Hayward, Fred R., House
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built in 1912 at 1547 Centre Street in Newton Highlands, this large house was designed by Winchester architect Robert Coit, who practiced in the Boston area between 1892 and 1940. It is a 2 1/2 story stucco building under a slate hip roof. Two gables frame the facade, and one extends in lean-to fashion to enclose a glazed sunporch. The entry has three-quarter-length sidelights and a gabled roof, flanked by groups of four multi-pane windows. Colored diamond-pattern tiles in the gables and near the door enliven the plain facade. A matching two-car garage with twin gables sits to the rear. The house was built for Fred R. Hayward, son of Albert F. Hayward, who helped merge several small confectionery firms into the New England Confectionery Company in 1901. Fred became its factory manager and, in 1923, its president. The house is valued as a well-preserved Craftsman example and as a reflection of Newton's early 20th century suburban growth. It remains a residence in good condition with no recorded major alterations.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as an elaborate, well-preserved example of the Craftsman style by architect Robert Coit. It also represents Newton's early 20th century suburban growth, which filled in established areas and created new subdivisions. It also relates to Fred R. Hayward, a confectionery company executive.
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 90000025, listed February 16, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1547 Centre St., Newton |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | February 16, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000025 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Robert Coit (architect) |
| Architectural style | Craftsman |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential, same as original; condition is good with no major alterations recorded. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.32242, -71.20210 (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 90000025.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5496109
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.