Pine Ridge Road–Plainfield Street Historic District

Pine Ridge Road and Plainfield Street are residential streets located to the east of the central village of the Waban neighborhood of Newton. This area was farmland until 1886, when it was purchased by developers Charles Page and Frederick Henshaw. Early development in their subdivision took place west of Chestnut Street, and it was not until the 1890s that the area in this district, east of Chestnut Street, began. The area is architecturally diverse, with a modest number of 19th century Queen Anne and Shingle style houses, and a larger number of 20th century Colonial Revival, Tudor, and Craftsman houses. Some were architect-designed, and all are well-proportioned but not as large as those found in other neighborhoods.[2]

The oldest houses in the district date to 1897, and are Queen Anne in style. One of the finer examples is the Stetson House at 91 Pine Ridge Road, while 69 Pine Ridge Road sports a massive half-round porch in the style. Also built in 1897 is the Shingle style Davidson House at 24 Plainfield Street, while the Thomas James House (80 Pine Ridge), also in the Shingle style, may have been designed by its architect-owner. The George Heald house (99 Pine Ridge) is an example of English Tudor Revival architecture, with Tudor arch motifs, half-timbered gables and extensive use of diamond leadlight windows with heraldry symbols. The 1931 Colonial Revival house at 100 Pine Ridge is another architect-designed house, this one by Harry Ramsay, a prolific local designer.[2]

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Newton, Massachusetts