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Auburndale

Auburndale Newton MA

Auburndale History

Auburndale sits on the bank of the Charles River, bordering Waltham.  The first major settler in the area was William Robinson who built a house in 1678 on what is now Freeman Street.  At the time, Auburndale was centered around that general area of Lexington St, Auburn St and Auburndale Ave all come together.

Until the Reverend Charles du Maresque Pigeon, grandson of an illustrious eighteenth century local, persuaded the railroad to introduce a flag stop on its line two miles West of West Newton, this was a rural farm community.  The influx of traffic from the railroad led to a surge in real estate activity with three major sub-divisions built in 1847 alone. This was the start of the village which would later become famous as the home of Norumbega Park (where the Marriot now sits) and the Riverside Recreation Area on the Charles River (which still exists).  Development of the southern part of town was unaffected by the Boston and Worcester Railroad. When the Charles River Railroad was built in 1852 carrying passengers was not its primary use. Only when the two railroads joined to form the Circuit in 1886 did substantial growth occur.

Auburndale is home to LaSalle University (founded in 1851), United Parish of Auburndale (built in 1857), Auburndale Cove on the Charles, an MBTA Commuter Rail Station, the Auburndale Historic District and community resources such as the Auburndale Community Library. More than twenty buildings in Auburndale are listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Its oldest home, located at 473 Auburn dates all the way back to 1730. It was a tavern and is now a private residence.

Some points of interest include the Auburndale Cover Park & Playground; Norumbega Park Conservation Area; Turtle Lane Playhouse; Woodland Golf Club; Brae Burn Country Club; Charles River Canoe and Kayak Company.

More information on the history of Auburndale can be found on the Wikipedia Auburndale page.

There is also a video on the history of Auburndale on YouTube

And a tour of Auburndale by Bob Vila

Videos on Norumbega Park:

Down by the Riverside

Norumbega Park Home Movies

Remembering the Totem Pole Ballroom

Another on the Totem Pole Ballroom

Norumbega Park 1955

Auburndale also has a Facebook Page.

Also home to the Williams School and Burr School.

 

 

1914 1916 1919 1920 1922 Auburndale Newton MA

144 Hancock St, Auburndale

This is another interesting house in the history of Newton.  This is the Walker Center – http://www.walkerctr.org/

At the time that these students lived there, this was the Walker Home for Missionary Children, founded in 1864.  Children of missionaries stayed here while their parents went off on missions.  I am sure there were a lot more students that stayed here, but Newton High School only started printing yearbooks in 1909.  And they only started putting addresses under the names in 1911, then skipped addresses in 1912.

 

Auburndale Newton MA

Vintage Photos of Auburndale

Duffield Rd – 1915

Rice Residence – Auburndale

 

Plummer’s Block – Auburn St Auburndale

Comm Ave and Auburndale Ave

Auburndale Station

Maple St – Auburndale

Auburndale Cove

Weston Bridge – Auburndale

Burnham Iodine Company – Auburndale

Plummer’s Block – Auburndale – 1976