House at 107 Waban Hill Road
Why it's listed
Built around 1875 on top of Waban Hill in Chestnut Hill, Newton, this large house is a formal example of the Italianate style. Its architect is unknown, and the date is based on stylistic analysis. The roofline is topped by a pyramidal hip-roofed cupola with an elaborate wooden finial, giving the house a towered profile. Other features include an overhanging bracketed cornice, quoins, and heavy pedimented window and door frames. The flush-boarded facade centers on a shallow gabled pavilion, with the entrance set in a flat-roofed arched portico. Italianate design was most popular in Newton from the late 1840s to about 1870, so this house is somewhat late. Waban Hill rises 313 feet and offers views toward Arlington, Waltham and Cambridge; in the nineteenth century it was often called Prospect Hill. Late in that century the house belonged to Louis Jones, a Boston undertaker. It remains a dwelling in very good condition, with frame additions on the northwest side and a barn on the lot.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is one of Newton's finest examples of the formal, academic mode of the Italianate style, meeting Criterion C. It has a towered silhouette with a pyramidal hip-roofed cupola and a full range of Italianate details. It is also picturesquely sited atop Waban Hill.
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 86001815, listed September 4, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 107 Waban Hill Rd., Newton |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 4, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001815 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as very good; present use is a dwelling, with frame additions on the northwest elevation. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.34047, -71.17190 (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 86001815.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715563
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.