Nathaniel Topliff Allen Homestead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Nathaniel Topliff Allen Homestead
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 35 Webster Street, Newton, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 12,494 square feet (building), 53,423 (land) |
| Built | 1848 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000457 |
| Added to NRHP | January 9, 1978 |
The Nathaniel Topliff Allen Homestead is a very old and important house in West Newton, a part of Newton, Massachusetts. This house is special because it was the home of Nathaniel Topliff Allen (1823–1903). He was a super creative teacher in the mid-1800s.
Allen's new ideas about teaching helped shape how schools taught students. His work even influenced the methods taught at the state's first teacher training school, which is now Framingham State University. The house is officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the Newton Cultural Alliance owns this historic building.
A Special Schoolhouse
The Allen Homestead is made up of three wooden buildings connected together. The main house, built around 1848–1852, looks like a Greek temple. It faces Webster Street. There's also a two-story building that used to be a dormitory for students. The third part is a two-and-a-half-story schoolhouse.
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In 1847, a very important education leader named Horace Mann asked Nathaniel Allen to start a special school in Newton. This school was meant to be a "model" school. It would show how to teach students using the newest methods from the nearby teacher training school, called the Normal School.
Nathaniel Allen had studied at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He had also taught in several high schools before coming to West Newton. His school quickly became famous around the world for its amazing teaching methods. It grew so fast that it needed more space!
When the Normal School moved to Framingham, Allen bought its old building. He wanted to keep his school going. He named it the West Newton English and Classical School.
Allen's Innovative Ideas
Nathaniel Allen introduced many new and exciting ideas to education. He started one of the very first kindergarten classes ever! He also believed that being physically fit was super important for students. Because of this, his school had a large gymnasium, which was very unusual for schools back then.
In 1853, Nathaniel Allen married Caroline Swift Bassett. She was from Nantucket. Their daughters also became teachers at the school, helping to carry on their family's passion for education.
