Painting Shows a Rare View of Lower Falls in 1852

What did Newton look like before the construction of highways and subdivisions? A rare 19th century landscape painting, View of The Great Curve Near Newton Lower Falls on the Boston & Worcester Railroad, shows a pastoral view of Newton Lower Falls. Part of Historic Newton's permanent collection, the 1852 painting, by Samuel Adams Hudson, is now on display at the Jackson Homestead.

Hudson (1813-1877) was a Boston-based landscape painter best known for his multi-part panorama of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. His painting captures a view from Newton Lower Falls, looking north across what is now the Leo J. Martin golf course towards the Charles River and the train tracks.

Its themes are of great significance to Newton and its development – the Charles River, the railroad, and farmsteads with orchards and pastures. Historic Newton uses the painting to interpret Newton history for visitors, including school groups.

The painting, purchased from Vose Galleries of Boston, is the gift of 37 community donors, with special thanks to:

Mr. and Mrs. Lee and Jean Fisher
The Kugener Family
Larry and Martha Bauer
Jeffrey Hughes and Nancy Stauffer
Kathy and Lou Altieri
Roz and Wally Bernheimer
Russ Feldman and Anne Kane
Paula and Mark Jacoff
Connie and Bill Kantar
Ellen Katz and Jay Werb
Frederick T. Miller and Kathryn E. Cade
Dorothy Mohr
Nancy Prince and Chris Anschuetz
The Rowe Family Charitable Trust
Duscha Scott Weisskopf
Barbara and Peter Terris
In honor of Lee and Jean Fisher
Anonymous