Saco–Lowell Shops Housing Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Saco–Lowell Shops Housing Historic District
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A street scene in the district
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Oak, William, Butts, and Saco Sts., Newton, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1919 |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| MPS | Newton MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 90000016 |
| Added to NRHP | February 16, 1990 |
The Saco–Lowell Shops Housing Historic District is a special area in Newton, Massachusetts. It is important because it has the only factory worker homes built in the 1900s in the city. These homes were made for people who worked at the nearby Saco–Pettee Machine Shops.
The district is found in Newton Upper Falls, a part of Newton. It includes streets like Oak, William, Butts, and Saco Streets. The area has eight brick houses built between 1919 and 1920. These homes show a style called Colonial Revival. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.
What is the Saco-Lowell Shops Housing District?
The Saco–Pettee Machine Shops were a big factory complex. They were located on the north side of Oak Street. This factory started in 1830. By the late 1800s, it was the largest employer in Newton. The factory made machines used in textile mills, which are places that make cloth.
Why Were These Homes Built?
The company wanted to make life better for its workers. So, they decided to build homes for them. In 1919, a plan was made to build eight new houses. These new homes were placed near other houses that already existed. Those older houses were mostly built in the 1890s. They were simple wooden homes.
Design of the Houses
The homes built by the Saco-Lowell company were made of brick. Some were for one family, and others were for two families. They had a popular design style called Colonial Revival.
For example, the house at 41 Butts Street is a single-family home. It has two stories and a special roof shape called a saltbox. Five other houses in the district look similar. They mostly differ in their roof styles. The houses at 4-6 Saco Street and 135-139 Oak Street were built for more than one family. They have a different design with gable sections and a Greek Revival style.
