Woodward, John, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1686 at what is now 50 Fairlee Road in Waban, this farmhouse is one of the few seventeenth-century dwellings left in Newton. It is a two-and-a-half-story, two-room-plan house with a shallow gable roof and a massive central chimney. The original roof was dismantled in the early eighteenth century and the early framing members were reused in new rafters. Later changes include a Federal-period lean-to, a Greek Revival-period ell, replacement 6/6 windows and a Colonial Revival enclosed entrance porch. The long hall with rooms opening off one side suggests it may once have served as an inn. John and Rebecca Woodward bought the house and land in 1686. John Woodward, a weaver, served as highway surveyor, constable and selectman. His descendants stayed in the house for almost 275 years, and one, Deacon John Woodward, moderated the 1776 Town Meeting that urged independence.
Significance in brief: The house is tied to the Woodward family, among the earliest settlers of Newton, and is one of the city's few surviving seventeenth-century dwellings. It was among the earliest houses on Sherborn Road, a major early thoroughfare, and Woodward family members lived there for almost 275 years. The form cites Criteria A and C.
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 86001897, listed September 4, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 50 Fairlee Rd., Newton |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 4, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001897 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | John Woodward |
| Architectural style | Colonial |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is a dwelling; the form lists a garage as an outbuilding and says the house has not been moved. |
| Acreage | 1.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.32256, -71.22310 (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 86001897.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6264853
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.