Myrtle Baptist Church Neighborhood Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Myrtle Baptist Church Neighborhood Historic District
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The Myrtle Baptist Church on Curve St.
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly Curve St. and Prospect St., Newton, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 6.5 acres (2.6 ha) |
| Built | 1874 |
| Architect | Spence, George W.; McGraw, J.G. |
| Architectural style | Italianate, Second Empire, Queen Anne |
| MPS | Newton MRA (AD) |
| NRHP reference No. | 08001178 |
| Added to NRHP | December 11, 2008 |
The Myrtle Baptist Church Neighborhood Historic District is a special area in West Newton, Massachusetts. It's known for being an important historical center for the African-American community. This district includes all of Curve Street, where the famous Myrtle Baptist Church is located. It also has a few buildings on nearby Auburn and Prospect Streets. This historic area was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. This means it's recognized as a place important to American history.
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A Special Neighborhood in West Newton
Curve Street and the areas around it have been a key part of Newton's African-American community since about 1870. It's the only place in the city that still looks much like it did back then. The neighborhood became centered around the Myrtle Baptist Church. This church was first built in 1875. After a fire, it was rebuilt in 1898. Many people in the neighborhood worked in the nearby railroad yards. These jobs helped support the families living there. Some houses on Curve Street have even stayed in the same families for many generations.
The Heart of the Community: Myrtle Baptist Church
The Myrtle Baptist Church is a very important building in this historic district. It's a wooden church that has served the community for a long time. The church was rebuilt after a fire, showing how important it was to the people. It has been a place for worship, community gatherings, and support for families.
Homes with History
The district has one church, one commercial building, and twenty-two homes. Most of these houses were built between the 1880s and 1929. They are usually single-family homes, meaning one family lives in each. There are also a few duplexes, which are homes for two families. One large house, called a Second Empire style house, has been turned into apartments.
Unique Architecture
The houses in the district have different styles. They often show simpler versions of popular designs from that time. One of the most interesting houses is at 15-29 Prospect Street. This large Second Empire house was moved to the area a long time ago. By the early 1900s, it was divided into apartments. It still has many of its original cool features. These include a fancy roof edge with brackets, arched windows in the roof, and a detailed cupola on top. A cupola is a small dome or structure on a roof.
See also
