Waltham+Timeline

Timeline of Waltham’s History

1627 – Waltham was part of Watertown 1636 – Waltham founded

1733 – First school at Piety Corner 1738 – Waltham became a town “College Farm” owned by Harvard 1775 – Minutemen from Waltham fought at Battle of Lexington and Concord 1776 – Revolutionary War – 200 Waltham residents fight

1804 – Christopher Gore, Waltham resident, elected governor of Massachusetts 1806 – Gore Estate built 1813 – Boston Manufacturing Company established 1817 – First fire engine company 1820 – Bleachery and Dye Factory opens 1833 – First newspaper 1835 – Chalk invented in Waltham 1836 – First bank opens 1840 – Irish immigrants move to Waltham 1843 – Railroad built through Waltham 1854 – Waltham Watch Company established 1865 – First public library opens 1882 – Telephone service to town 1884 – Waltham became a city First Mayor of Waltham elected 1885 – Waltham Hospital opens 1886 – Electric lights brought to Waltham 1893 – Grover Cronin’s Department Store opens on Moody Street 1898 – Metz Car Company started building cars in Waltham

1910 – Many Italian immigrants move to Waltham 1915 – New Waltham Public Library opens on Main Street 1927 – City Hall opens on Main Street 1948 – Brandeis University opens on South Street 1951 – Route 128 built to run through Waltham