Residential Development
During the mid 19th century, the Bunker Hill Monument started to add yet another layer to its history as its surrounding areas began to undergo significant residential development. The cause of this development was the Association’s lack of financial resources. After years of construction, the Bunker Hill Memorial Association ran out of funds to complete the monument. In an effort to continue the construction, the Association was forced to sell off nine of the battlefield’s original 15 acres, leaving the Association with only the summit of Breed’s Hill for the monument (1).
This sale resulted in the rapid growth of residential housing surrounding the monument – along all four sides of the monument square, real estate developers began constructing red-brick residential houses and public institutions. One of the most notable examples of this was the construction of the imposing Charlestown High School on the eastern side of the monument (2).
Although these residential buildings differ in style and purpose from the original Bunker Hill Monument, both layers of the palimpsest contribute to the urban development of modern day Charlestown. Eventually, after selling off all these plots of residential land, the Bunker Hill Association was able to raise enough money to complete the construction in 1843.
1) Historic Timeline 1800 - 1899." Charlestown Historical Society. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2016. http://charlestownhistoricalsociety.org/history/historic-timeline-1800/
2) "Charlestown School-House Condo Boasts High Ceilings." Boston Homes Luxury Real Estate Boston MA. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2016.