Newton near Boston: gravity-defying essence, gravity-defining name

Being in Newton is a gravity-defying experience on several counts, with no disrespect to the gravity-defining dictum Sir Issac arrived at, courtesy of the descending apple.

This ‘streetcar suburb’ model town, in any case, does not take its name after the great scientist. It traces its origins in the 1630 Cambridge name "the newe towne" or new town, which was formalized by the Massachusetts General Court in 1766.    

Traversing the length and breadth of "The Garden City", making our way through forest trails, parks, tree-lined streets, sprawling mansions, and the friendly cosmopolitan neighbourhood, whenever time permits, we sense the old world charm of a bygone era, imagining in the roving eye of our minds, how this place must have grown as a cluster of mill and farm hamlets along the Charles River and its tributaries, how the Boston & Worcester Railroad and streetcar lines must have transformed it from farm town to suburb, and how the Boston College must have redefined it as an education hub.  

We wish the mayor Marc Laredo every success in his efforts to boost education, expand city services, build community, and revive village-CBDs in this blessed haven.