National Register of Historic Places

Waban Branch Library

Newton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Listed
February 16, 1990
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
90000037

About this property

The Waban Library Center is a library located in a historic building at 1608 Beacon Street in Newton, Massachusetts. The building is a modest 1½ story Tudor Revival brick building, with a gabled slate roof and raised end walls. A cross-gabled entry area projects from the center of the front facade. It was designed by Densmore, LeClear & Robbins and built in 1929 with funds raised by the citizens of Waban, Newton. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. The Waban Library Center is a volunteer-run community library located in the Waban village of Newton, Massachusetts. Originally established in 1930 as one of 16 village libraries within Newton. Following the opening of the Newton Free Library in 1991, the city began systematically closing the village libraries, ultimately leaving only four in operation by 2000. In 2007, facing municipal budget constraints, the City of Newton announced plans to close the remaining village libraries and convert their buildings into city offices. In response, the Waban Improvement Society petitioned the city to take over management of the Waban branch. This effort led to a lease agreement with the city, allowing the society to reopen the facility independently. The Waban Library Center officially reopened in September 2009, fully staffed by volunteers and funded through the non-profit Waban Improvement Society. Though independent from the Newton Free Library, it continues the tradition of serving as a village reading room and now functions as a vibrant community hub. The center offers a variety of programs and resources designed to foster lifelong learning and promote intellectual, cultural, social, and physical enrichment for residents of all ages.

Location

1608 Beacon St.
Newton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
42.32702, -71.22969

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 Waban Branch Library

This page lists Waban Branch Library. 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 Waban Branch Library report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Staples-Crafts-Wiswall Farm
Industrial
0 mi
Strong's Block
Industrial
0.1 mi
Hyde, Eleazer, House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Collins, Frederick, House
Industrial
0.2 mi
Pine Ridge Road-Plainfield Street Historic District
Listed
0.3 mi

Nearby Battles

Siege of Boston – Roxbury Lines
1775Revolutionary War
6.6 mi
Siege of Boston – Cambridge Lines
1775Revolutionary War
6.9 mi
Skirmish at Menotomy (Arlington)
1775Revolutionary War
7.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Waban Branch Library listed on the National Register?

Waban Branch Library was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 16, 1990.

What type of historic resource is Waban Branch Library?

Waban Branch Library is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Waban Branch Library?

The period of significance for Waban Branch Library is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Waban Branch Library?

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 Waban Branch Library will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Middlesex County

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

Explore MiddlesexCounty ›

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 Waban Branch Library will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report