallace Pierce, is a building that represents the first wave of commercial buildings in Brookline that followed. In the sun, the building stands tall featuring elegant curvatures and a unique structure composed of stone and brick. As I turn to face the other side of the street, I look towards the arcade building. Built in the 1920’s, this building captures the art deco themes of the time yet dramatically contrasts the S.S Pierce building, just across the street. The Arcade building, like the S.S. Pierce Building, represents the second wave of commercial buildings that followed about a decade after.  As the town grew and decades past, many people of varying class established their homes in Brookline. As I walked through the streets, the rows of houses and apartments were each telling a story. Big regal houses next to small quaint ones; Range Rovers in some driveways and old clunkers in others. The acceptance and respect of one’s neighbors, no matter their class or race, is what stood out to me as I walked these streets. It was this that made my father’s love of Brookline truly clear for the first time.

 

When my dad, Martin Ehrlich, had just turned ten years old, my grandmother, Stella,  informed him that they could no longer stay in New York. His love and respect for his mother were far greater than his need or want to stay in New York, so he knew he shouldn't protest and instead simply follow wherever she lead him. Stella was lonely; she had always been madly in love with my grandfather who swore he loved her back. My grandfather, Sam, was married with two children when he met my grandmother; he was immediately taken with her. As their relationship continued in secret, Stella received news that she was pregnant. When Sam was informed of her pregnancy he promised he would leave his wife for Stella. She waited for him. She begged and pleaded but as time pressed on and still no commitment from Sam Stella realized it was useless. He would never leave his wife and three kids for my father, born out of wedlock, and her, an immigrant with very little to her name. Stella knew that she had to go where the little family she still had resided. Brookline, Massachusetts was their destination. They had very little knowledge of the small town just twenty minutes outside of Boston. All they knew was the town provided some of the best public school educations around and that the Jewish community there was prevalent and accepting. After just a short time in Brookline, my father and grandmother had found their place. As my father looks back on his experience, he is grateful for the down-to-earth nature of Brookline’s community and his growing experiences that the town provided him. Brookline, Massachusetts is a truly special place. From it’s humble beginnings in the 1600’s, to this day, the Brookline community has continued to grow and flourish on the basis of communal respect and advocacy. As I stood on Coolidge Corner the stories of my father venturing to meet his buddies filled my head; I couldn't help but smile.

 

Turning away from the Arcade building, I began to make my way down Harvard Street. Although I had walked down this street many times before I couldn't help but notice the friendly smiles shared by the people walking past. The wind was brisk and the weather was not ideal for communication, yet the people around me took the time to acknowledge those surrounding them. As I made my way past Yogurtland I found myself standing in front of the Regal Coolidge Corner Theater. I immediately thought of the experience my friend Rachel shared with me, of the closeness and communal feeling she felt when she performed at the theater. As someone who has visited and performed in many theaters, Rachel found that The Coolidge Corner Theater harbored one of the most welcoming environments. As she explained her experience she emphasized how the rich history of the theater resonated throughout the space and to the supportive community that filled the seats as her acting company took the stage. The Coolidge Corner Theater was originally built in 1906 as The Beacon Universalist Church. In 1933 the church was converted into a theater. This was when the art deco aspects were added on to the original structure. This theater stuck with me because like the S.S. Pierce Building, it represents the growth, as well as maintenance, of the community. My father recalled fondly returning to this theater every Saturday afternoon as a child to catch his double features.

 

I continued down Harvard Street towards The Devotion School, where my father completed both his grammar and middle education. This big plot of land was originally owned by Edward Devotion, who purchased the land in 1621. At that time it was used for farming and grazing. After Devotion’s death his grandson created a public school on the grounds in memoriam of his grandfather and his undying affection for the community of Brookline. As I look up at the beautiful structure I recall a conversation with my sister’s boyfriend, Peter, and my father, who both attended Devotion. As they reminisced about their experiences, many of their memories were the same in respect to the community and the way in which the school attempted to push the importance of community and knowledge. Even fifty years later they remembered how important a role community service was in their educations. As stated on the school's website, “Community service is one of the many attributes defining the Devotion spirit. From Kindergarteners, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 6th graders designing and selling calendars to raise money for Heifer International to 7th and 8th graders engaging in a myriad of community action projects to support local and international causes, there is never a lull in efforts to help others.” This only goes to prove my point further; Brookline encapsulates a community fused together by love and respect for their town and it’s diversity. The Devotion school is just one example of a school with it’s curriculum intended to instill the importance of community and diversity for all ages.

 

For the next hour, I walked the streets my father did as a child. I passed his synagogue, his first apartment, and the historical site of John F. Kennedy’s first home, just across the street from the house my father moved into after Stella was remarried. The streets were quiet for the most part. The chilling breeze caused a little discomfort, but I was quickly distracted by the rows of modest houses. The trees cast beautiful shadows over the sidewalk; each branch reflected on the pavement. As I continued to walk I realized that the only things that remained were only houses, a couple children playing catch in the street, and a dog and it’s owner jogging in sync. The beauty of the streets amazed me. The rich history of the town is evident almost everywhere you look. Although big name brands have moved in and many small businesses have closed, the integrity of the original community is clearly still of high importance to all that have lived and been a part of the Brookline community. As I look at the CVS and Starbucks that have most likely taken the place of some local businesses, the storefronts that house these businesses have not been altered. The delicate structure provides these ordinary stores with some substance; the art deco themes were apparent, the windows were large and as I moved in closer, the detailing on the door and walls became visible. This is perhaps what is most impressive to me about the town of Brookline. Although time cannot be stopped, Brookline has built a thriving community without falling victim to the commercialization that has taken hold of most of the world around us. I believe this emphasis of community dates back to the town’s humble beginning.

 

As the Puritans began to build their lives in the New World, many began to settle on various pieces of land in Massachusetts. One of these towns later came to be known as Brookline. When the land was first discovered, it was given the name “Muddy River,” because of the river that still runs through the town today. It was not until 1705 that the land was granted the right to be established as it’s own town, separated from Boston and officially given the name of Brookline. Before Brookline was given it’s official title, the land was used for farming and grazing. After the town was incorporated, its’ development as a community rapidly developed. The town instituted a town meeting form of government which still exists today. It erected churches, opened a school, and instituted the first minister who allowed residents to worship without traveling to Roxbury. Through the 1700’s Brookline worked hard as a community to produce goods for the Boston area. It was not until the eighteenth century that Brookline was considered to be a real suburb. Merchants, artisans, and Bostonian businessmen alike were attracted to the rare beauty of Brookline’s rolling hills yet remarkable proximity to the city of Boston. It was from this point that the town began to expand, opening its’ doors to both rich and poor, harboring those in need of a fresh start and home.

As I think of those I know who have lived, or are living, in Brookline I find that while some have simply grown up there, many have found some safe haven in the community. My grandmother, who was a single mother with little to no family still alive found safety in the community of Brookline. Stella felt safe in Brookline because, unlike most towns in America at the time, she was able to live life as a single mother in peace. Likewise my father’s stepfather, a man named Irving Levine, found safety in the Brookline community upon his departure from Auschwitz. When Irving was first imprisoned at Auschwitz his wife and two children had been taken as well. Irving was forced to watch as they were brutally murdered. In the end, Irving left Auschwitz having lost everything of importance and security. Levine was offered a position as a tailor at the local Macy’s even though he had no proof that he had been a tailor before his imprisonment. These are the little things I find unique to Brookline. It intrigues me that a town that can become completely urbanized and disconnected has chosen the unlikely route of remaining connected and communal.

 

In looking at the town's history, there is one thing that catches my eye. As I look back at interviews, articles, and historical databases the town's communal nature is constantly at play. What sets Brookline aside from the majority of American suburbs is that there is not one demographic welcome or represented in the community. It does not try to hide it’s diversity or rich history, instead prides itself for being a town with the ability to tell not just one, but many peoples’ stories. From its beginnings, Brookline has been a town that works together and grew as a community. As I walked through the streets of Brookline the quiet murmur of cars, mixed with the rustling of the branches, left me with a sense of calmness. I returned to the T stop just as the sun was beginning to set behind the Arcade Building. As I waited, I began to understand what made this place so special. To many bypassers Brookline is just a suburb, but to Stella and I Brookline is a town that proudly represents all who want to be a part of it. Evident in its’ population and architecture Brookline tells the story of both rich and poor. No matter where they have come from or where they plan to go, all are welcomed in the Brookline, a community that has always been interactive and still is today.