Did You Know Archives - Cambridge | Somerville Independent

Cambridge’s long history with ‘the beautiful game’ of soccer highlights immigrant contributions to the city

by Beth Folsom of History Cambridge June 22, 2026

In its earliest days in Cambridge, soccer was a way to offer Harvard students a sport they could play, but not enjoy overly much. How times have changed.

DID YOU KNOW

Today’s Glacken Field results from a series of struggles and unexpected wins, and JFK plays a cameo

by Jen Craft for History Cambridge June 15, 2026

Before children could run and play on Glacken, the city had to create it from untamed marshes that were a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

DID YOU KNOW

Jerry’s Pit and North Cambridge’s industrial past are spotlighted in the week’s History Hang

by Beth Folsom of History Cambridge June 8, 2026

At the mid-1840s height of the industrial revolution, there were clay pits and brickyards all over the area. The most extensive brick plant was in North Cambridge.

DID YOU KNOW

Land/Mark Symposium examines an 18th century murder case with Cambridge ties

by Beth Folsom of History Cambridge June 1, 2026

How we remember a slaver murder case, and the role of enslavement and resistance in the Revolution, is discussed at a June 13 event.

DID YOU KNOW

‘A friend to Cambridge’: Barney Frank’s life and legacy

by Beth Folsom of History Cambridge May 25, 2026

Although the 4th Massachusetts Congressional District does not include Cambridge, representative Barney Frank spent a considerable amount of time addressing the city’s concerns as part of his broader...

DID YOU KNOW

As America held down or kept out Asian immigrants, Harvard hired a Chinese professor in 1879

by Beth Folsom of History Cambridge May 18, 2026

The presence in Cambridge was a curiosity and a sign of Harvard’s increasing awareness of the place China was to occupy on the world stage.

DID YOU KNOW

Save Dana Park turns a public space into a game board May 30

by Beth Folsom of History Cambridge May 11, 2026

The game is designed to bring players into the story of Dana Park past and present, stopping a phony deed scam before the villain takes the land away.

DID YOU KNOW