Neighbors & Visitors

Neighbors appreciate the Eliot School for its classic schoolhouse, historical legacy and comfortable yard, used for ball games, picnics, informal conversations and a convenient pass-through from Eliot to Holbrook Street.

Visitors find a safe, verdant neighborhood with beautiful 19th and 20th century homes, close to Centre Street with its excellent restaurants and stores. We are grateful to receive support from many local businesses, and we encourage you to patronize their establishments.

Our schoolhouse forms part of historic Monument Square. Across Eliot Street, the Footlight Club is the nation’s oldest community theater, founded in 1877 and still producing plays and offering classes for children. At the end of Eliot Street stands the First Church Unitarian Universalist, whose stone building was erected in 1853. The Soldiers Monument, dedicated in 1871, commemorates local soldiers who died in the Civil War. Across from that is Loring-Greenough House, constructed in 1760 and still open for house tours. Jamaica Plain Historical Society gives Monument Square tours every year.

Galleries have begun to appear in our neighborhood, creating a vibrant arts district. Visit UForge Gallery, Aviary Gallery, Hallway Gallery and Room 68, all within a few blocks of the Eliot School. First Thursdays, a monthly event organized by Centre/South Main Streets, brings music and art to businesses along Centre Street the first Thursday evening of each month.

Walks nearby include Jamaica Pond and the Arnold Arboretum.

Neighbors play an important role in maintaining our grounds and supporting the Eliot School. You can help: keep trash off the grass, keep our gates open, and let us know if anything seems amiss.

Dog owners, please treat the yard responsibly. Please keep your dog on the leash and take all waste away with you when you leave.