Good information noted on Ted Hess Mahan’s Facebook web site today ….
The Nathaniel Allen Residence in West Newton, which is owned by the Newton Cultural Alliance, finally received its occupancy permit. It has been a extended and winding street considering the fact that the NCA purchased the dwelling in 2012 and established about preserving this historic jewel. I am proud to say “we did it!”
For almost 90 a long time, Allen and his children applied this constructing as a dormitory and college creating for just one of the most progressive educational institutions of its time, which was racially integrated, co-ed, enrolled international learners, incorporated actual physical training and science as central elements of its curriculum, and opened the initially kindergarten in the US.
Immediately after pretty much a 10 years of historic preservation and renovation, the dwelling has been converted into a doing arts center and gallery for visible arts that will be identified as the Allen Middle for Arts and Lifestyle. The making is not yet open up to the general public because of COVID-19 limitations, but we are organizing some outdoor activities for this Spring and Summer as a “soft” opening.
One particular of the truly historic and special elements of the household is the two lane bowling alley, which has been lovingly restored. The Newton Record Museum has a picket pin and bowling ball that may perhaps have been utilized at the Allen House in the 19th century. I have been haunting antique stores and on line hoping to come across two sets of 10 pins and bowling balls. If you are or you know a Newton woodworker who has accessibility to a lathe and would be prepared to recreate the bowling pins and bowling balls for the Allen Middle, please permit me know.
I am sharing some recent shots of the inside of the Allen Center, as effectively as the bowling pin and ball at the Newton Record Museum. We are pretty excited about opening the Allen Centre to the general public the place you will be in a position to see Newton artists, musicians, authors, lecturers, and other individuals. In the meantime, we are working on anaudio/online video-recording system to document and/or stream are living performances on line. I will present more facts as they come to be accessible.
I have by now achieved out to the wooden store teacher at Newton North Higher School and am awaiting a response.
Congratulations to anyone who was associated in the restoration of the Allen Household. It was an great endeavor about several a long time. Just when the close was in sight, Covid19 pushed it away once again. It is terrific to see they’ve reached the finish line. I glance forward to observing new music, theater, artwork and lectures (and bowling) there in the a long time ahead.