Newton (Middlesex County, Mass.) city directory 1943, Part 1

Author: R.L. Polk & Co.
Publication date: 1943
Publisher: R.L. Polk & Co.
Number of Pages: 958

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NEWTON FREE LIBRARY

3 1323 01685 6121

NEWTON SAVINGS BANK

A Mutual Savings Bank Since 1831

Savings Accounts Mortgages Life Insurance A Complete Thrift Program

286 WASHINGTON STREET NEWTON, MASS.

SEE PAGE 8 BUYERS' GUIDE

NEWTON SECRETARIAL SCHOOL

EXCELLENT TRAINING

DAY CLASSES EVENING CLASSES

SUMMER COURSE

INDIVIDUAL PROGRESS PLACEMENT

ESTHER C. MORTIMER, B.S., Ed.M., Director

arcalew 5711-LASell 4303 NEWTON, Massachusetts

KERRIGAN BROTHERS

GARAGE

SERVICE STORE

MOTOR CLINIC

74 BEAGOR ST., NEWTON

Phone BiGelow 4600

TEXACO SERVICE STATIONS

730 Bedoso SL, Nawt. Cen.

899 Washington St., N'ville

Tela LABall 2suo 1112 Weagen St., Waban

Tel. LASell 9624

Tel. BIGelow 0277

SEE PAGE 5 Buyers' Guide

SHERMAN BROS., Inc.

DUCO

---

PAINTERS and DECORATORS 288 CENTRE STREET NEWTON

Telephone BIGelow 8480

425-1-M

Custis and Joyce of Newtonville

Undertakers

"Serving the Community

Seven-ninety three Washington Street Bigelow 6687

William F. Joyce M. James Joyce

(1943) R. L. POLK & CO.'S

"Leave It To LEAVITT'S To Stop Those Leaks"

JOHN A. LEAVITT President

ARCHIE MacDONALD Manager

"It's the Cover that Counts"

ROOFERS

and

SHEET METAL WORKERS

Serving the Newtons and Surroundings for 79 Years

For any type of roofing and sheet metal work installed or repaired - Call . .

W. P. LEAVITT SONS CO. ESTABLISHED 1865 Dial DECatur 0778

29 Pearl St., Newton, Mass.

MEMBER NEWTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

NEWTON CITY DIRECTORY (1943)

The Newton Chamber of Commerce

VINCENT C. STANLEY President

RUPERT C. THOMPSON Secretary

Newton, the Garden City, covers an area of 18 square miles, has a population of 70,000, high civic standards, one of the best school systems in the country, and because of its close proximity to Boston, has unusual advantages as a place of residence.

The Newton Chamber of Commerce is an organized, co-operative agency to advance the civic, industrial, mercantile, and develop- ment interests of all the Newtons.

There are three types of Membership-Civic -Business-Sustaining.

This organization is only made possible through the wholehearted co-operation and support of the people of all the Newtons. Every Citizen should be a member.

Join Your Chamber of Commerce.

It renders constant, practical and effective service and welcomes inquiries at its offices conveniently located at

297 WALNUT ST. NEWTONVILLE

Telephone LASell 4650

(1943) R. L. POLK & CO.'S

POLK'S

NEWTON (MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASS.)

CITY DIRECTORY

Vol. 1943 XXXIX

Containing an Alphabetical Directory of Business Concerns and Pri- vate Citizens, a Directory of Householders, Occupants of Office Buildings and Other Business Places, Including a Complete Street and Avenue Guide, a Map and Much Informa- tion of a Miscellaneous Character; also a

BUYERS' GUIDE

and a Complete

Classified Business Directory

FOR DETAILED CONTENTS SEE GENERAL INDEX

PRICE

The DIRECTORY IS THE COMMON INTERMEDIARY BETWEEN. BUTERA SELLER

$15.00

R. L. POLK & CO., Publishers

District Office 179 LINCOLN STREET, BOSTON, MASS.

DIRECTORY LIBRARY FOR LIMITED FREE USE OF PUBLIC AT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, 634 COMMONWEALTH AVE.

Member Association of North American Directory Publishers

Section 28, Copyright Law In Force July 7, 1909

That any person who wilfully and for profit shall infringe any copyright secured by this act, or who shall knowingly or wilfully aid or abet such infringement, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by imprisonment for not exceeding one year, or by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars, or both, in the discretion of the court.

UBLICO ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERICAN

189

DIRE DIRCO DIRE ODRODIRECDIREC

DIRECTORY

IS THE COMMON INTERMEDIARY BETWEEN

BUYERANDSELLER"

City Directory Statistical Review

Suggested and Planned by American Community Advertising Association Adopted by Association of North American Directory Publishers

NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS

"The Garden City"

Form of Government: Mayor and Board of Aldermen; each of the seven wards repre- sented by three members: one alderman elected by the ward, and two aldermen-at- large elected from the ward on a general ticket; election held biennially on the Tues- day next following the first Monday in No- vember of the odd numbered years.

Population: U. S. Census 1940; 69,873 Area: 18 square miles.

Altitude: 15 to 320 feet.

Assessed Valuation: (1941) $169,051,900 with $27.00 tax per thousand.

Colored Population: 600 estimated.

Native Born Population: 76.9 per cent. of whole population

Predominating Nationalities in City: Native American; Irish, Canadians and Italians. Parks: City, 420 acres; includes 211.84 acres playgrounds and 95 acres Water Works land; Metropolitan, 233 acres; includes 12 acres Quinobequin Road, from Washington Street, Lower Falls to Boylston Street, Up- per Falls.

City's Bonded Debt: January 1, 1943, $4,877,- 000.00.

Financial: One National bank, one trust com- pany with seven branches and three sav- ings banks, four co-operative banks.

Church Buildings: Forty-seven.

Building and Construction: Value of building permits in 1942, $524,384; 404 permits; including 43 single dwellings at a cost of $243,850.

Dwellings: Total number, 18,338.

City Served by : Boston & Albany railroad and Middlesex & Boston bus service.

Amusements: There are two theatres and one amusement park. Theatres seat 2,700 peo- ple

Hospitals: One with 290 beds.

Education: Andover Newton Theological School, Boston College, Lasell Junior Col-

lege and Fessenden. Number of schools, thirty-eight, including five high schools, eight parochial and diocesan schools. Num- ber of pupils in public schools 12,393; in private schools 920 (estimated); in paro- chial schools 2,010. Total of all teachers in public schools is 527.

Libraries: There are 212,779 volumes in the libraries of the city.

City Statistics: Total street mileage 275, 197 miles of accepted streets, 78 miles private ways and 4.17 miles State Highway. Miles of sewers laid 201.87, Metropolitan 2.94. Ca- pacity of water works (state and muni- cipal) 10,000,000 gallons daily average pump of 5,130,000 gallons, with 241.717 miles of mains and value of plant estimated at $4,000,000. Fire department employs one hundred and thirty-eight men with follow- ing motor equipment; nine autos, ten motor engines, two hook and ladder trucks, one lighting plant, one aerial truck, in ten sta- tion houses. Police department has 140 men with eighteen pieces of motor equip- ment.

NEWTON Interesting Facts Regarding the City

It is interesting to note just what Newton stands for to residents in other parts of the country. With its beautiful long avenues, its long lanes leading into beautiful wide parks, its streams and hills, its lovely gardens and artistic residences, it stands for prosperity and success. It signifies elegance and beauty, rather than fashion and display.

Although the march of time has brought changes to Newton in every part, though much of its barren land has been transformed into house lots and streets, though many of its old farm houses have been turned into modern dwellings, still Newton maintains an abundance of its natural beauty which has given it the name of the Garden City-wide- spread recognition as a city of beauty-a city of homes.

The Charles River winds its course along the northern and western boundaries for more than sixteen miles, adding utilized water power at its upper and lower falls and much beauty to the scenery for miles around. New- ton has that same New England atmosphere which characterizes so many other Massa- chusetts cities, with its stable type of people whose interests are centered in their homes and the finer things of life. Each and every part of Newton typifies the modern "home city," a source of admiration to all visitors and of pride to its citizens.

A Few Historical Facts

As early as 1631 Newton was settled and fortified, less than a year after the founda- tion of Boston. In those days, Newton con- sisted of a large tract of land with a dwelling here and there-a modest settlement, but the foundation, nevertheless, upon which rests the beautiful progressive city of today. King's hand-book of Newton states "the domain northward of the Charles was acquired from the Indian queen, the squaw-sachem, Nane- pashemet's daughter, one of her perquisites being a new coat each winter as long as she lived."

Newton was incorporated a town in 1688, being called New Cambridge until 1692; and having outgrown town government by 1873, was chartered a city in that year.

During the war with the Indians the men of Newton left their homes and families and fought with the rest of the settlers. There is a stone in Nonantum, known as the Eliot memorial, which bears this inscription: "Here at Nonantum, October 28, 1646, in Waban's Wigwam near this spot, John Eliot began to preach the gospel to the Indians. Here he founded the first Christian community of In- dians within the English colonies."

During the period of the Revolutionary War, the men of Newton rose with the other men of Massachusetts and shared the hard- ships that the crude army led by the great George Washington endured. And so, history repeats itself down through the ages. There are many beautiful monuments and ancient landmarks, silent tributes to the men who so nobly answered the call to arms, from the early days when the settlers fought with the Indians, to the World War.

Population

The best estimates of the present popula- tion of Newton indicates that it is over the seventy thousand mark today. This shows a tremendous increase within the past decade. The steady stream of people who come to Newton yearly to make their homes here are of the thrifty, desirable sort-good citizens who soon blend into the social and civic life and share the pride of their neighbors in their adopted city.

Administration

The administration of Newton's city gov- ernment is in the hands of safe and con- servative executives, honest public-spirited citizens who have the best interests of the people at heart and in their minds. This is manifested by the high standards of admini- stration which this city has always experi- enced.

Newton has a police force of 140 men, giv- ing it protection at all hours of the day and night. Within recent years, all new modern fire apparatus has been installed. The fire

department with 138 permanent men is al- ways ready at hand to meet every emergency.

Educational Opportunities

One factor which has always given Newton a high standing in the estimation of those looking for a good "home city" is its superb system of schools. Since the early days of 1699, when the first little schoolhouse was built and John Staples became teacher, hold- ing his scholastic sessions four days in each week for a stipend of two shillings a day, the school system of Newton has grown nobly.

Since those early days, Newton has de- veloped tremendously along educational lines. Now there are high grade modern buildings -schools of the highest type for this purpose, with proper exits and due caution against fires and other emergencies. There are also new modern high schools, and the number of pupils that enter the high schools has in- creased appreciably within the last decade. There also are several very fine private schools. The Lasell Junior College, with its beautiful spacious grounds, established 1851, has long been famous. This young ladies' academy has admitted young women from all parts of the United States.

Among other well-known private schools within the city are Fessenden, and MtIda Junior College. The higher institutions of learning are represented by Boston College, in the Chestnut Hill section of the city, and the Andover Newton Theological School (1825) at Newton Centre.

Newton also has a splendid playground system which has developed tremendously within the last decade. There are now many beautiful spots which have been turned into playgrounds for the young. These play. grounds are in charge of very efficient young men and women and the children are taught all sorts of healthful games, while other edu- cational opportunities and interests are en- couraged and promoted.

The Public Library

Another important factor which cannot be disassociated from the school room is the Newton Free Library. This was organized in September, 1869, and received the property of its sponsors, the Newton Library Associa- tion. In 1875 the stockholders of the associa- tion transferred the entire estate to the City of Newton. The location of the building is on Centre street, the ancient main thoroughfare of the town. The Newton Library contains 212,779 volumes and is continually adding to the collection. There are valuable reference books of all periods, as well as works of old and new fiction. There are also many beauti- ful and rare prints. There are now branch libraries in ten sections of the Newtons, the most recent one being that established in Newtonville

Church and Social Activities

Church influence is strong in Newton, many social and welfare activities also centering in the church organizations, of which there are forty-seven in the city. The first church was organized in 1633.

There are over one hundred forty clubs and fraternal organizations in the city, a federa- tion of Women's Clubs, Kiwanis and Rotary, and the Newton Chamber of Commerce.

Growth

History shows that the different parts of Newton have made rapid strides in develop- ment. In 1860 Nonantum Hill had only the Ricker family on its massive western should- er. The greater part of it consisted of scrub oak, a lonely and desolate tract of land. Early in 1800 Newton Lower Falls was a tranquil little village with but ten resident families. In 1872 the village had risca to 940. A little later the village of Newton Highlands was not much more than a crossroads settlement in a region of farms. Nearby were shops of the blacksmith and wheelwright. But today Newton is a great modern city teeming with activities, ever growing, ever expanding. Beautiful modern structures are constantly being erected. Among the later ones the An- gier Memorial School at Waban, the Oak Hill School at Newton Centre, the Franklin School at West Newton, the Eliot Lincoln School at Newton, the West Newton Memorial Library and the Newtonville Branch Library, add much to the appearance of these sections. There are also the Christian Science Church and the Junior High School in Newtonville

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Newton (Middlesex County, Mass.) city directory 1943, Part 1

Author: R.L. Polk & Co. Publication date: 1943 Publisher: R.L. Polk & Co. Number of Pages: 958

Author: R.L. Polk & Co.
Publication date: 1943
Publisher: R.L. Polk & Co.
Number of Pages: 958