I was cleaning out my closet today and came across a compact little book “Suburban Living At Its Best – Newton, MA”, published in 1936. I have no idea where it came from but I think someone gave it to me because they knew I loved local history.
The author wastes no time letting us know exactly where he stands on the Garden City. Inside the front cover their is an excerpt from an editorial from the Boston Herald:
“In the 18 square miles which constitute this city, there is probably a greater measure of physical well-being, good citizenship, efficient administration and general confidence, than in any other section of the United States.”
66 pages later it reaches its stirring finish “The foregoing is an attempt to portray a community that has fulfilled its early promise, and, as The Garden City of the Commonwealth, typifies suburban living at it’s best.“.
In the intervening pages there was a fair amount of local history about the 11 villages of Newton as well as a dozen or two photos, including this one that somehow sent a chill up my spine given what we’re all up to these days.
Reading through this little handbook of self-congratulation, put a smile on my face. I might have to get to work on the sequel “Locked Down in the Suburban Eden”.
I’d love to see a copy! Another pamphlet, an autobiograhy about a childhood in Waban (I forget the name) was quite illuminating about Newton life before the post-War boom in mid-Twentieth Century. It used to be available at the Waban Library Center.
Where can I find this ode to Newton life?
@Bob Jampol – I don’t know.
The copy I have is from a 5000 copy printing in 1939 and it says there was a 10,000 copy first printing in 1936 – so I expect there are lots more copies in attics and closets in Newton. My copy is stamped “Gift from Newton Trust Corporation”
I’d be happy to lend mine to you. Send me an email with your address and I’ll drop it in the mail …. after I boil it 😉
… and here’s info on the childhood in Waban book you mentioned. I used to have a copy but I can’t seem to locate it … probably in another closet to be discovered later;-)
I’m certain my folks received a copy of this somewhere along the line. I think there was a general feeling, at least in the Highlands, that Newton was special in so many respects and that we were all fortunate to live here. I know I felt that way. And it was assumed things would stay that way as long as the Republican Party remained fully in charge of all important public activities, especially with regard to spending by the City Government.
The clincher came sometime in the mid-50s when Life Magazine (it might have been Look Magazine) ranked Newton High as America’s second best high school, just slightly in back of one in Pennsylvania.
Y’all, I still think we are incredibly fortunate to be living in Newton!