Case’s Corner Historic District
The Case’s Corner Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 12, 2002, combined two Historic Areas:
Properties
The Case’s Corner Historic District includes the following properties:
Properties
The Case’s Corner Historic District includes the following properties:
- 221, 226, 227, 229, 233 Ash Street
- 3, 5, 9, 10, 13, 14, 20 Maple Road
- 205, 207, 208 Newton Street
- 37, 44, 47, 68, 78, 86, 87, 99 School Street
- 17, 18, 23, 27, 33, 35, 37, 39, 40, 49, 51, 55, 56, 59, 60, 63, 64, 67, 70, 74, 76, 80, 84, 86, 89, 101, 102, 128, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 142 Wellesley Street
- 301 Meadowbrook Road (formerly 44 Wellesley Street)
- Case Park
- Case Estates land owned by the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University
- Former Case land now owned by the Town of Weston and leased by Land’s Sake Farm
The Shingle style James B. Case House “Rocklawn” at 89 Wellesley Street
(1889) was designed by Ernest Boyden. It is now known as Case House and
is used as the Weston school department headquarters.
Nomination Form
The Case’s Corner Historic District Nomination Form includes complete descriptive and historical information, a portion of which is excerpted below.
Description
Case’s Corner Historic District is an area of residential and institutional buildings prominently located in the geographical center of Weston, Massachusetts. Approximately 190 acres in size, the district radiates out from the intersection of 4 important roadways:
Landscape & History
The open landscape reflects the historical progression of the land from farm to estate to regional horticultural center. Located throughout the former Case property in the southern half of the district are plantings of horticultural significance including many specimen trees and shrubs. Stone walls dating from the late 18th to early 20th century exemplify varied construction methods and serve as important landscape features. Buildings mirror the transformation of the town over more than 2 centuries from a rural agricultural town to modern suburb. The district boundary has been drawn to include 19th and early 20th century houses on Ash and Newton Streets which, while located on the periphery of the district, carry out the historical theme of early suburban development and set the visual tone at each approach to the central hub.
No Architectural Theme
Because Case’s Corner developed over time and includes different building types, the district has no single architectural theme. Its appeal lies in the architectural significance of particular individual structures, the cohesiveness of the turn-of-the-century neighborhood in the northern part of the district, and the picturesque and diversified landscape enhanced by mature trees, fieldstone walls, open fields, a small town park, gardens, and woodlands.
The Case’s Corner Historic District Nomination Form includes complete descriptive and historical information, a portion of which is excerpted below.
Description
Case’s Corner Historic District is an area of residential and institutional buildings prominently located in the geographical center of Weston, Massachusetts. Approximately 190 acres in size, the district radiates out from the intersection of 4 important roadways:
- Ash Street
- Newton Street
- School Street
- Wellesley Street
Landscape & History
The open landscape reflects the historical progression of the land from farm to estate to regional horticultural center. Located throughout the former Case property in the southern half of the district are plantings of horticultural significance including many specimen trees and shrubs. Stone walls dating from the late 18th to early 20th century exemplify varied construction methods and serve as important landscape features. Buildings mirror the transformation of the town over more than 2 centuries from a rural agricultural town to modern suburb. The district boundary has been drawn to include 19th and early 20th century houses on Ash and Newton Streets which, while located on the periphery of the district, carry out the historical theme of early suburban development and set the visual tone at each approach to the central hub.
No Architectural Theme
Because Case’s Corner developed over time and includes different building types, the district has no single architectural theme. Its appeal lies in the architectural significance of particular individual structures, the cohesiveness of the turn-of-the-century neighborhood in the northern part of the district, and the picturesque and diversified landscape enhanced by mature trees, fieldstone walls, open fields, a small town park, gardens, and woodlands.
Many
of the houses within the Case’s Corner Historic District were built for
local tradesmen like housepainter E.W. Russell, at 55 Wellesley Street
(above left)
Significance
The Case’s Corner Historic District, Weston, retains its integrity of:
It also fulfills Criteria A, B, and C of the National Register on the local level.
Criterion A
Under Criterion A, the Case’s Corner Historic District played an important role in the development of Weston, beginning with the early farmers. Of particular significance is the way that the rural agricultural landscape has been preserved because of the area’s unique history and associations with the Case family. Farmhouses and farm fields found new uses-as an estate, model farm, horticultural center, and university property - all of which preserved the pastoral qualities.
Summer Estates
James Case was one of the first Boston businessmen to purchase a farm in Weston as a summer estate, in 1863. In the early 20th century, his daughter Marian purchased additional land adjacent to the family holdings and established Hillcrest Farm, which she developed into a regional horticultural center. After her death in 1944, the property was willed to the Arnold Arboretum and - renamed the Case Estates - continued in horticultural use. Because of the Case family, a large percentage of the land within the Case’s Corner Historic District remains undeveloped today.
Current Use
The 35-acre town field that was once part of the James Case property continues to be farmed by a non-profit organization that maintains the agricultural use and involves local residents in the raising and harvesting of food.
Development Themes
The district reflects two other themes in the development of Weston.
The Case’s Corner Historic District, Weston, retains its integrity of:
- Association
- Design
- Feeling
- Location
- Materials
- Setting
- Workmanship
It also fulfills Criteria A, B, and C of the National Register on the local level.
Criterion A
Under Criterion A, the Case’s Corner Historic District played an important role in the development of Weston, beginning with the early farmers. Of particular significance is the way that the rural agricultural landscape has been preserved because of the area’s unique history and associations with the Case family. Farmhouses and farm fields found new uses-as an estate, model farm, horticultural center, and university property - all of which preserved the pastoral qualities.
Summer Estates
James Case was one of the first Boston businessmen to purchase a farm in Weston as a summer estate, in 1863. In the early 20th century, his daughter Marian purchased additional land adjacent to the family holdings and established Hillcrest Farm, which she developed into a regional horticultural center. After her death in 1944, the property was willed to the Arnold Arboretum and - renamed the Case Estates - continued in horticultural use. Because of the Case family, a large percentage of the land within the Case’s Corner Historic District remains undeveloped today.
Current Use
The 35-acre town field that was once part of the James Case property continues to be farmed by a non-profit organization that maintains the agricultural use and involves local residents in the raising and harvesting of food.
Development Themes
The district reflects two other themes in the development of Weston.
- One is the subdivision of farm land into house lots, a trend that accelerated in the late 19th and early 20th century in neighborhoods like that at the intersection of Maple Road and Wellesley Street within the Case’s Corner District. Here, Queen Anne and Colonial Revival frame houses were built for middle-class shopkeepers and tradesmen.
- The second historical theme is the centralization of Weston’s school system beginning in the late 19th century. Because of its geographical position within the town, the Case’s Corner Historic District became the location of Weston’s first four high schools, all of which were later adapted for use by lower grades. All school buildings built by the town from 1878 to 1950 were located within the district. Weston’s system of centralized schools, initiated in the 1890s, was a significant factor in the development of an excellent school system despite the small size of the town.
133 Wellesley Street was the Hillcrest Farm “clubhouse, now part of the Case Estates
Criterion B
Under Criterion B, Marian Roby Case made significant contributions to the history of the community and region through her model farm and horticultural center known as Hillcrest Farm and, after 1920, as Hillcrest Gardens. Her unique work-study program influenced the lives of hundreds of boys who gained from the experience a deep love of nature. An active and influential member of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, Miss Case furthered the work of the society through the establishment of prizes and nurturing of publications, particularly the magazine Horticulture.
Under Criterion B, Marian Roby Case made significant contributions to the history of the community and region through her model farm and horticultural center known as Hillcrest Farm and, after 1920, as Hillcrest Gardens. Her unique work-study program influenced the lives of hundreds of boys who gained from the experience a deep love of nature. An active and influential member of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, Miss Case furthered the work of the society through the establishment of prizes and nurturing of publications, particularly the magazine Horticulture.
Marian Roby Case (1864-1944) developed Hillcrest Farm, later renamed Hillcrest Gardens, between 1910 and 1944. The land she purchased for this model farm/regional horticultural center is now known as the Case Estates.
Marian Case ran a work study summer program for local boys known as the Hillcrest Boys. She hoped to encourage farming through a program that included regular lectures, study hours, picnics, and outings as well as farm work.
Criterion C
Under Criterion C, the Case’s Corner Historic District is located in the heart of Weston at the junction of 4 important roadways. It contains a rich and diverse collection of architecturally significant structures set within a 19th century rural landscape enhanced by mature trees and fieldstone walls.
Building Types
Included are a wide variety of building types, among them 18th and 19th century farmhouses, a late 19th century estate mansion, estate workers’ houses, barns and outbuildings, and turn-of-the century frame residences. One unusual building type is the small 19412 Weston Scout House, built as a meeting place for the town’s girl scouts. The district contains four present or former school buildings ranging in date from 1895 to 1950. Buildings vary in size and include notable Colonial, Greek Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne, Shingle Style, Colonial Revival and Modern examples.
Period of Significance
The period of significance spans from about 1740, the date of the Thomas Upham House- to 1950, the date of the modern-style Weston High School, (now Field School), the last of the school buildings constructed within the district.
Under Criterion C, the Case’s Corner Historic District is located in the heart of Weston at the junction of 4 important roadways. It contains a rich and diverse collection of architecturally significant structures set within a 19th century rural landscape enhanced by mature trees and fieldstone walls.
Building Types
Included are a wide variety of building types, among them 18th and 19th century farmhouses, a late 19th century estate mansion, estate workers’ houses, barns and outbuildings, and turn-of-the century frame residences. One unusual building type is the small 19412 Weston Scout House, built as a meeting place for the town’s girl scouts. The district contains four present or former school buildings ranging in date from 1895 to 1950. Buildings vary in size and include notable Colonial, Greek Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne, Shingle Style, Colonial Revival and Modern examples.
Period of Significance
The period of significance spans from about 1740, the date of the Thomas Upham House- to 1950, the date of the modern-style Weston High School, (now Field School), the last of the school buildings constructed within the district.
Map of the Case’s Corner Historic District
More Information
Further information about Hillcrest Farm/Hillcrest Gardens and the Case Estates can be found in the Weston Historical Society Bulletin (Fall, 2006), continued in the following issue Weston Historical Society Bulletin (Spring 2007). The Case’s Corner National Register nomination form contains major bibliographical references.
Further information about Hillcrest Farm/Hillcrest Gardens and the Case Estates can be found in the Weston Historical Society Bulletin (Fall, 2006), continued in the following issue Weston Historical Society Bulletin (Spring 2007). The Case’s Corner National Register nomination form contains major bibliographical references.