Sumner and Gibbs Streets Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Sumner and Gibbs Streets Historic District
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184 Gibbs Street
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly Sumner St. between Willow St. and Cotswold Terr. and 184 Gibbs St., Newton, Massachusetts |
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| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Second Empire, Queen Anne |
| MPS | Newton MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 86001762 |
| Added to NRHP | September 04, 1986 |
The Sumner and Gibbs Streets Historic District is a special area in Newton, Massachusetts. It's like a neighborhood that has been officially recognized for its important old houses. These houses show us the popular building styles from when the area first started to grow.
The district includes houses on Sumner Street, between Cotswold Terrace and Willow Street, and also the house at 184 Gibbs Street. These homes were built between 1865 and 1899. Many of them are built in the Queen Anne and Colonial Revival styles. This historic district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. This means it's a place that the United States government thinks is important to save because of its history.
Contents
What is the Sumner and Gibbs Streets Historic District?
Sumner Street is a street where people live in central Newton. It's located just north of Newton Centre, which is one of the 11 small villages that make up the city of Newton. This historic district covers about the southern one-third of Sumner Street. It also includes one house on Gibbs Street, which crosses through the district.
The area started to grow a lot because of better train service in Newton. The "Circuit Railroad" began in 1886, making it easier for people to travel. Also, the building of Commonwealth Avenue, which crosses Sumner Street north of the district, helped the area develop even more.
Houses and Their Styles
The Sumner and Gibbs Streets Historic District has sixteen houses that were built between 1865 and 1899. Each house tells a story about the popular building styles of its time.
Oldest Homes and Unique Styles
The oldest house in the district is 184 Gibbs Street. It's a great example of Second Empire architecture. This style often features a special kind of roof called a mansard roof, which has slopes on all four sides.
Another old home is 166 Sumner Street, built in 1870. It's an Italianate house, a style that often has low-pitched roofs, wide eaves, and tall, narrow windows.
Popular Architectural Styles
The most common style in the district is Queen Anne. Six houses are built in this style. Queen Anne homes are known for being very decorative, with turrets (small towers), patterned shingles, and porches.
There are also three Colonial Revival houses. This style looks back to the early American colonial homes, but with modern updates. They often have simple, balanced designs. One house is a Shingle style home, which uses many wooden shingles on its walls and roof, but it also has some Colonial Revival features.
Finally, there is one Georgian Revival house, which is a style that also looks back to older, more formal designs. Two houses in total are Second Empire style, including 139 Sumner Street, built in 1867, and 184 Gibbs Street.
