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 49 AREA JAN 0 2 1990 Newton, MA-MRA FORM NO. WN-0124 Town Newton (West Newton) Address 60 Highland Street Historic Name Second Church of Newton Photo (3"x3" or 3"x5", black and white) Indicate address of Staptrtyo Tertside of form. Sketch Map: Draw map showing property's location in relation to nearest cross streets and/or geographical features. Indicate all buildings between inventoried property and nearest intersection(s). Indicate north Use: Present church Original same DESCRIPTION Date 1915-1916 Source Building Permit Style Gothic Revival Architect Allen & Collens Exterior Wall Fabric stone Outbuildings none Major Alterations (with dates) Condition educational wing-1938 excellent see attached map Moved Daten/a Acreage 108,768 sc.ft. C 2.5A Setting hilltop site south of Mass.
Pike and West Newton Willage center; part of residential neighborhood UTM REFERENCE 19/316620 /4690520 USGS QUADRANGLE NEIVTON SCALE 1:25000 Recorded by Candace Jenkins/Susan Abele Organization Newton Historical Comm. Date : 4/1987; rev. 3/1988 NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA STATEMENT (if applicable) The Second Church of Newton possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association. It is significant as Newton's second church, and thus for Its associations with the city's early history. It is also an important erample of Gothic Revival style ecclesiastical architecture by the nationally noted Boston firm of Allen & Collens. It meets criteria A & C of the NRHP. ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE Describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within the community.
The Second Church of Newton is a fine example of the Gothic Revival atyle designed by the nationsily noted firm of Allen & Collens which was particulariy well known for its Gothic Revival decigns. It is a massive atructure constructed of uncoursed gray atone with a molded limestone watertable. The narrow buttrecsed facade displays a recessed pointed-arch entry with carved double-leaf doors headed by a blank screen. Above ie a huge pointed-arch window with stained glese and elaborate tracery. Gargoyles and pinmacles add further embellichment. Buttresses divide the side elevationa into four bays with croes gables curmounting the forwerd most bays. The bays contain pointed-arch windows with leaded glees. A handsome tower 1s attached to the rear of the north elevation; it in distingwished by a belfry whose pointed-srch opening: contain tracery, and asteeple with cared crockete.
Beyond the bell tower. et right angles to the nave, 1s a low half-timbered educational wing added in 1938 by Allen, Collens, &: Willis. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community. The first meeting house of the Second Church of Newton was built in 1764 although the town was not iormerly divided into an Zast and West Parish until 1770. As the West Parish grew, a new second meeting house was built on Washington Street. At this time, 1348, the center of town government shifted irom Newton Centre to West Newton and the original second meeting house was remodeled for use as a town hall. In 1908, members of the congregation began to consider erecting a new building and by 1913, they had purchased a prominent site on Highland Street overlooking the village of West Newton.
The foundation for the new church was begun on the 150th anniversary of the laying of the foundation for their first meeting house. The cornerstone was laid June 6, 1915 and dedication took place September 27, 1916. Allen and Collens were architects for the project, with the well- known English Gothicist Henry Vaughn as consutant. Charles Collens, a principal in the firm, was a Newton resident. Collens and his firm were responsible for other commissions in the city including the Newton City Hall and War Memorial completed in 1932. In 1938, the firm, then known as Allen, Collens and Willis, added the educational wing to the Second Church. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Building Department Records 60 Highland Street Dur ünzreh: Its History, Its Bulding. Its spirit Bazutirul Newton, p.
107, Newton Times 6/6/15 8/85 (aes Frm 100000 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number Page OMB Approvel No. 1024-0018 Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group NameNewton MRA State - Middlesex County, MA Nomination/Type of Review Date/Signature 161. socond churen of Nouton fiacironal sosiros Arcopor Alecou qursfea110 Attest_ Leeper 162. Stratton, Edward B., Houstered 1n the AelareByun 9/16/50 National Regiater Attest 163. Towle, Loren, Estate Hational Roslates Jkeeper AgelmuByeu sfleke Attest 164. Waban Branch Library Eatered in tha Hatiored Heglater Keeper deluBgen Hratie Attest -pt eetur /165. Walker Home for Missionary Children esb Serdes Keeper 166. Warren, Levi, Jr., High School Entered 1n the National Begister Attest fxtoper: dleemusSye 16450 Attest 167.
Retue Boston College Main Campus Historic District Keeper Babsteraeve 40Tiwn William I., Hougetered in tne Nationad Beglater Attest JieeperXelousByur 924/90 Attest 169. Farlow Hill Historic Pistrictn the Mationai Begiaten Keeper ( XelumBgen 2/21f20 Attest 170.
Newton Cottage Hospital Historic District Jo/Keeper Bithf Sauge 2121/0 Sabsvcerive Hothe Attest UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET REQUESTED ACTION: NOMINATION PROPERTY Second Church of Newton NAME: MULTIPLE Newton MRA NAME: STATE & COUNTY: MASSACHUSETTS, Middlesex DATE RECEIVED: 1/02/90 DATE OF 16TH DAY: 2/02/90 DATE OF PENDING LIST: 1/18/90 DATE OF 45TH DAY: 2/16/90 DATE OF WEEKLY LIST: REFERENCE NUMBER: 90000049 NOMINATOR: STATE REASONS FOR REVIEW: COMMENT WAIVER: N LACCEPI _RETURN ABSTRACT/SUMMARY COMMENTS: PERIOD: PROGRAM UNAPPROVED: N N SLR DRAFT: N NATIONAL: REJECT 2/10/90 DAT8 Entered in the National Register RECOM./CRITERIA REVIEWER DISCIPLIÑE DATE DOCUMENTATION see attached comments Y/N see attached SLR Y/N CLASSIFICATION _count _resource type STATE/FEDERAL AGENCY CERTIFICATION FUNCTION _historic current DESCRIPTION architectural classification materials descriptive text SIGNIFICANCE Period Areas of Significance--Check and justify below Specific dates Builder/Architect Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) summary paragraph completeness clarity applicable criteria justification of areas checked relating significance to the resource context relationship of integrity to significance _justification of exception other BIBLIOGRAPHY GEOGRAPHICAL DATA acreage _verbal boundary description UTMS boundary justification ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTATION/PRESENTATION sketch maps USGS maps photographs OTHER COMMENTS Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Phone Signed Date presentation Second Chuch of Newton 4o Htighland st.
Newtn, MA C.Jenkins 4|80 neg. e gacksmnHmeslead wew-east WW -0124 Newton, MA-MRA 87-7-364 SEQTION 32 BLOCK 5 SEulIUN -BLOCK 5 UTILITY EASEMENT UTILITIES EASEMENT SECTION BLOCK 32 4 2 6° 3 ATEES INIS CIRCLE 36 ERRACE 5 PLIMPTON RD. STREET D SECTION BLOCK 32 7 35 - Newton: MA-MRA 60 Highland Street SBL: 32-4-1 Engineering Map - 1979 Page: 41 and 42 Scale: 1"=1000' 13 9 RICHFIE' 12 10 HIGHLAND 33