Childs, Mayor Edwin O., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1915 at 340 California Street in Newton's Nonantum village, this two-story stucco house reflects the Craftsman style. It has a slate hip roof, an off-set chimney and a three-bay shed wall dormer that forms the second story. The symmetrical facade centers on a classically detailed entry with narrow sidelights and a flat-roofed, balustraded porch on squared piers. The house sits on a knoll among old beech trees, though the original lot has been subdivided. It was designed by Brainerd and Leeds, who also designed the Newton Y.M.C.A. and Day Junior High School. The house is tied to Edwin O. Childs (1876-1950), who served as Newton's mayor from 1914 to 1930 and again from 1936 to 1939. A Democrat who championed the poor, he chose to live in working-class Nonantum rather than a more fashionable part of the city. He lived here throughout his adult life.
Significance in brief: It is significant for its association with Edwin O. Childs, a well-regarded public servant who lived there throughout his adult life and was Newton's longest-serving mayor. It is also a well-designed Craftsman house by the noted firm of Brainerd and Leeds. The nomination cites criteria B and C.
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 90000039, listed February 16, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 340 California St., Newton |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | February 16, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000039 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Brainerd & Leeds |
| Architectural style | Craftsman |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential; condition is described as good, with no major alterations and no outbuildings. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.36483, -71.20261 (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 90000039.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6797629
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.