Windsor Road Historic District
Why it's listed
Windsor Road Historic District is a residential neighborhood of 48 houses on Windsor, Kent and Hereford Roads in Waban, a village of Newton, Massachusetts. Its origins lie in 1875, when nurseryman William C. Strong bought a 93-acre farm, opened a nursery and promoted the Circuit Railroad, which helped establish Waban. Strong laid out Windsor Road in a curve up Moffat Hill and planted trees and flowers along it for prospective buyers. About fifteen houses were built there by 1907, and about twenty more followed by 1950. The houses show Queen Anne, Shingle, Colonial Revival, Craftsman and Tudor Revival styles, several designed by H. Langford Warren, who had worked in H. H. Richardson's office. Large lots, varied terrain and views over the Brae Burn Country Club add to the setting. The district was listed for its link to Waban's founding and Newton's suburban growth, and for its architectural quality.
Significance in brief: The district is tied to the founding of Waban Village by nurseryman William C. Strong and reflects Newton's turn-of-the-century subdivision of large farms and estates for a growing population. It holds outstanding Queen Anne, Shingle, Colonial Revival, Craftsman and Tudor Revival houses, set among curving roads, large lots, varied terrain and sweeping views.
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 90000018, listed February 16, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Windsor and Kent Rds., Newton |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | February 16, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000018 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1880s-1940s |
| Architect / builder | H. Langford Warren (Alexander Davidson House, William C. Strong House); Clinton Hill (63 Windsor Road); Edward B. Stratton; Gay & Proctor; Stewart & Parkinson; Graves & Epps; Harry Morton Ramsay; Kendall, Taylor & Company; and others |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne, Shingle, Colonial Revival, Craftsman and Tudor Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential; general condition is excellent. Of 48 buildings, 42 contribute and 6 do not. |
| Acreage | 26 |
| Coordinates | 42.32977, -71.23164 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 90000018.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8024686
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.