Thirteen Villages & One Goal... Newton Corner

In the 18th and 19th centuries, when people in Boston and elsewhere referred to "Newton", they meant what later came to be known as "Newton Corner".  The village of Newton (Corner) had the most developed and lively commercial center of all of Newton's villages.  That history only adds to the sense of loss felt by longtime residents of the village, which lost its center to the Mass Turnpike extension in the early 1960's. According to the village website, "Newton Corner has been trying to mend ever since the Massachusetts Turnpike extension sliced Newton's then largest village... " Pro-urbanization planners chose road construction efficiency over the residents, doing away with the village center, and its rail and trolley service.

Newton Corner was once the commercial center of Newton, with a lively village ambiance.

Mass Pike construction advances towards Newton Corner, 1963. Photo, Globe.

This tower, an anomaly in Newton, replaced the village center. Photo, CC.

Newton Corner has yet to recover from the near fatal blow delivered by bureaucrats and planners when they razed the village center to create the infamous "circle of death" traffic interchange. Residents look to the future when, they hope, it might be possible to deck over the Mass Pike to restore a traditional village green and center.

Newton Corner has a rich history.  
The handsome Eliot Church on Centre Street is the latest in a line of church buildings named for the colonial preacher. The Eliot Memorial commemorates the spot where Eliot preached, and today overlooks the Newton Commonwealth Golf Course.

The village is the home of the West Suburban YMCA, and many schools - Lincoln-Eliot, Underwood, Bigelow Middle School, Newton-Country Day School, Mount Alvernia High School and the Carroll Center for the Blind. 

The Eliot Church.

The Eliot Memorial in Newton Corner.

The Eliot Memorial now. Photo, Google Earth.

Boston College's second campus is in Newton Corner.  Village landmarks include the Newton Corner Bell, and the colonial East Parish Burying Ground. The village is known for its beautiful Farlow, Chaffin and Kenrick Parks, and for its many fine places of worship. 

The Newton Corner Bell. Photo, CC.

Farlow Hill Historic District. Photo, CC.

Farlow Park. Photo, CC.

The Farlow Hill Historic District national designation affords only a very slight measure of protection to the architectural heritage of the village.  Newton Corner faces the same onslaught of demolitions and higher-density construction as all other Newton villages.  Newton Corner has many historic houses of note, including the Samuel Farquhar House, and the pre-Revolutionary War Durant-Kenrick House, now fortunately saved as a museum. Read more.

The Durant-Kenrick House, built in 1734. Photo, Historic Newton.

Samuel Farquhar House, one of the village's many historic houses. Photo, CC.

Land Use & Over-Development Challenges Facing Newton Corner

These include the need to restore the village center and eliminate the "circle of death" pedestrian experience, and the efforts to restore Farlow Park.  Newton Corner, like all Newton villages, faces the loss of affordable houses, historic houses and cherished neighborhood streetscapes to teardowns, McMansionization, and high-density urbanization.

Residents say Newton Corner has lost its center and identity to urbanization. Photo, Google.

However, Newton Corner residents have a vision of this circle giving way to a decked-over Mass Pike, a restored village green and shops, and  pedestrian experience that is pleasant instead of terrifying.  They are looking for elected leaders with the courage to pursue that vision.

Newton Corner Wants Its Village Center Restored
The ominous-looking concrete structures built in the wake of the Mass Pike Extension, and on the ashes of the village center, probably won't go away.  The circular system of roads and overpasses built to accommodate the Mass Pike's Exit 17 on and off ramps is dangerous to pedestrians and motorists alike, and known locally as the "Circle of Death".

A bus crashed on the Mass Pike overpass at Newton Corner on May 18, 2014. Photo courtesy, M. Markir.

Farlow Park, 19thc. postcard.

Restoring an Historic Open Space at Farlow Park

The Friends of Farlow Park, a neighborhood group of Newton Corner residents,  worked diligently from 2004 on a plan to restore the original landscaping, pond and ornamental bridge at Farlow Park.  The restored park opened in 2018. Newton Corner residents will benefit greatly from the proposed investment in improving an important and historic community open space.   See the  landscape plan that was used to restore the park below.