Whether you call it Boylston Street, Worcester-Boston Turnpike, Ted Williams Highway, United Spanish War Veterans Highway or simply Route 9, the highway that splits Brookline in two is over 200 years old. 

The Globe pulled together a slideshow depicting some of the history of the road, from Brookline Village in 1915, through the disappearance of Framingham's Shopper's World and growth of the Natick Collection, to the former Omni Foods site in Newton.

According to Westborough Patch Blogger Glenn R. Parker, Route 9 follows the 19th century Boston-Worcester Turnpike, which was used for agriculture and dairy farms. 

Wikipedia tells us that Route 9 or part of it, is named for Red Sox Hall-of-Famer Ted Williams, who wore the number nine on his jersey while playing for the team. Wikipedia also notes that Newton refers to the street as the United Spanish War Veterans Highway."  

See the slideshow on Boston Globe's YourTown Natick.