National Register of Historic Places

Old Chestnut Hill Historic District (Boundary Increase)

Newton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Listed
February 16, 1990
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
90000007

About this property

The Old Chestnut Hill Historic District encompasses the historic residential heart of the Newton portion of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. When first listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986, the district extended along Hammond Street, between Beacon Street and the MBTA Green Line right-of-way, and along Chestnut Hill Road between Hammond and Essex, including properties along a few adjacent streets. The district was expanded in 1990 to include more of Chestnut Hill Road and Essex Road, Suffolk Road and the roads between it and Hammond, and a small section south of the Green Line including properties on Hammond Street, Longwood Road, and Middlesex Road. A further expansion in 1999 added a single property on Suffolk Road. The district consists of a residential enclave of high-quality architect-designed residences on ample, landscaped lots, that exemplified the development of Newton as a fashionable upper-class suburb. The area's colonial history begins with settlement in the 17th century by Thomas Hammond and others. Hammond was probably the builder of the c. 1700 Hammond House at 9 Old Orchard Road, considered to be Newton's oldest surviving structure. The 1723 house at 521 Hammond Street, a substantial Georgian style house, also belonged to the Hammond family. Development of the area did not begin in a significant way until after 1886, when the Circuit Railroad brought rail service to the area. A station designed by H. H. Richardson was built at Chestnut Hill in 1883 and landscaped by Frederick Law Olmsted; it was demolished in 1960. The houses in the district are predominantly Colonial Revival in their styling, although other forms popular into the 1920s are also represented, including Tudor Revival. There has been only limited new construction in the area since 1942. The 98-acre (40 ha) district includes 132 buildings, of which 109 contribute to its significance.

Location

Newton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
42.32901, -71.16708

Categories

COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTCOMMERCEARCHITECTURE
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.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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The Community
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Rivers & Rail
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Notable People
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Nearby Historic Sites

Old Chestnut Hill Historic District
Listed
0 mi
Kingsbury House
Industrial
0.2 mi
House at 152 Suffolk Road
Industrial
0.3 mi
Old Chestnut Hill Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Listed
0.3 mi
Cathedral of St. George Historic District
Listed
0.3 mi

Nearby Battles

Siege of Boston – Roxbury Lines
1775Revolutionary War
3.4 mi
Siege of Boston – Cambridge Lines
1775Revolutionary War
4.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Old Chestnut Hill Historic District (Boundary Increase) listed on the National Register?

Old Chestnut Hill Historic District (Boundary Increase) was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 16, 1990.

What type of historic resource is Old Chestnut Hill Historic District (Boundary Increase)?

Old Chestnut Hill Historic District (Boundary Increase) is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Old Chestnut Hill Historic District (Boundary Increase)?

The period of significance for Old Chestnut Hill Historic District (Boundary Increase) is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Old Chestnut Hill Historic District (Boundary Increase)?

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