BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 80 BOYLSTON STREET BOSTON, MA 02116 Photo (3'x3' or 3"x5", black and white) Indicate address of property on back of photo. Staple to left side of form. Sketch Map: Draw map showing property's location in relation to nearest cross streets and/or geographical features. Indicate all buf1dings between inventoried property and nearest intersection(s). Indicate north (SEE ATTACHED MAP) UTM REFERENCE 19.318130.4691100 USGS QUADRANGLE NEWTON, MA SCALE 1:25,000 AREA FORM NO. 5182A Town Address Newton, Mass.
MRA NEWTON (Newtonville) 218 Walnut Street Historic Name Central Congregational Church Use: Present church Original church DESCRIPTION Date 1895 Source Church history Style Romanesque Revival Architect Hartwell & Richardson Exterior Wall Fabric granite Outbufldingsnone Major Alterations (with dates) none Condition Moved Acreage Setting Excellent no Date --- 33,098 sq. ft. (lessthan lacre) mixed residential/commercial Recorded by Organization Date Barbara Thibault Newton Historical Comm. November 1985 NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA STATEMENT (if applicable) As a major example of the Romanesque Revival style of architecture executed in granite and as the work of a prominent Boston architectural firm, Hartwell & Richardson, the Central Congregational Church meets criterion C of the National Register of Historic Places.
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE Describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within the community. Only Newton example, this granite, architect-designed church represents a type characteristic of American late 19th-century architecture. Significant features are: Syrian arch entranceways; a four-story square tower with slate and steeply pitched roof, vented by a broad dormer with a row of small window panes and capped by a copper finial; and bands of varying size windows light the building with a large recessed arched stained glass window in the front gable. The front facade has two projecting three-sided attached two-story turrets with roof caps in slate and topped with copper finials. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community.
The Congregational Society in Newtonville was organized in 1868, simultaneously with other ecclesiastical groups and civic organizations, to meet the needs of a growing suburban population. This dressed granite structure marks the prosperity of the congregation and the community as it replaced a wooden building at a cost of more than $100,000. The architectural firm of Hartwell & Richardson built at least eight buildings in Newton during the 1890s, though this is the only church. One of the firm's principals, William C. Richardson (1854-1935), resided in Newtonville (Area G) and may have been a church member. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Newton's 19th Century Architecture: Newtonville (1980). Jackson Homestead Historical Collection. Rowe, History of Newton (1930), pp. 130, 134,335, 486.
8/85 NPS Fom 10900-a United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Continuation sheet Item number For NPS use only received 7/23/86 date entered Page Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name_Newton MRA State Middlesex County, MA Nomination/Type of Review 31. Buckingham, John, House 32. Building at 1--6 Walnut Terrace 33. Central Congregational Church 34. Chestnut Hill, The 35. Claflin, Adams, Estate 36. Clark House 37. Collins, Frederick, House 38. Curtis, Allan Crocker, House--Pillar House - 39. Curtis, William, House 40. Davis, Seth, House Entered in the National Register fkeeper Attest Interod in the Mationei Register fkeeper Attest HKeeper Date/Signature AelousBgan 914186 AilorBgus 8/1186 Inter Hations.
egister Shlmeyen 914606 Entered in the Mational Register Attest Keeper delmueByu 214166 Entersi Natiors the Pegiater Attest JKeeper SllouaBgun 214166 Entered in the Mational Register Interad In the National Register Intered the National. Rogister Attest theeper dulouaßyan 91r/ra Attest fKeeper dlelmuabya 314166 Attest /Keeper AllmuesBgan 914116 Intered Mat107 Ma: Attest jkeeper Attest fReeper Attest Sllreebzan 2114 Selreyßza 914106 WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Central Congregationa! Church (Newton MRA) Middlesex County MASSACHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviewer's comments: sample request 86001781 Working No. Fed. Reg.
Date: Date Due: - Action: -ACCEPT- Intered in the -RETURN sations1 Register - REJECT- rederal Agency:. 23986 - 9/% 9-4-86 23/87 Jappeal decision Recom./Criteria_ Reviewer Discipline Date see continuation sheet Nomination returned for: _ technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification Category Ownership Public Acquisition 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Has this property been determined eligible? yes no 7. Description Condition excellent good fair deteriorated ruins unexposed Check one unaltered altered Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates - boundary selection Status Accessible Present Use Check one Joriginalsite moved date 8.
Significance Period Areas of Significance-Check and justify below Specific dates Builder/Architect Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) summary paragraph completeness clarity applicable críteria li. justification of areas checked relating significance to the resource context relationship of integrity to significance justification of exception Jother 586 9. Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property Quadrangle name. UTM References Verbal boundary description and justification 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: national state _local State Historic Preservation Officer signature date title 13.
Other Maps Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Signed - Date Phone: - GPO 918-450 Comments for any item may be continued on an attached sheet Newton, Mass. MRA 218 Walnut St., Newtonville (Central Cong. Church) Inv. #5182A 1986 OMAR TERRACE WILTON ROAD 42 RD- PAGE TION 23 23 13 CHESLEY AVENUE A L ST WALNUT 1 FOSTER ST WALNUT TERRACE SECTION 23 BLOCK 22 OFE BAILEY PLACE 3 RIOHT OF City of Newton Assessor's Maps. Sheet 31 Metric Series. 1979 Scale: UTM grid line Interval - 100 meters (328 feet) Newton, Mass. MRA 218 Walnut St., Newtonville (Central Cong. Church) 23-23-13 - -