National Register of Historic Places

Beaconsfield Terraces Historic District

Brookline, Norfolk County, Massachusetts
Listed
October 16, 1985
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
85003248

About this property

The Beaconsfield Terraces Historic District is a residential historic district at 11–25, 33–43, and 44–55 Garrison Rd. and 316–326, 332–344, and 350–366 Tappan Street in Brookline, Massachusetts. It encompasses a collection of architecturally distinctive row houses that were built between 1889 and 1892 by a single developer, and represent a unique early success in condominium ownership. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. The Beaconsfield Terraces are roughly centered on the junction of Tappan Street and Garrison Road, a short way west of Brookline's Washington Square. Three of the six buildings line the west side of Tappan Street, while the other three line the north side of Garrison Road. A seventh building, not included in this historic district, fronts on Beacon Street, and is included in the Beacon Street Historic District. The oldest of the buildings, 350–366 Tappan, was built in 1889 out of yellow brick and stone, and has Chateauesque styling, a style used in four of the six buildings. These buildings feature steeply pitched roofs, round-arch entranceways, corbelled brickwork decoration, gabled wall dormers, and polygonal window bays. One building has a distinctively Flemish character, with buttressed wall gables, and limestone pinnacles. The last two buildings are Georgian Revival, with red brick exterior and entrance porticoes with Corinthian columns. The Terraces were designed by the Boston architectural firm of Fehmer & Page for the developer, Eugene Knapp, who had seen developments involving condominium ownership in England, and sought to recreate them here. He purchased land from the Henry Whitney (the principal developer of Beacon Street, and oversaw this development, which included (in addition to the row houses), a park, stables, casino (playhouse), and playground. Of his original development, only the row houses survive, the remaining land having been redeveloped into other uses. The development was an immediate success, attracting some high-profile residents, including William Shreve of Shreve, Crump & Low. Knapp was financially overextended by the development, and eventually sold his interest back to Whitney. National Register of Historic Places listings in Brookline, Massachusetts

Location

11--25, 33--43, and 44--55 Garrison Rd. and 316--326, 332--344, and 350--366 Tappan St.
Brookline, Norfolk County, Massachusetts
42.33743, -71.13832

Categories

COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Beaconsfield Terraces Historic District

This page lists Beaconsfield Terraces Historic District. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Beaconsfield Terraces Historic District report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

House at 12-16 Corey Road
Industrial
0.2 mi
Fire Station No. 7
Industrial
0.3 mi
Corey, Timothy, House No. 2
Industrial
0.3 mi
Corey, Timothy, House No. 1
Industrial
0.3 mi
House at 89 Rawson Road and 86 Colburne Crescent
Industrial
0.3 mi

Nearby Battles

Siege of Boston – Roxbury Lines
1775Revolutionary War
2 mi
Siege of Boston – Cambridge Lines
1775Revolutionary War
2.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Beaconsfield Terraces Historic District listed on the National Register?

Beaconsfield Terraces Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 16, 1985.

What type of historic resource is Beaconsfield Terraces Historic District?

Beaconsfield Terraces Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Beaconsfield Terraces Historic District?

The period of significance for Beaconsfield Terraces Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Beaconsfield Terraces Historic District?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Beaconsfield Terraces Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Norfolk County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Norfolk County.

Explore NorfolkCounty ›

More historic places in Massachusetts

Browse all historic places in Massachusetts.

View Massachusettshistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Massachusetts history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Massachusettshistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Beaconsfield Terraces Historic District will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report