Oak Hill Park Itself

O AK H ILL O AK H ILL O AK H ILL O AK H ILL O AK O AK H ILL O AK H ILL O AK H ILL O AK H ILL O AK H ILL O AK H ILL O AK H ILL O AK H ILL O AK H ILL O AK H ILL O AK H ILL chDiscover Historicchch 30, 57, and 77 Bontempo Avery Path, 552 Saw Mill Brook of Public Works Director Willard opment of Oak Hill Park itself. sales representative. Two homes standard features included vene- Road were all originally oriented Parkway, and 36 Bontempo OAK HILL PARK S. Pratt, laid out the This agency set the were available as models in tian blinds, window shutters and to the street and are in good condi- Road. development. standards and November 1948, but it appears boxes, door knockers and chimes, tion with little or no alterations. They were guidelines for that the homes sold themselves built in ironing boards, and fluo- 57 Bontempo has retained wood On November 11, 1998, responsible the con- without the use of the models. The rescent kitchen lights. All the shingle siding in keeping with the Newton recognized the 50th he end of World War II housing projects in other commu- for the struction, average Oak Hill Park family in homes boasted oil fired radiant originally constructed models. anniversary of the construction of created a unique problem nities, Oak Hill Park was financed design of and also 1950 was under the age of 30 and heating. In addition to their Veteran’s housing in Oak Hill Tin American history. As by the City itself, without the aid Oak Hill sold the had married just before or after choice of six different designs, 634 Saw Mill Brook Parkway Park with the dedication of a mon- veterans returned to their home- of state or federal funds. The City Park, as houses. the war. One third of the children prospective owners could select is a good example of an original ument to Newton Veterans of All towns and families, most found funded the project with a well as One of were born in 1946 or 1947. clapboard, cedar shingle, or house which has retained its origi- Wars. The monument is located that while they wanted to buy or $1,250,000 bond issue. In addi- the coor- its first asbestos shingle siding, hip or nal, one car garage attached to the on Saw Mill Brook Parkway rent homes, very few were avail- tion, the new sewer and water dination of acts was to Great attention was paid to gable roof treatment, and, for a house by a glassed in breezeway. directly across from the business able. Around the country, com- main, which was estimated to cost the enormous choose the variety and convenience in the modest additional sum, the addi- munities looked for ways to pro- an additional $4,000 per lot was 19 ent The house has maintained its orig- and shopping center. work load gener- 46 pre-developm names for the overall plan and street layout, and tion of a porch ($325), breezeway inal orientation with the main vide affordable, modern housing provided by the City. The land, ated by this project. paths and streets. In the houses were built without sac- ($300), or garage ($1,000). With entrance facing the path and the as quickly as possible, and the City formerly the Highland Sand and The plan, reminiscent of the April 1948, they chose to name the rificing architectural variety, mod- all the extras, including cedar sid- of Newton was no exception. Gravel Pit, was sold to the garage oriented to the cul-de-sac Text by the Newton Planning and English “garden city” or the 33 streets and paths in the neigh- ern amenities, or pleasant sur- ing, the most expensive houses still behind it. Other examples of the Development Department in conjunction with the Unlike most other communities, contractor for $50 per lot, “greenbelt” towns constructed by borhood after Newton citizens roundings. The 412 small but cost less than $10,000, and worked Newton Historical Commission. July 2002. original house with the attached though, Newton chose to build an although its per lot value at the New Deal, reflected prece- who had died in WWII. On April modern cottage style homes were out to be about $62.39/month for garage can be found at 5 The Newton Neighborhood Brochure entirely new neighborhood the time was estimated at dents of earlier private subdivi- 14, a lottery was held to pick the constructed from six basic designs the mortgage and taxes. With the Program has been financed in part with federal $2,000-$2,500. It McCarthy Road and 30 Keller funds from the National Park Service, U.S. for its veterans, sions created in the 1920s and names from the list of over 200 for a base price of $7,820. Each average veteran making $58/week, Department of the Interior, through the including 412 was the largest Path. Massachusetts Historical Commission, Secretary of 1930s, such as Radburn, NJ (ca. Newton citizens, while those basic house included three bed- the houses were easily within their the Commonwealth William Francis Galvin, houses, a single proj- 1926). Oak Hill Park featured a whose names were not picked rooms, a living room, dining area, price range. Though all of the Chairman. However, the contents and opinions do shopping ect ever 727 Saw Mill Brook Parkway not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the series of cul-de-sacs, with houses were memorialized when the kitchen, bath, and utility room. houses were the same size, the is a fine example of an original Department of the Interior, or the Massachusetts center, under- facing away from the street and in school was dedicated in their The houses lacked basements, but availability of extras, and the stag- Historical Commission. detached garage as well as of a and a taken toward public walkways which honor. The U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits by the moderately altered house which discrimination on the basis ofrace, color, national school. transverse the development and origin, age, gender or handicap in its federally This City, has retained its original character. assisted programs. If you believe you have been dis- lead to the school and business Area politicians officially dedi- Changes include shifting the front criminated against in any program, activity, or facil- new and it center. The intent of the path sys- cated Oak Hill Park on May 21, ity as described above, or if you desire further infor- neigh- was the entrance to the side of the house mation, please write to: Office for Equal tem was to provide a traditional, 1950 with a parade and speeches. and adding a small entrance porch. Opportunity, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1849 borhood largest homelike atmosphere, secure from It was the first and only time that C Street NW, Room 1324, Washington, DC 20240. Other examples of moderately was called local project the dangers and confusion of mod- an entire village was incorporated of its kind built altered structures include 15 David B. Cohen, Mayor Oak Hill Park. ern life, where “American” values into the City of Newton. 1947 Streetscape under Chapter 372 could be nurtured and perpetuat- Oak Hill Park is located in of the Acts of 1946, which ed. The path system minimized The City set only two qualifi- the southernmost part of the City allowed the City to borrow and the intrusion of cars and attempted cations for homeowners — they at the West Roxbury (a Boston spend money outside the debt limit to foster community and neighbor- had to be veterans and Newton neighborhood) line. It is roughly to construct housing for Veterans. hood interaction by encouraging residents before the war. bounded by Mt. Ida College to the people to favor the common pedes- Interested couples who met these north, the Boston City limits to the The project began in 1946, and trian ways. requirements went to City Hall south, Dedham Street to the east, by the end of 1947, preliminary where an office was set up to sell and the Charles River to the west. plans and estimates were complet- In January of 1948, the City Oak Hill Park homes. The couple ed. City Engineer Ashley L. created the Veterans Housing selected a lot from the map and Unlike many similar veterans’ Robinson, under the supervision Department to oversee the devel- chose a design with the help of a Aerial View 1948 Photos courtesy of the Jackson Homestead O AK H ILL O AK H ILL O AK H ILL O AK H ILL O AK H ILL O AK H ILL O AK H ILL O AK H ILL O AK H ILL O AK H ILL O AK H ILL O AK H ILL O AK H ILL O AK H ILL O AK H ILL O AK H ILL O AK H ILL O AK H ILL O AK H ILL O AK H ILL O AK H ILL O A gering of lots, insured that the area with assembly line techniques. In addition to houses, Oak Hill was not monotonous. Roof forms Additional delays were blamed on Park includes a two-story buff brick were also slightly varied. the scarcity of materials after the International Style school, dating War. Despite the fact that these from 1950. Memorial School The Kelly Company of shortages meant there were still no (accessible by the path system and Arlington began construction in utilities available in the area in Stein Circle off of the Saw Mill June of 1948, preparing founda- December 1948, owners had Brook Parkway) was built to serve tions at the rate of 10 per day.

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