286 Waverley Avenue
Newton Corner, MA 02458

Historic Newton is a public-private partnership between the Jackson Homestead (a City of Newton department) and the private Newton Historical Society. The Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds is open to the public at a nominal charge on Wednesdays through Saturdays, and is open at no charge to Newton residents one weekend each month, as part of Historic Newton's "community weekend."

Contact

Cynthia Cowan, Manager
Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds
286 Waverley Avenue
Newton Corner, MA 02458 
ccowan@newtonma.gov
617-796-9142 x12

Lisa Dady, Executive Director
Historic Newton
527 Washington Street
Newton Corner, MA 02458
ldady@newtonma.gov
617-796-1451

 

---

Durant-Kenrick Gutter and Window Repairs

Goals:

Replace the failed copper-lined gutter system on the east facade of the 1732 Durant-Kenrick House with a new wood or historically appropriate fiberglass gutter, repair the damage to the exterior facade caused by water infiltration, and restore the six wood windows on the facade which are also water damaged.

Funding:

$16,884	CPA Funds Requested (August 2020)
$10,000	1772 Foundation Grant
$26,884	TOTAL PROJECT COST

Proposal Review & Appropriations

August 21, 2020 - Pre-Proposal submitted for CPC Review at their September Meeting. Additional Materials Submitted includes:

• Historic Significance Statement
• Photos and Map
• Quote for Gutter Replacement and Window Restoration
• Press Release on 1772 Foundation Grant

October 9, 2020 - Full Proposal submitted with the materials noted above as well as the following:

• Fiberglass Gutter Information and Specifications
• Newton Historical Commission Approval for Use of Fiberglass Gutters

November 6, 2020 - Letter of Support received for project

November 10, 2020 - CPC recommends funding for project as submitted.

November 30, 2020 - CPC Recommendation sent to City Council for review.

December 14, 2020 - Project Presentation to the Finance Committee.

December 21, 2020 - City Council Order approving CPC funding for project as recommended.

November 9, 2021 - Project Complete. Final Report reviewed and approved by CPC.

---

Durant-Kenrick Homestead Restoration

Goals:

Restore and adapt this 1732 house, donated to and owned by the private Newton Historical Society, as a public history museum with a new fully accessible educational wing; and acquire a preservation restriction on the historic landscape next door as context for the historic house.

Funding:

$2,795,800	CPA funds appropriated & spent (historic resources)
$869,554	Historic Newton Board, Council, individual donors
$721,618	Durant Family and Foundation
$359,000	State & federal grants (Mass. Cultural Council, Mass. Historical Commission, National Endowment for the Humanities)
$143,939	Other foundation grants & corporate gifts
$26,000	Anticipated grants & bequests
$4,915,911	Total Project Cost

Proposal Reviews & Appropriations

2006 Needs Assessment

February-April 2006 - Proposal

24 March 2006 - CPC funding recommendation

18 April 2006 - Board order (appropriation): $78,500

2006-07 Full Project

3 October 2006 - Main proposal, plus attachments:

• Development & operating budgets (projected)
• Property history & treatment recommendations (This large file will load slowly.)
• House interior/collections, with appraisal
• House & land appraisal (This large file will load slowly.)
• Letters of support

3 October 2006 - Initial public hearing presentation

7 March 2007 - Revised public hearing presentation

May 2007- Revised development & operating budgets (revised projections) and site programming ideas (discussion draft), for 23 May 2007 discussion by Aldermanic Finance Committee

2007 Museum Rehabilitation & Construction (Funding Phase 1)

4 June 2007 - Board order (appropriation): $1,447,300

12 June 2007 - CPC funding recommendation, revised between appropriations for phase 1 and phase 2

2007 Landscape Preservation Restriction (Funding Phase 2)

25 June 2007- CPC funding recommendation, further revisions, reviewed 16 July 2007 by Aldermanic Finance Committee

13 August 2007 - Board order (appropriation): $1,270,000

Project News

2009-10

12 August 2009 - Updated fundraising results

24 August 2009 - Commitment to transfer property by Durant Foundation

17 November 2009 - Architectural services - Historic Newton request for proposals

16 December 2009 - Durant-Kenrick in Historic Newton presentation on all current projects

December 2009 - Updated historic landscape plan

December 2009-January 2010 - Updated fundraising goals & results to date

November 2010 - Revised architectural plans (This large document will load slowly.)

20 December 2010 - Updated timeline (request for extension, granted)

2011

25 February 2011 - Updated fundraising results

28 March 2011 - Project updates:

• Summary
• Fundraising results
• Development & operating budgets
• Timeline

23 August 2011 - Massachusetts Architectural Access Board decisions

15 September 2011 - Massachusetts Historical Commission preservation agreement (This large document may load slowly.)

9 November 2011 - Recorded preservation restriction, South Middlesex Registry of Deeds, book 57835, page 463

June-Nov 2011 - Commitment & certification of non-CPA funding

Nov-Dec 2011 - Certification by project architect & landscape consultant that project meets federal preservation standards (Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties & Cultural Landscapes)

9 December 2011 - Executed grant agreement

22 December 2011 - First release of funds (photograph)

2013

11 July 2013 - Final project report (slide presentation with multiple photographs) (This large document may load slowly.)

Other Historic Newton CPA Projects

• Historic Burying Grounds (City-owned, maintained by Parks & Recreation Dept.)
• Jackson Homestead/Newton History Museum (City history museum operated by Historic Newton, including projects for: archival & object collections, building preservation or rehabilitation; this page also includes general fundraising/ capital campaign updates for Historic Newton)