Bruner, Mayall, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1923 at 36 Magnolia Avenue in Newton Corner, this shingled 2 1/2-story house is a rustic Craftsman design by Boston architect Arthur H. Bowditch. Twin gables dominate its symmetrical facade, extending down to cover a sunporch and garden gate on the north side and the entry on the south. A hip-roofed porch with the curving lines typical of Craftsman roofs shelters the door, and a large arched window lights the stairhall. Banks of triple 6/6 windows mark the south elevation. The wooded lot and the adjoining Commonwealth Country Club grounds enhance its rustic character. Mayall Bruner, a Boston wool merchant, and his wife, married in 1913, were the original owners. Bowditch is best known for Boston commercial buildings such as the Lenox and Somerset Hotels. The house was listed as a well-preserved Craftsman example and as a reflection of Newton's 1920s suburban growth.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as a well-detailed, little-altered example of the rustic Craftsman style by a noted Boston architect. It also represents Newton's suburban expansion in the 1920s, when growth filled in established areas as well as new subdivisions.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 90000040, listed February 16, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 36 Magnolia Ave., Newton |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | February 16, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000040 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Arthur H. Bowditch |
| Architectural style | Craftsman |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is described as good; present use is residential, and the only major alteration is a first-story window from about the 1960s. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.34538, -71.17862 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 90000040.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6796804
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.