Hopewell, Frank B., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1919 at 301 Waverley Avenue in Newton Corner, this large Classical Revival house was designed by Boston-area architect George H. Sidbottom for Frank B. Hopewell, a member of the selling-agent firm L. C. Chase & Company who also served as treasurer and director of several companies. The 2½-story house is faced in tan Roman brick under a red tile hip roof with hipped dormers. Its symmetrical five-bay facade centers on a two-story balustraded porch with paired Tuscan columns and urns, topped by a broad pediment breaking through the roofline. One-story wings extend from both sides, and a balustraded terrace separates the house from its broad front lawn. To the north, the terrace leads to a courtyard and a matching garage. The house is considered one of the finest and most intact large early 20th century Classical Revival houses in Newton, and it reflects the suburban growth of the 1920s. It remains residential and in good condition, with no major alterations.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is one of the finest and most intact of Newton's large early 20th century Classical Revival houses. It also represents Newton's suburban expansion in the 1920s, when established areas were infilled and new subdivisions developed. It meets criteria A 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 90000034, listed February 16, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 301 Waverley Ave., Newton |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | February 16, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000034 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | George H. Sidbottom |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential; condition is good; no major alterations recorded. |
| Acreage | 2.8 |
| Coordinates | 42.34595, -71.18180 (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 90000034.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5485118
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.