Signs of the Times in Auburndale

According to Brian Lever, preservation planner for the city of Newton, “the Auburndale Local Historic District…consists of two National Register Historic Districts and four individually listed National Register properties as well as other historic buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.” The district was legally established on March 1, 2005, but there were no signs alerting the public to its presence, as there are in all the other historic districts in Newton.

But that changed this year, when the Lasell Neighborhood Association expressed a willingness to donate the signs to the city. They applied to the Auburndale Historic District Commission in 2007.

“The placement of these signs at the corners of our neighborhood signified the achievement of a long held dream," said Caroline and Larry Schwirian, who worked on the signs. "Locations for the signs at the four main entrance points to the District on Woodland Road and Grove Street were approved.” 

Next came designing the signs. Residents hired designer Lee Hatfield, who had experience in designing other historic district signs within Newton. After extensive review of homes in the district, the committee selected 73 Grove St. and 7 Williston Road as the homes that would adorn the signs that demarcate the district.

Fundraising was a major part of the effort, as these signs were erected only through voluntary donations from people living in the area. Ice cream socials were organized, flyers were printed and email campaigns were put together all in an effort to raise the funds necessary to purchase the poles and have the signs made up. Once the signs were produced, additional funds needed to be raised to have them installed. Kate Haworth, a resident in the historic district, volunteered to store the signs at her home in the interim.

After all the money was raised, the signs needed to be installed. Working with the Auburndale Historic District Commission and the city’s Department of Public Works, the signs were put in place. Years of effort in fundraising, design, and administrative work culminated in having these signs installed.

Brian Lever explains that these signs “serve as recognition of the area’s significance and also promote preservation by alerting visitors to the presence of the district as well as encouraging people to tour the historic neighborhood and appreciate its architecture. Signage is a simple and often under appreciated form of public education.”

Take a walk or a drive through the Auburndale Historic District to feast your eyes on the many beautiful homes in a variety of architectural styles—Queen Anne, Italianate, Stick Style, Mansard, Arts and Crafts, and many more. These districts not only beautify the city but also serve as areas of public education, where residents and others can see for themselves the variety of residential architecture Newton boasts. The rich historic housing stock is one of the things that make Newton so special. And in Auburndale, now people know exactly where to find it.  

Editor's note: This is the final Then & Now column for Newton Patch. We would like to thank Allison for her interesting and informative history articles over the last year.