West Newton
The village of West Newton originally consisted of only a cluster of buildings and a few outlying farms. In 1720, only three houses were within a mile of West Newton Square. Agriculture was the chief occupation in the area and large sections of the village remained forested. Nevertheless, this tiny village played an important role in the early history of Newton, becoming a religious center for Newton's northwestern section in 1764 when a second church, known as West Parish was built. During disputes over the boundaries of the new parish, a line was drawn through a sizeable squash field, and West Newton's detractors from Newton Centre dubbed the village "Squash End." This rivalry continued into the 19th century. In 1848 West Newton succeeded in having the Town Hall relocated here from Newton Centre, where it remained until the early 1930s. The village's growth was closely tied to its favorable location for transportation.
By 1850, a relatively large number of new, year-round homes were under construction. While long time residents remained near the village center, wealthy Boston commuters preferred West Newton Hill. At the same time, an influx of Irish immigrants and local workmen were building small cottages. West Newton had little industry and supported only a small business center for local services, shopping, and highway traffic. Its main attraction was its cheap land and close proximity to downtown Boston. With the new population and greater prosperity, churches were established, and several small wood-frame buildings in the center of the district were replaced with handsome business blocks. The village also became well known for its superior private schools, particularly the West Newton English and Classical School, founded by Nathaniel T. Allen.
Many homes and buildings built during the period of the 18th and 19th centuries are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. One such building is the West Newton Cinema, originally named the West Newton Theatre. This small theatre is located in West Newton Square and shows independent films. Unfortunately, during the construction of the Massachusetts Turnpike, many historic buildings and homes were destroyed, including the Curve Street neighborhood which was originally settled by freed slaves following the Civil War. Also lost during construction were the West Newton Fire House and the West Newton Boston and Albany Railroad Station.
Visitors can still see many homes and buildings of historic importance while in West Newton. Also while in the area, visitors can check out some of the local restaurants such as a French Bistro, Lumiere, Blue Ribbon Bar-B-Q, or Coney Island Ice Cream Café.
