Auburndale, Massachusetts

Auburndale is one of the thirteen villages within the city of Newton in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It lies at the western end of Newton near the intersection of interstate highways 90 and 95. It is bisected by the Massachusetts Turnpike (Interstate 90). Auburndale is surrounded by three other Newton villages (West Newton, Waban, and Newton Lower Falls) as well as the city of Waltham and the Charles River. Auburndale is the home of Williams and Burr elementary schools, as well as Lasell College. Auburndale Square is the location of the Plummer Memorial Library, which is run by the Auburndale Community Library and no longer affiliated with the Newton Free Library, the Turtle Lane Playhouse, and many small businesses.

Auburndale
Village
Auburndale Library
Auburndale Library
Auburndale is located in Greater Boston area
Auburndale
Auburndale
Auburndale is located in Massachusetts
Auburndale
Auburndale
Auburndale is located in the United States
Auburndale
Auburndale
Coordinates: 42°20′50″N 71°14′58″W / 42.34722°N 71.24944°W / 42.34722; -71.24944
CountryUnited States
StateMassachusetts
CountyMiddlesex
CityNewton
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
02466[1]
Area code(s)617 and 857

History

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The first major settler in the area was William Robinson, who built a house in 1678 on what is now Freeman Street. The oldest house in Auburndale stands at 473 Auburn Street and was built in 1730 by William Robinson.[2]

Auburndale, once billed as Auburndale-on-the-Charles, was the home of Norumbega Park, which closed in 1963. The park included rides, a zoo, and boating. The nationally famous big band venue Totem Pole Ballroom was associated with Norumbega Park and closed in 1964.[3] The area now contains over 80 acres of conservation land, as well as access to the Charles River.

Transportation

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Auburndale is divided into two parts by the Massachusetts Turnpike, which connects it to neighboring villages of Newton and downtown Boston. The village is located adjacent to the intersection of interstate highways 90 and 95.

A number of public transportation options connect Auburndale to neighboring communities. The MBTA Green Line's D Branch light rail line serves Auburndale at Woodland and Riverside stations, the latter being the line's terminus. Both stations have bus connections; Woodland station is served by MWRTA bus routes 1 and 8, while Riverside connects to MBTA bus route 558.

The MBTA Commuter Rail's Framingham/Worcester Line serves the village at Auburndale station, adjacent to the Massachusetts Turnpike. MBTA bus routes 505 and 558, which offer express service to downtown Boston, both stop at the station.

National Register historic sites

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Nineteen places in Auburndale are on the National Register of Historic Places, as follows

Image Site Name Street address Built/Founded/Comments Date
designated
Auburndale Congregational Church-United Parish of Auburndale 64 Hancock St. ? October 4, 1986
Clark House 379 Central St. ? October 4, 1986
E. C. Hammond House 35 Groveland St. ? March 16, 1990
Harding House-Walker Missionary Home 161–163 Grove St. ? October 4, 1986
House at 203 Islington Road 203 Islington Rd. ? October 4, 1986
House at 102 Staniford Street 102 Staniford St. ? October 4, 1986
House at 2212 Commonwealth Avenue 2212 Commonwealth Ave. ? October 4, 1986
House at 230 Melrose Street 230 Melrose St. ? October 4, 1986
House at 307 Lexington Street 307 Lexington St. ? October 4, 1986
House at 31 Woodbine Street 31 Woodbine St. ? October 4, 1986
Lasell Neighborhood Historic District Roughly bounded by Woodland and Studio Rds., Aspen and Seminary Aves., and Grove St. Includes Lasell College. ? October 4, 1986
Old Shephard Farm 1832 Washington St., on city rolls as 39 Stanton Avenue ? October 4, 1986
Plummer Memorial Library 375 Auburn St. ? March 16, 1990
Riverside Concrete Company-Lamont's Market 2 Charles St. ? March 16, 1990
Rufus Estabrook House 33 Woodland Rd ? October 4, 1986
The Eminence 122 Islington Rd. ? October 4, 1986
Walker Home for Missionary Children 161–63, 165, 167 Grove St., 136, 138, 144 Hancock St. ? July 4, 1992
Whittemore's Tavern 473 Auburn St. ? October 4, 1986
Winslow-Haskell Mansion 53 Vista Ave. ? November 25, 1979

Local Historic District

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Established in 2005, the Auburndale Historic District includes approximately 275 properties and encompasses two National Register Districts.[4][5]

Places of worship

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Points of interest

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  • Auburndale Cove Park & Playground, West Pine Street.[10][11]
  • Norumbega Park Conservation Area.[12]
  • Turtle Lane Playhouse, 283 Melrose Street[13]
  • Woodland Golf Club
  • Charles River Canoe and Kayak Company

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Auburndale ZIP Code". zipdatamaps.com. 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  2. ^ Historic Auburndale, published by the Auburndale Community Association (1996)
  3. ^ Norumbega Park. Norumbega Park. Retrieved on April 9, 2011.
  4. ^ Lasell Neighborhood Association (LNA) Archived September 5, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Lasellneighborhood.org. Retrieved on April 9, 2011.
  5. ^ City of Newton-Planning & Development. Newtonma.gov. Retrieved on April 9, 2011.
  6. ^ Corpus Christi-St. Bernard Parish – Home. Ccsbparish.org. Retrieved on April 9, 2011.
  7. ^ Church – Episcopal Parish of the Messiah Newton MA Auburndale an anglocatholic faith community. Parishofthemessiah.org (March 22, 2011). Retrieved on 2011-04-09.
  8. ^ Welcome to Temple Reyim, A Congregation of Friends. Reyim.org. Retrieved on April 9, 2011.
  9. ^ United Parish of Auburndale Faith is about learning. Upanewtonma.org. Retrieved on April 9, 2011.
  10. ^ City of Newton Archived July 22, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. Ci.newton.ma.us. Retrieved on April 9, 2011.
  11. ^ Auburndale Park. Newton Conservators. Retrieved on April 9, 2011.
  12. ^ Norumbega Park Conservation Area. Newton Conservators (September 14, 2008). Retrieved on 2011-04-09.
  13. ^ Turtle Lane Playhouse. Turtlelane.org. Retrieved on April 9, 2011.
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