Auburndale is one of the 13 village

Village

A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...

s of Newton, Massachusetts

Newton, Massachusetts

Newton is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States bordered to the east by Boston. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Newton was 85,146, making it the eleventh largest city in the state.-Villages:...

. It lies at the western end of Newton near the intersection of interstate highways 90

Interstate 90

Interstate 90 is the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It is the northernmost coast-to-coast interstate, and parallels US 20 for the most part. Its western terminus is in Seattle, at Edgar Martinez Drive S. near Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field, and its eastern terminus is in...

 and 95

Interstate 95 in Massachusetts

Interstate 95 is the main highway on the East Coast of the United States, paralleling the Atlantic Ocean from Florida to Maine. The Massachusetts portion of the highway enters from the state of Rhode Island in Attleboro and travels in a northeasterly direction to the junction with Route 128 in...

, and is bisected by the Massachusetts Turnpike

Massachusetts Turnpike

The Massachusetts Turnpike is the easternmost stretch of Interstate 90. The Turnpike begins at the western border of Massachusetts in West Stockbridge connecting with the Berkshire Connector portion of the New York State Thruway...

. Auburndale is surrounded by three other Newton villages (West Newton

West Newton, Massachusetts

West Newton is a village of the City of Newton, Massachusetts and is one of the oldest of the thirteen Newton villages. The postal code 02465 roughly matches the village limits.-Location:...

, Waban

Waban, Massachusetts

Waban is one of the thirteen villages of Newton, Massachusetts, an affluent suburban city approximately seven miles from downtown Boston.-Origin of name:Waban was named for Waban, the first Massachusett Indian converted to Christianity, in 1646...

, and Newton Lower Falls

Newton Lower Falls, Massachusetts

Newton Lower Falls, Massachusetts is a village of Newton, Massachusetts, on the Charles River. The commercial area extends across the river into Wellesley, Massachusetts, where it is known as Wellesley Lower Falls, where a majority of the retail businesses are.The Charles River drops 18 feet over...

) as well as the city of Waltham

Waltham, Massachusetts

Waltham is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, was an early center for the labor movement, and major contributor to the American Industrial Revolution. The original home of the Boston Manufacturing Company, the city was a prototype for 19th century industrial city planning,...

 and the town of Weston

Weston, Massachusetts

Weston is a suburb of Boston located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States in the Boston metro area. The population of Weston, according to the 2010 U.S. Census, is 11,261....

. Auburndale is the home of Williams and Burr elementary schools, as well as Lasell College

Lasell College

Lasell College is a private, non-sectarian, coeducational college located in the Newton, Massachusetts village of Auburndale. Lasell offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees in the liberal arts and professional fields of study.-History:...

. Auburndale Square is the location of the Plummer Memorial Library

Plummer Memorial Library

The Plummer Memorial Library is a historic library at 375 Auburn Street in Newton, Massachusetts. Once operated as a branch of the Newton Free Library, the city's public library system, it was closed in 2009 due to financial cuts...

, which is run by the Auburndale Community Library and no longer affiliated with the Newton Free Library

Newton Free Library

Newton Free Library, the public library of Newton, Massachusetts, provides an extensive collection of print, non-print, and electronic resources, a comprehensive reference service, and a wide array of educational and cultural programs for people of all ages....

, the Turtle Lane Playhouse, and many small businesses.

History

The first major settler in the area was William Robinson who built a house in 1678 on what is now Freeman Street. The oldest house in Auburndale stands at 473 Auburn Street and was built in 1730 by William Robinson.

Auburndale, once billed as Auburndale-on-the-Charles was the home of Norumbega Park

Norumbega Park

Norumbega Park was a recreation area and amusement park located in "Auburndale-on-the-Charles" near Boston, Massachusetts. The associated Totem Pole Ballroom became a well-known dancing and entertainment venue for big bands touring during the 1940s....

 which closed in 1963. The park included rides, a zoo

Zoo

A zoological garden, zoological park, menagerie, or zoo is a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures, displayed to the public, and in which they may also be bred....

, and boating

Boating

Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels , focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or water skiing...

. The nationally-famous big band

Big band

A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...

 venue Totem Pole Ballroom was associated with Norumbega Park and closed in 1964.

National Register historic sites

See Main Article List of Registered Historic Places in Newton, Massachusetts

Twenty places in Auburndale are on the National Register of Historic Places

National Register of Historic Places

The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...

, as follows

Image	Site Name	Street address	Built/Founded/Comments	Date designated
	Auburndale Congregational Church-United Parish of Auburndale	64 Hancock St.	?	October 4, 1986
	Clark House Clark House (Newton, Massachusetts) The Clark House, also known as the Rev. Francis E. Clark House, is an historic house at located at 379 Central Street in the village of Auburndale in Newton, Massachusetts. Built in 1895 in the Queen Anne style of architecture, it was the home of the Rev. Francis Edward Clark, founder of the Young...	379 Central St.	?	October 4, 1986
	E. C. Hammond House E. C. Hammond House E. C. Hammond House is a historic house at 35 Groveland Street in Newton, Massachusetts.It was built in 1909 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.-References:...	35 Groveland St.	?	March 16, 1990
	Harding House-Walker Missionary Home Harding House-Walker Missionary Home Harding House-Walker Missionary Home is a historic house at 161-163 Grove Street in Newton, Massachusetts.It was built in 1850 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986....	161–163 Grove St.	?	October 4, 1986
	House at 203 Islington Road House at 203 Islington Road The House at 203 Islington Road is a historic house at 203 Islington Road in Newton, Massachusetts.It was built in 1870 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.-References:...	203 Islington Rd.	?	October 4, 1986
	House at 102 Staniford Street House at 102 Staniford Street The House at 102 Staniford Street is a historic house at 102 Staniford Street in Newton, Massachusetts.It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.-References:...	102 Staniford St.	?	October 4, 1986
	House at 2212 Commonwealth Avenue House at 2212 Commonwealth Avenue House at 2212 Commonwealth Avenue is a historic house at 2212 Commonwealth Avenue in Newton, Massachusetts.It was built in 1845 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.-References:...	2212 Commonwealth Ave.	?	October 4, 1986
	House at 230 Melrose Street House at 230 Melrose Street The House at 230 Melrose Street is a historic house at 230 Melrose Street in Newton, Massachusetts.It was built in 1858 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986....	230 Melrose St.	?	October 4, 1986
	House at 307 Lexington Street House at 307 Lexington Street The House at 307 Lexington Street is a historic house at 307 Lexington Street in Newton, Massachusetts.It was built in 1860 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.-References:...	307 Lexington St.	?	October 4, 1986
	House at 31 Woodbine Street House at 31 Woodbine Street The House at 31 Woodbine Street is a historical house situated at 31 Woodbine Street in Newton, Massachusetts.It was built in 1845 and added to the US National Register of Historic Places in 1986.-References:...	31 Woodbine St.	?	October 4, 1986
	Lasell Neighborhood Historic District Lasell Neighborhood Historic District Lasell Neighborhood Historic District is a historic district roughly bounded by Woodland and Studio Roads, Aspen and Seminary Avenue, and Grove Street in Newton, Massachusetts village of Auburndale, Massachusetts, next to Lasell College....	Roughly bounded by Woodland and Studio Rds., Aspen and Seminary Aves., and Grove St. Includes Lasell College Lasell College Lasell College is a private, non-sectarian, coeducational college located in the Newton, Massachusetts village of Auburndale. Lasell offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees in the liberal arts and professional fields of study.-History:... .	?	October 4, 1986
	Mayor Edwin O. Childs House Mayor Edwin O. Childs House The Mayor Edwin O. Childs House is a historic house at 340 California Street in Newton, Massachusetts.It was built in 1915 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.-References:...	340 California St.	?	March 16, 1990
	Old Shephard Farm Old Shephard Farm Old Shephard Farm is a historic farmhouse at 1832 Washington Street in Newton, Massachusetts.It was built in 1740 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986....	1832 Washington St., on city rolls as 39 Stanton Avenue	?	October 4, 1986
	Plummer Memorial Library Plummer Memorial Library The Plummer Memorial Library is a historic library at 375 Auburn Street in Newton, Massachusetts. Once operated as a branch of the Newton Free Library, the city's public library system, it was closed in 2009 due to financial cuts...	375 Auburn St.	?	March 16, 1990
	Riverside Concrete Company-Lamont's Market Riverside Concrete Company-Lamont's Market Riverside Concrete Company-Lamont's Market is a historic market building at 2 Charles Street in Newton, Massachusetts. It presently houses residences.It was built in 1910 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990....	2 Charles St.	?	March 16, 1990
	Rufus Estabrook House Rufus Estabrook House Rufus Estabrook House is a historic house at 33 Woodland Road in Newton, Massachusetts.It was built in 1848 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.-References:...	33 Woodland Rd	?	October 4, 1986
	The Eminence The Eminence The Eminence is a historic building at 122 Islington Road in Newton, Massachusetts.It was built in 1853 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986....	122 Islington Rd.	?	October 4, 1986
	Walker Home for Missionary Children Walker Home for Missionary Children Walker Home for Missionary Children is a historic boarding house complex for the care of the children of religious missionaries while they were away from home. It is located at 161-63, 165, 167 Grove Street, 136, 138, 144 Hancock Street in the Auburndale village of Newton, Massachusetts.It was...	161-63, 165, 167 Grove St., 136, 138, 144 Hancock St.	?	July 4, 1992
	Whittemore's Tavern Whittemore's Tavern Whittemore's Tavern is a historic building at 473 Auburn Street in Newton, Massachusetts. Originally operated as a tavern, it is currently a private residence.It was built in 1724 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986....	473 Auburn St.	?	October 4, 1986
	Winslow-Haskell Mansion Winslow-Haskell Mansion Winslow-Haskell Mansion is a historic house at 53 Vista Avenue in Newton, Massachusetts.It was built in 1870 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979....	53 Vista Ave.	?	November 25, 1979

Local Historic District

Established in 2005, the Auburndale Historic District includes approximately 275 properties and encompasses two National Register Districts.

Notable residents

• Howard Zinn
  Howard Zinn
  Howard Zinn was an American historian, academic, author, playwright, and social activist. Before and during his tenure as a political science professor at Boston University from 1964-88 he wrote more than 20 books, which included his best-selling and influential A People's History of the United...
  
  
• James E. Muller
  James E. Muller
  James E. Muller, M.D. is an American cardiologist and medical device executive. He was a member of the faculty of Harvard Medical School for over 25 years, where he studied triggers of coronary artery plaque rupture and sudden cardiac death...
  
  : M.D., co-founder of Voice of the Faithful
  Voice of the Faithful
  Voice of the Faithful is an organization of progressive Catholics, formed in early 2002 in response to the Catholic sex abuse cases.-Founding, growth and mission:...
  
   and member of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War
  International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War
  is a non-partisan federation of national medical groups in 63 countries, representing tens of thousands of doctors, medical students, other health workers, and concerned citizens who share the common goal of creating a more peaceful and secure world freed from the threat of nuclear annihilation...
  
  , which won the 1985 Nobel Peace Prize
  Nobel Peace Prize
  The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...
  
  

Places of worship

• Corpus Christi and St. Bernard's Parish, 41 Ash Street.
• Episcopal Parish of the Messiah
  Episcopal Parish of the Messiah (Auburndale, Massachusetts)
  The Episcopal Parish of the Messiah is a family-sized, Anglo-Catholic parish located in the village of Auburndale in Newton, Massachusetts, in the United States. Messiah is a member of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. The parish was...
  
  , 1900 Commonwealth Avenue.
• Temple Reyim , 1860 Washington Street.
• United Parish of Auburndale, 64 Hancock Street.

Points of interest

• Auburndale Cove Park & Playground, West Pine Street.
• Norumbega Park Conservation Area.
• Turtle Lane Playhouse, 283 Melrose Street