War Memorial
The War Memorial in Newton stands with classical symmetry and a sense of permanence.
Built in 1931 in the Colonial Revival style, the building was built to serve two purposes: a new city hall and as a memorial to the men who served in the First World War.
The building is monumental in scale, with striking Greek temple style portico supported by Corinthian columns. At the western end, the memorial is crowned with an elegant steeple.
Newton had become a city in 1873 and by the early 20th century, the need for a new civic center had grown, and this building answered that call. The war memorial was dedicated on Armistice Day, November 11, 1931, linking the building directly to remembrance.
The surrounding landscape, designed by the Olmsted Brothers, softens the scale of the structure. In 1990, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
What makes this place different is that it is not just a memorial or a city hall, but both. Here is a place where the daily work of a community continues, alongside a lasting remembrance of those who served.
Read More From Nancy
“Young at Heart”
At the intersection of Commonwealth and Walnut Street in Newton, stands a statue representing a man who has inspired more runners in the last century. Entitled “Young at Heart“, this monument honors Johnny Kelley. The statue captures Kelley twice, once as a 27-year-old crossing the finish line as a winner of the Boston Marathon, and again at age 84, […]
Jackson Homestead
We have visited the Jackson Homestead in Newton many times over the years. Along with its rich local history, the house holds an important place in the story of the Underground Railroad. When I first visited it with my children, I remember seeing the iron shackles that had once been used on enslaved people. Seeing […]
