Lasell Neighborhood Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Lasell Neighborhood Historic District
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A house on Vista Road in the district
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly bounded by Woodland and Studio Rds., Aspen and Seminary Aves., and Grove St., Newton, Massachusetts |
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| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Second Empire, Queen Anne |
| MPS | Newton MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 86001744 |
| Added to NRHP | September 04, 1986 |
The Lasell Neighborhood Historic District is a special area in Auburndale, Massachusetts, a village within Newton, Massachusetts. It's known for its beautiful old houses built in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Some of these historic buildings are even part of Lasell University, which started as a school for girls in 1851. This whole district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 because of its important history and architecture.
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Exploring the Lasell Historic District
This historic district is located south of the main railroad tracks. It includes many amazing houses from different time periods. These homes show us how people lived and built houses long ago.
How Auburndale Grew Over Time
Long ago, in the early 1800s, Auburndale was mostly farmland. European settlers first divided this land in the 1600s. A major road, the Worcester Turnpike (Massachusetts Route 9), was built nearby in 1809.
A big change happened in the 1840s when the Boston and Worcester Railroad came through. A train station opened in Auburndale in 1851. This made the area grow very quickly. Many people moved here to live and take the train to work.
In the 1890s, Commonwealth Avenue was extended. This new road also helped Auburndale grow even more.
Discovering Historic Architecture
The Lasell neighborhood has many unique homes. Some of the oldest houses show off styles like Second Empire and Italianate architecture. These styles were popular in the mid-to-late 1800s.
For example, the house at 195 Woodland Road was built around 1875. Another interesting home is at 222 Grove Street, also from about 1875. The house at 176 Grove Street, built around 1862, is a great example of the Second Empire style. It has a fancy entrance and a special roof called a mansard roof.
The large Winslow-Haskell Mansion at 53 Vista Avenue is another amazing building. It was built in 1870 and is now divided into condominiums. It's a rare example of a style called Ruskinian Gothic. At 62 Vista Avenue, you can see a beautiful Italianate house from about 1879.
Lasell University's Role
Many buildings in the district are part of the Lasell University campus. The university has grown a lot since it began as a seminary for women in 1851. There are also many lovely Colonial Revival style houses in the area. This style became popular in the early 1900s.
The historic district was created to help protect these special buildings. It helps make sure that the unique history and look of the neighborhood are preserved for the future.
