Quincy Point

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Quincy Point is a neighborhood of Quincy, Massachusetts. "The Point" is generally defined as the land east of Quincy Center, the downtown district. Quincy Point is bordered on the west by Elm Street, on the east by Weymouth Fore River and the Braintree town line, on the north by Town River and on the south by Quincy Avenue. The area altitude averages about 30 feet (9.1 meters) above sea level. The population of this neighborhood in 2000 was 11,414.[1]

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[edit] History

Quincy Point is the site of the former Fore River Shipyard, famous for launching ships commissioned by the United States Navy, including the World War II aircraft carriers USS Wasp (CV-7) and USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) and battleship USS Massachusetts (BB-59). The shipyard is located on what was known since the eighteenth century as Quincy Neck,[2] a geographical feature now obscured by landfill and piers. The Fore River Shipyard is also widely believed to be the origin of the graffiti character known throughout the world as Kilroy, peeking over a bulkhead proclaiming "Kilroy Was Here". The United States Naval Shipbuilding Museum located in Quincy Point features the USS Salem (CA-139), a preserved heavy cruiser which is open to the public.

A famous former resident of Quincy Point is Dick Dale, considered to be the King of Surf Guitar and a major influence in the development of heavy metal rock music. Of Lebanese and Polish heritage, Dale introduced complex Middle Eastern melodies and rhythms into the rock and roll repertoire during the early 1960s. Dick Dale was raised on Shea Street near the Southern Artery (MA Route 3A) in Quincy Point and now resides in Twentynine Palms, California.

Quincy Point was formerly a hub for imigrants from Italy. While many of these people still remain, today it is a very diverse neighborhood with many people of Irish, African, and Asian decent.

On January 5, 2008, the Patriot Ledger newspaper reported that the 328 foot (100 m) tall "Goliath" shipbuilding crane located in Quincy Point will be dismantled and sold to Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering of South Korea and relocated to Mangalia, Romania.[3][4] The dismantlement of the giant structure is scheduled to be complete by July, 2008.

[edit] Transportation

Quincy Point is traversed by two Massachusetts state highways and is served by several bus routes and a commuter ferry service of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA).

State highway Route 53 enters Quincy Point from Braintree as Quincy Avenue, turns north at Southern Artery and ends at Washington Street, intersecting Route 3A.

State highway Route 3A enters Quincy Point from Bridge Street, Weymouth crossing Weymouth Fore River on a temporary lift bridge, entering Washington Street at Quincy Point rotary. Following Washington Street, Route 3A intersects Route 53 and turns north following Southern Artery toward Hancock Street, North Quincy and Dorchester.

MBTA bus Routes 220 (Hingham Center), 221 (Fort Point, Weymouth Neck) and 222 (East Weymouth) all serve Washington Street out of the Quincy Center Red Line subway station. MBTA bus Route 225 serves Quincy Avenue from Quincy Center station to Weymouth Landing.

MBTA contractor Harbor Express offers frequent daily passenger ferry service from Quincy Point to Logan Airport and Long Wharf, Boston.

[edit] Further reading

Area history: "A History of Old Braintree and Quincy: With a Sketch of Randolph and Holbrook" / by William S. Pattee, available online at Google Books

[edit] External links

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Unofficial population of 11,414 is the sum of the populations of the census blocks within the area bordered by the landmarks stated in the article. U. S. Census Bureau website: http://factfinder.census.gov
  2. ^ Pattee, William S.: "A History of Old Braintree and Quincy: With a Sketch of Randolph and Holbrook", page 55. Green & Prescott, 1859. This passage also states that "The Old Fields District was that part of the town now called Quincy Point."
  3. ^ Jette, Julie (January 5, 2008). "Farewell, GOLIATH: The skyline is about to change". The Patriot Ledger, p. 1.
  4. ^ The Patriot Ledger produced a video about "Goliath" which is available on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NqyOY1jkVs