Working Boys Home
Why it's listed
Built in 1896 on a hilltop above the Charles River in Newton Highlands, this red brick building was the second Working Boys Home, an institution founded in Boston in 1883 by Rev. David H. Roche. It housed homeless boys aged 12 to 17 who worked and contributed part of their wages, and it provided schooling, trade training and religious instruction. Boston church architects William H. and John A. McGinty designed it in the Romanesque Revival style. The H-shaped plan rises 4-1/2 stories above a raised basement, with a 13-bay front, granite trim, a slate roof, copper cupolas and a 7-story clock tower with a pyramidal roof. The construction cost of $300,000 nearly bankrupted the organization, which was reorganized in 1907 under the Xaverian Brothers. The home closed in 1961, later served as a novitiate, and was sold in 1979 for use as a community center. It is recognized as a major local example of its architectural style.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a major example of Romanesque Revival architecture in Newton (criterion C). It was designed by Boston church architects William H. and John A. McGinty and has a distinctive 7-story clock tower. It also housed a Catholic charitable institution that served generations of boys.
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 86001898, listed September 4, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 333 Nahanton St., Newton |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 4, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001898 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | W.H. & J.A. McGintly (also spelled McGinty); William H. and John A. McGinty |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as good; now used as a Jewish Community Center after the buildings were sold in 1979. |
| Acreage | 1.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.29986, -71.20435 (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 86001898.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8034894
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.