American Waltham Watch Company Historic District

This five-story brick factory complex on Crescent Street in Waltham grew from the late 1870s to the 1910s along the Charles River. It occupies the site where the Boston Watch Company began in 1854, a firm described as the first in the world to make a complete watch under one roof. Later known as the American Waltham Watch Company, it earned an international reputation and was called the "Model Factory" for its fireproof construction, well-lit narrow wings, recreation rooms, first aid and child day care. Its buttressed, towered and pinnacled sections combine Queen Anne and Romanesque Revival details. The company also trained skilled workers who moved to rivals such as Elgin in Illinois, dominated local employment and politics, and helped shape the South Side through housing development. The complex remains largely unchanged since 1913 and now houses about 30 small businesses and manufacturers.