8-K

                 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                       Washington, D.C.  20549

                           FORM 8-K

                        CURRENT REPORT

               Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
               the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 


        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
                        April 8, 1999


                    CENTRAL BANCORP, INC.
- -----------------------------------------------------------
  (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


   Massachusetts                  0-25251        04-3447594
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction   (Commission    (I.R.S. employer
of incorporation)              file number)  identification no.)


399 Highland Avenue, Somerville, Massachusetts         02144
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(Address of principal executive offices)            (Zip code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code:(617)628-4000
                                                   -------------

                       Not applicable
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  (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)


ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS
- ---------------------

     On April 8,1999, the Registrant announced that it was
commencing an open-market stock repurchase program to purchase
up to 98,350 shares of the Registrant's common stock, which
represents approximately 5% of the shares outstanding.  For
further information, reference is made to the Registrant's press
release dated April 8, 1999, which is attached hereto as Exhibit
99, and incorporated herein by reference.


ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION
         AND EXHIBITS
- --------------------------------------------------------------

     The following is a list of exhibits filed with this
Current Report on Form 8-K indexed to their location in the
sequentially numbered copy.

  Exhibit No.       Description
  -----------       -----------

        99          Press Release



                      SIGNATURES



     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly author-
ized.

                              CENTRAL BANCORP, INC.



Date: April 8, 1999             By: /s/ John D. Doherty
                                    ----------------------------
                                    John D. Doherty
                                    President

EX-99

            [CENTRAL BANCORP, INC. LETTERHEAD]


                    N E W S  R E L E A S E


Contact:  Gladys N. Partamian       For Release:  IMMEDIATELY
          Vice President
          (617) 628-4000


                    CENTRAL BANCORP, INC.,
             ANNOUNCES STOCK REPURCHASE PROGRAM


     SOMMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, April 8, 1999 - Central
Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:  CEBK) announced today that it is
commencing a stock repurchase program to acquire up to 98,350
shares of the Corporation's common stock, which represents
approximately 5% of the outstanding common stock.  The program
will be dependent upon market conditions and there is no
guarantee as to the exact number of shares to be repurchased by
the Corporation.

     John D. Doherty, President of the Corporation, stated that
the Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase program,
which is expected to be completed within six (6) months.  Mr.
Doherty explained that the Board of Directors considers the
Corporation's common stock to be an attractive investment.  In
addition, it is expected that a reduction in the amount of the
Corporation's outstanding stock will have the effect of
increasing the Corporation's per share earnings.

     According to Mr. Doherty, the repurchases generally will
be effected through open market purchases, although he did not
rule out the possibility of unsolicited negotiated transactions
or other types of repurchases.

     Central Bancorp, Inc., is the holding company for Central
Bank, whose legal name is Central Co-operative Bank, a
Massachusetts-chartered co-operative bank operating eight full
service banking offices in suburban Boston.


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