House at 31 Woodbine Street
Why it's listed
Built around 1845 in the Auburndale section of Newton, this two and one-half story clapboard house is among the village's earliest suburban homes. It predates or coincides with the 1847 subdivision of the area by the North Auburn Dale Land Company. The gable roof runs parallel to the street and carries a pair of pedimented dormers. A one-story portico wraps the south and east sides, and the wide entablature and panelled corner pilasters reflect the Greek Revival style. An exterior chimney on the south side is flanked by full-length windows, and double doors open within a full-height polygonal bay. Auburndale has few Greek Revival buildings, so the house stands out as a well-detailed example of the mainstream style. In 1870 it was bought by William H. Blood, a Boston dry goods merchant. His son, Charles W. Blood, later wrote a history of Auburndale in the early twentieth century. The house remains a dwelling in very good condition.
Significance in brief: The house is described as one of the earliest suburban residences in Auburndale, built around the time the North Auburn Dale Land Company began subdividing the area in 1847. It is also called an excellent, well-detailed example of mainstream Greek Revival design, and one of Auburndale's few examples of that style.
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 86001829, listed September 4, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 31 Woodbine St., Newton |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 4, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001829 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used as a dwelling; condition described as very good. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Coordinates | 42.35511, -71.25302 (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 86001829.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5914236
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.