1


                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 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): July 21, 2005


                              CENTRAL BANCORP, INC.
            --------------------------------------------------------
               (Exact Name Of Registrant As Specified In Charter)


         MASSACHUSETTS                0-25251                04-3447594
----------------------------        -----------             -------------
(State Or Other Jurisdiction        (Commission             (IRS Employer
Of Incorporation)                   File Number)            Identification No.)


 399 HIGHLAND AVENUE, SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS              02144
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address Of Principal Executive Offices)                   (Zip Code)


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


                                 NOT APPLICABLE
             ------------------------------------------------------
          (Former Name Or Former Address, If Changed Since Last Report)


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
    (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
    (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
    Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
    Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 2


ITEM 8.01   OTHER EVENTS

         On July 21, 2005, Central Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") announced that
its Board of Directors increased the Company's regular quarterly cash dividend
by 50% to eighteen ($0.18) cents per share, payable on August 19, 2005, to
stockholders of record as of August 5, 2005. For further information see the
Company's press release dated July 21, 2005, which is incorporated herein by
reference and is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.


ITEM 9.01  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

     (a)   Not applicable.


     (b)   Not applicable.


     (c)   The following exhibit is filed herewith:

           Exhibit 99           Press Release dated July 21, 2005



 3


                                   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 authorized.


                                        CENTRAL BANCORP, INC.



Date:  July 21, 2005                    By: /s/ Paul S. Feeley
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Paul S. Feeley
                                            Senior Vice President, Treasurer and
                                            Chief Financial Officer