House at 1008 Beacon Street
Why it's listed
Built around 1897 on a corner lot along Beacon Street in Newton Centre, this square-plan house combines the Shingle style with Colonial Revival touches. A gable roof is crossed by an oversized gambrel gable covered in patterned cut wood shingles. The main focus is a Syrian-arched entrance porch of coursed, dressed fieldstone, joined by oriel windows, a tall fieldstone chimney, and stained and bevelled glass. Applied wooden swags decorate the frieze, a favored Colonial Revival motif. The house is typical of the large, architect-designed homes built for Newton's emerging upper middle class in the late nineteenth century along Beacon Street west of the village center. Its first occupant, in 1899, was Joseph W. Barrows, who soon moved to Lake Avenue. Christopher Goddard, a Boston insurance broker, lived here from 1903. The house remains a dwelling in very good condition, with no major alterations recorded and a garage on the property.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as a notable and representative example of a suburban, architect-designed residence, a type found along Beacon Street west of the village center. It reflects the homes of Newton's emerging upper middle class in the late nineteenth century. It meets Criterion C for its Shingle style design with Colonial Revival overtones.
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 86001813, listed September 4, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1008 Beacon St., Newton |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 4, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001813 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival / Shingle style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is a dwelling; condition is described as very good with no major alterations and not moved. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Within district | Woodland, Newton Highlands, and Newton Centre Railroad Stations, and Baggage and Express Building |
| Coordinates | 42.33024, -71.20310 (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 86001813.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715561
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.