Medford, Massachusetts, has been a part of Massachusetts history since the 1630s when Governor John Winthrop travelled here, and named a rock in the Middlesex fells after the cheese in his lunch. In the span from that seventeenth century afternoon to the twenty-first, a lot has happened here. Many of the sites and structures from Medford's early centuries remain, while many others have vanished, and are remembered only in stories and vintage images. In the pages of this book, you will see a mix of Medford's centuries as you journey through the past and present of this ever changing city. From John Winthrop's lunch to the present day, Medford has grown and changed and reinvented itself over and over. It has always been a unique place and it has never been boring. As you read this book we hope you laugh and remember and learn, but most of all we hope you enjoy your journey through history, commerce, and fun that has created this one and only place.