First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton facts for kids
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First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1326 Washington St., Newton, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 1.3 acres (0.53 ha) |
| Built | 1906 |
| Architect | Cram, Goodhue & Ferguson |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival, Tudor Revival, Elizabethan Revival |
| Part of | West Newton Village Center Historic District (ID90000017) |
| MPS | Newton MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 86001802 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | September 4, 1986 |
| Designated CP | February 16, 1990 |
The First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton is a special building. You can find it at 1326 Washington Street in West Newton, a part of Newton, Massachusetts. It's a very old building in the village.
Famous architect Ralph Adams Cram designed the church itself. The beautiful outdoor areas were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr.. The first stone was placed in 1905, and the church opened in 1906.
A Look at the Church Building
The church building has a unique look. It was built in a style called Gothic Revival. This means it looks like old European churches. It has strong walls with supports called buttresses. It also has a big square tower with fancy tops called crenellations and spires.
Other parts of the church, like the office wing and banquet hall, look different. They are built in an Elizabethan style. This style uses brick on the first floor. The upper parts have a half-timbered look, which means wooden beams show on the outside. These buildings create a nice enclosed courtyard.
A Bit of History
The Unitarian Society started way back in 1848. Their very first church building was built in 1860. That first building was also in the Gothic Revival style. It used to stand where the West Newton Cinema is today.
The current church building was built on a special spot. This land used to be home to an early "normal school." A normal school was a place where teachers were trained. This school later moved to Framingham. Today, it is known as Framingham State University.
Inside the church, there is a beautiful stained glass window. This window honors two important people. They were Horace Mann and Cyrus Peirce. Both were pioneers in education in Massachusetts. They were also members of this church!
National Recognition
The First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton is very important. Because of its history and unique design, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This happened in 1986. The National Register is a list of places in the United States that are worth saving.
See also
