Suburban Boston Lifestyles in Westwood: A Westwood History Lesson

Spring is here (at least in the real estate business) and this year I find myself showing properties to several families with school age children. 

Since it can be quite boring to sit in the back of a car and tour from house to house, I thought telling them a bit about Westwood’s history would make the trip more interesting.

I try to choose one landmark each trip and ask them first to see if they find it while we are travelling around town and secondly, tell them about it in a short note.

For example, what was the Westwood Town Pound and where is it? What happened to the tree that marked the location?

It’s a great way for parents to engage children as they drive around town, too. 

As we drive down Pond Street, we might ask, "Did you know that ice was cut out of Buckmaster Pond and saved for use in warmer months?” And that until 1940, there was an ice house in Westwood near High Rock .

Sometimes silly little games prolong the time before we hear those four words from the back of the car , “Are we there yet?!”