Windsor Road Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Windsor Road Historic District
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Kent Road near Windsor Road
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Windsor and Kent Rds., Newton, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 26 acres (11 ha) |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Bungalow/Craftsman, Late Victorian |
| MPS | Newton MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 90000018 |
| Added to NRHP | February 16, 1990 |
The Windsor Road Historic District is a special neighborhood in Newton, Massachusetts. It's located just north of a small village called Waban. This district is known for its beautiful old homes.
It includes 48 houses on Windsor, Kent, and Hereford Roads. These roads form a quiet area near the Waban village center and the Brae Burn Country Club. Most of these homes were built between 1888 and 1920. Because of its unique history and architecture, the district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. This means it's recognized as an important historical place in the United States.
Contents
How the Windsor Road Area Grew
The land where Windsor Road is today used to belong to a farmer and real estate developer named William Strong. In 1875, he bought a large piece of land, about 93 acres. Mr. Strong was very active in getting a new train line built. This train line, now called the MBTA Green Line "D" Branch, arrived in 1888. Its arrival helped the Waban village center grow.
Early Homes and Development
After the train arrived, William Strong started planning roads on his land. Between 1888 and 1907, fifteen houses were built on Windsor Road. More homes were added over time. By 1950, the area was almost completely built up with about twenty more houses. The Brae Burn Country Club was also built, adding to the neighborhood.
Exploring the Windsor Road District
The Windsor Road Historic District covers about 26 acres. It has 48 homes, each on a large, well-kept piece of land. Windsor Road starts from the center of Waban village and then turns west, ending in a quiet dead end. Kent and Hereford Roads are smaller streets that connect Windsor Road to the country club.
Architectural Styles You Can See
Many of the houses in the district were designed by famous architects. For example, William Strong's own house at 48 Windsor Road was built in 1896. It was designed by H. Langford Warren, who also designed the house at 102 Windsor Road. Both of these homes show the Queen Anne style, with some Shingle style features.
The Colonial Revival style is also very common here. You can see great examples at 55 Windsor (built in 1897) and 63 Windsor (built in 1903). There are also early examples of Tudor Revival houses at 92 Windsor and 210 Kent Road. Only four houses in the district were built after 1950. These newer homes are not considered part of the district's historical importance.
