Aberdeen is an old term which means a coming together of rivers to one body of water. Its origin comes from the original Scotland area of Aberdeen.
I bring this up to signify the fact that 3 Green Line T-lines all come to a head at or near Cleveland Circle.
With the closing of the old Circle Cinema, I felt compelled to discuss the area since landmarks are closing down.
If you walked through Cleveland Circle, asking younger folks (college students and young pros), you feel like your in the Twilight Zone. Nobody knows where they are. Some people think they are actually in Boston, MA; others say it’s Brighton or Brookline, MA; maybe it’s even the outskirts of Newton, MA?
As usual I spoke to a long time resident of Aberdeen to find out Cleveland Circle is a Brighton, MA location. (Which, in turn, means it’s a Boston Area?)
Maybe it’s the history buff in me, or maybe it’s the politico in me, but with Cleveland Circle in mind I drafted a letter to my Representative:
Dear Representative Capuano,
I am writing to contribute to, what I feel, is one of the defining faults in Americans today. My generation lacks the dedication to question, write and demand answers or consideration by our representatives on so many issues.
This, I hope, will be the first of many questions and considerations to share with my Representative.
Today, is dedicated to the land called Cleveland Circle, or as I have come to know it, ABERDEEN.
I know that the passage from Route 9 to Boston College, Comm. Ave and Beacon St runs through Cleveland Circle.
While the Circle may be the westward center of the Green Line railway system, I feel that the Department of the Interior or Transportation has lacked judgment or persistence over the past years in keeping up with the roads and flow of traffic in the circle.
I recommend you, either take a look for yourself, or have someone take a look at the disastrous conditions of the roads in Cleveland Circle and the intriguing fact that NOBODY knows where they are when they are there.
Some say it’s Boston; some Brookline; I learned from an older gentleman that it is a Brighton neighborhood that goes by the name Aberdeen.
With the recent closing of a Circle Landmark (The Circle Cinema), Cleveland Circle seems to losing its past to the stadium seating lives of the future.
Please take a look at this forgotten part of our City. It’s a center for students and professionals. It can be more than it is, and I believe that has to start with at least knowing where we are and having a safer and better paved area to walk and drive.
Thanks for your time and I hope to hear from you.
God Bless.
Joshua Spencer






