Editing Ball Square (section)

== History ==
Ball Square was named for John Nichols Ball (1835–1901). Following in the path of his uncle, Ball opened an insole factory in 1883 at 686 Broadway, between Josephine and Rogers Avenues. A respected businessman, Ball took up politics in 1895. That year, he began his term as a member of Somerville's Common Council. In 1897, Ball was elected to the Somerville Board of Aldermen and by the next year served as board president. Ball was discussed as a potential Republican candidate for mayor. Instead, he chose to enter state politics, running successfully as Representative for the 7th Middlesex District in 1900. Ball was well liked enough in his first term that he was reelected to the House in 1901. His burgeoning political career was cut short, however, by his death that October at age 66.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bouseblog.wordpress.com/2015/07/10/ball-square/|accessdate=2018-01-21|date=July 10, 2015|title=Ball Square|author=Matt Bouse}}</ref>

Ball Square was formerly the site of the storied Willow Jazz Club. In the 1990s, a fire destroyed several commercial businesses on Broadway, and as those businesses were replaced, an economic transformation began that continues today, with long-time businesses such as Lyndell's Bakery, which dates to the 19th century, along the same stretch as newcomers.

The Medford Branch of the [[Green Line Extension]] opened on December 12, 2022, with [[Ball Square station]] one of five new stations.<ref name=dec12>{{cite news |url=https://www.wbur.org/news/2022/11/17/green-line-extension-medford-branch-opening-december-mbta |title=Final stretch of Green Line Extension will open Dec. 12 |newspaper=WBUR |first=Chris |last=Lisinski |date=November 17, 2022 |access-date=November 17, 2022}}</ref>