Hyde, Eleazer, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1770 at 401 Woodward Street in Waban, this clapboard house represents the High Georgian style in Newton. It follows a plan that spread after 1750, with two rooms flanking a central hall and twin chimneys in the rear wall, replacing the older central-chimney arrangement. Its pilastered, pedimented entrance, 6/9 sash windows framed into the cornice on the upper story, and crown mouldings on the first-floor windows are noted features. The land belonged to Eleazer Hyde Senior, one of Newton's earliest settlers, and passed to his son Eleazer Hyde Jr. After several changes of ownership, Edward Wyman bought the estate in 1866. It was later sold to real estate speculators who subdivided it into 87 house lots after the Circuit Railroad improved service to Boston in 1886. Architect H. Langford Warren remodelled the farmhouse. It remains a dwelling in very good condition, with an ell and porch added in the late nineteenth century.
Significance in brief: The form argues it is one of Newton's few surviving Late Georgian residences and is tied to the Hyde family, among the city's first settlers. It is also a good example of the post-1750 two-room, central-hall, rear-chimney plan favored by more prosperous householders. Later owners and developers connect it to the suburban growth of Waban.
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 86001839, listed September 4, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 401 Woodward St., Newton |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 4, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001839 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Eleazer Hyde |
| Architectural style | High Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is a dwelling; condition is listed as very good, with a garage as an outbuilding and later alterations including an ell and a west porch. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.32626, -71.22736 (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 86001839.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5354475
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.