Day Estate Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Day Estate Historic District
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House at the corner of Commonwealth and Dartmouth
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Commonwealth Ave. and Dartmouth St., Newton, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1929 |
| Architect | Freethey, William J.; Morton, Hawley W. |
| Architectural style | Tudor Revival |
| MPS | Newton MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 90000008 |
| Added to NRHP | February 16, 1990 |
The Day Estate Historic District is a special area in Newton, Massachusetts. It's like a small neighborhood filled with beautiful old homes. These homes are found near the corner of Commonwealth Avenue and Dartmouth Street. This district includes six unique houses. They were built a long time ago, between 1928 and 1930. These houses are important because they show a cool architectural style called Tudor Revival. Because of their history and design, this district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.
Contents
What is the Day Estate Historic District?
This historic district is a protected area. It covers parts of Commonwealth, Dartmouth, Chestnut, and Prince Streets. The land originally belonged to a banker named Henry Day. He built his own house on Chestnut Street in 1896. Later, in the 1920s, the land was divided into smaller plots. This happened during a time when many new houses were being built. That's when the six special houses you see today were constructed.
Who Designed These Unique Homes?
Most of the houses in the Day Estate Historic District were designed by a talented architect named William J. Freethey. He designed five of the six homes. Another architect, Hawley Morton, designed one of the houses on Commonwealth Avenue. These architects made sure the homes looked amazing.
Exploring the Homes on Commonwealth Avenue
There are four historic houses located on Commonwealth Avenue within the district.
- 1395 Commonwealth Avenue: This house looks like a strong, square building. It has a design that reminds people of French architecture.
- 1415 Commonwealth Avenue: This home was designed by Hawley Morton. It stands out with its own special features.
- 1429 Commonwealth Avenue: This house is special because it has fancy limestone decorations. Limestone is a type of stone often used for building.
- 1445 Commonwealth Avenue: This house has a unique look. Its upper part features "half-timbered" styling. This means it has exposed wooden beams, giving it an old-fashioned, storybook feel. It also has a cool, round tower with a cone-shaped roof!
Discovering the Houses on Dartmouth Street
Two more historic houses are found on Dartmouth Street. Both were designed by William J. Freethey.
- 10 Dartmouth Street: This house has a front that isn't perfectly balanced, which makes it interesting. It features decorations inspired by Gothic architecture. It also has medieval-style "crenellations" above a bay window. Crenellations are the notched tops you might see on old castles!
- 26 Dartmouth Street: This home is quite similar to number 10. It also includes the "half-timbered" details that add to its charming, historic appearance.
What Happened to Henry Day's Original House?
Henry Day's first house, built in 1896, is not part of this historic district. Today, it is home to the All Newton Music School. Other parts of his original estate now have more modern buildings. The Day Estate Historic District helps us remember and protect the beautiful homes from the 1920s.
