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40-735: The Golden Ball Tavern is a historic tavern, now a museum, located in Weston, Massachusetts . Built in 1768, it is one of the town's finest examples of Late Georgian architecture. It also played a pivotal role in local activities during the American Revolution , due to its Loyalist tavern keeper. The tavern was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, and was included in Weston's Boston Post Road Historic District in 1983. The Golden Ball Tavern stands on

80-723: A drastic change in travel patterns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The eastern border of Weston (immediately adjacent to the Route 128 highway) comes within one mile of more frequent MBTA transit operations. Riverside Station – a park-and-ride facility which serves the Green Line “D” Branch in the neighboring city of Newton – offers service to Downtown Boston and its northern terminus at Union Square in Somerville at intervals of 6 to 12 minutes due to its classification as

120-666: A modillioned cornice. The property also has a barn that is believed to date to the main house's construction. The tavern was built in 1768 by Captain Isaac Jones, a local shopkeeper. Jones, a Loyalist, gave shelter to British soldiers performing reconnaissance on rebellious activities in 1774. After the Boston Tea Party in December 1773, the tavern was raided by local Patriots, who believed Jones to be serving tea on which hated taxes had been collected. Known locally as

160-634: A quarterly magazine launched in 2005. The magazine is available in the Weston Public Library. As of December 2017, there were 7,632 active registered voters in Weston, with 501 voters listed as inactive. Among party enrollees, 1,869 were Democrats, and 1,211 Republicans, with the balance unenrolled. Like much of New England, Weston has trended strongly Democratic on the federal level in recent years. Weston supported Ronald Reagan in 1980 and 1984, as well as George H.W. Bush in 1988, against home state Governor Mike Dukakis for president of

200-412: A rapid transit service as opposed to commuter train service. The station is close enough that Weston residents living in the southeastern part of town can easily reach Riverside Station by car in roughly five minutes or arrive via bicycle in 13 minutes. Also just across the eastern border of Weston in the neighboring city of Waltham lies the beginning of MBTA Bus Route 70 at two separate terminus points:

240-468: A semi-rural ambiance. The description of Weston's history here is pulled directly from the 2017 Weston Open Space and Recreation Plan . Weston was originally part of the Watertown settlement of 1630, but until the end of the century, the land was used mainly for grazing cattle. In 1698, "The Farms" was set off as a separate precinct with its own meetinghouse; and in 1712–1713, the "Farmers' Precinct"

280-471: Is among the lowest of Boston's suburbs near or within Route 128 . More than 2,000 acres, or 18 percent of the town's total acreage, have been preserved as parks, fields, wetlands, and forests, with 90 miles of trails for hiking, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing. Thirty-seven scenic roads, as defined by Massachusetts law, maintain the town's aesthetic value and historical significance, affording Weston

320-484: Is represented in the United States Senate by senior Senator Elizabeth Warren and junior Senator Ed Markey . Weston Public Schools operates five schools: Districtwide enrollment during the 2022-2023 school year was 2,000 students. Among all Weston residents eligible to pursue elementary and secondary education in 2022, 79 percent attended public schools, primarily in Weston. WPS has participated in

360-585: The MBTA 's Fitchburg Commuter Rail Line . Inbound trips from Kendal Green to Boston's North Station terminus take approximately 37 minutes, while outbound service to Wachusett Station in the city of Fitchburg takes approximately 1 hour 12 minutes. The town of Weston previously had two other MBTA Commuter Rail stations – Silver Hill and Hastings – but both train stations were eliminated from regular service in April 2021 following previous years of low ridership and

400-568: The MBTA Red Line . Another local bus route – MBTA Bus Route 558 – technically crosses the border into Weston. However, no bus stops for this route are located within Weston as its only purpose of entering the town is to gain immediate access to the Route 128 highway for a short express trip to Riverside Station. Service on Bus Route 558 currently travels from Riverside to Newton Corner on weekdays only. Stony Brook (Middlesex County, Massachusetts) As early as 1662, water flowing into

440-490: The METCO program since 1967. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, 83 percent of Weston's population over 25 years possesses a bachelor's degree. The Massachusetts Turnpike (Interstate 90) traverses Weston in an east-to-west direction in the southern portion of town. The shared highway routes of Interstate 95 and Massachusetts State Route 128 pass in a north-to-south direction on the town's eastern edge. The intersection of

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480-452: The U.S. Census Bureau , the town has a total area of 17.3 square miles (45 km ), of which 17.0 square miles (44 km ) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km ), or 1.85%, is water. The town is bordered by Newton and Waltham on the east; Wellesley to the south; Natick and Wayland to the west; and Lincoln to the north. As of the census of 2000, there were 11,469 people, 3,718 households, and 2,992 families residing in

520-587: The Boston Post Road, but dry goods merchants continued to supply neighboring towns until about 1830–1840. The Boston and Worcester Railroad was built through the southeast corner of town in 1834, and the Fitchburg Railroad (later the Boston and Maine) was built along Stony Brook on the north side of town around 1844. Population continued to grow, supported in part by small industries such as

560-637: The Cedarwood bus stop, located at the intersection of U.S. Highway Route 20 and Cedarwood Avenue with limited rush hour-only bus service; and the Market Place Drive bus stop, located near the intersection of Massachusetts State Route 117 and Stow Street offering more frequent bus departures seven days a week. Inbound MBTA Bus Route 70 service travels from either Cedarwood or Market Place Drive to Central Square in Cambridge to connect with

600-653: The Charles River helped spark business enterprise. Various water mills have been erected at the mouth of Stony Brook. A corn mill was built in January of 1679-80. A paper mill was built in about 1780 that was later purchased by the Boston Manufacturing Company in 1798 and converted into a cotton mill. In about 1802, another mill was built on Stony Brook to manufacture wrapping paper In the late 19th century, Eben Norton Horsford identified

640-581: The Great Depression and World War II. The Weston Aqueduct and Reservoir (1901–1903) and Hultman Aqueduct and Norumbega Reservoir (1938–1940) were major public works projects constructed as part of the water supply system of greater Boston. After World War II, construction of Routes 128 and the Massachusetts Turnpike , along with pent up demand for housing, led to subdivision of former estate properties and farms throughout

680-591: The Hews redware pottery on Boston Post Road and Hobbs Tannery on North Avenue. By 1776, Weston's population of 1,027 was spread throughout the town on scattered farms along major roads, with some consolidation within the village center around the meetinghouse, along the length of the Post Road, and on North Avenue. The opening of the Worcester Turnpike in 1810 (now Route 9) drew some commercial traffic from

720-669: The Josiah Smith Tavern and the Golden Ball Tavern , which is now a museum. North Avenue was an important route to the northwest and, like the Post Road, hosted shops, blacksmiths, and taverns serving travelers. Grist and sawmills were established beginning in the 17th century on Stony Brook and in the Crescent Street area. Two important manufacturing enterprises were begun during the Colonial period:

760-496: The Massachusetts Turnpike and Route 128 is located in southeastern Weston. Several local state highways – U.S. Route 20 (Boston Post Road), Massachusetts State Route 30 (South Avenue), and Massachusetts State Route 117 (North Avenue) – also travel east and west through the town in addition to the Massachusetts Turnpike. As for public transportation, Weston is conveniently served by Kendal Green Station on

800-805: The United States. However, it supported Bill Clinton in 1992, and has supported the Democratic candidate in every election since then, including Barack Obama over Mitt Romney , and Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump . Weston is located entirely within Massachusetts's 5th congressional district . Weston is represented in the Massachusetts Senate by Michael J. Barrett (D) and in the Massachusetts House of Representatives by Alice H. Peisch (D). Massachusetts

840-612: The WAIC. The Weston Media Center is Weston's independent, non-profit cable TV station and media hub. The Media Center has operated since 2009. The Weston Friendly Society , founded in 1885, is the second oldest community theatre in the United States. WFS performs musicals in the auditorium of Weston Town Hall several times a year. WFS donates money from its productions to local charitable causes. News and features of interest to Weston residents are published in WellesleyWeston ,

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880-531: The Weston Public Library provides financial support for the library's Local History Room, curates an ongoing rotation of art created by local artists, organizes a series of musical concerts in the library's community room, and funds passes to Boston-area museums. The Weston Art and Innovation Center , which opened in September 2019 in Weston's Old Library, offers hands-on learning opportunities related to art and technology. The Weston Media Center also relocated to

920-550: The Weston Tea Party, the event consisted of little more than a ransacking of the premises (which had no taxed tea). Later in the Revolution, Jones apparently joined the cause of independence, and regained a position of prominence in the community. His tavern flourished until the early 19th century, when the opening of the Worcester Turnpike siphoned traffic away from the Post Road. The tavern closed about 1805, and

960-481: The advent of the automobile. Two prominent estates, the Winsor estate on Meadowbrook Road and Hubbard estate on the south side, were subdivided after World War I. In the 1910s and 1920s, estates were purchased for educational use ( Regis College and Weston College/Campion Center) and as golf courses (Weston Golf Club and Pine Brook Country Club). Many other large properties remained as open farm fields or woodlands through

1000-403: The average family size was 3.21. In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.0% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 20.4% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.6 males. The median income for a household in the town

1040-468: The beauty of the area and that same rocky topography that in earlier years had proved unsuitable for farming. By the turn of the century, Weston was described as a "country town of residences of the first class." Population growth and the influence of large estate owners led to the construction of new institutional buildings, such as the fieldstone First Parish Church (1888), designed by the nationally known Boston firm of Peabody and Stearns and located on

1080-502: The center of town. The rural landscape of Weston and convenience to rail transportation also made it attractive as a summer resort area. The shingle-style Drabbington Lodge, once a popular summer resort, remains on North Avenue and is now a senior living community. Development of country estates in Weston began on a small scale in the 1860s and was widespread by 1900. Wealthy businessmen were attracted to Weston by its convenience to Boston, quiet country atmosphere, and low taxes, as well as

1120-672: The mouth of Stony Brook as the location of a supposed Norse city, Norumbega , and commissioned the Norumbega Tower , which carries a long inscription describing the supposed city. There are three large ponds, all artificial, in the Stony Brook watershed: the Cambridge Reservoir ( Hobbs Pond ), the Stony Brook Reservoir (Turtle Pond), and Flint's Pond (also known as Sandy Pond). In 1887, on

1160-406: The population. There were 3,718 households, out of which 42.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.1% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.5% were non-families. 17.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and

1200-524: The pottery, tannery and related boot and shoe making, school desk and chair factory, tool factories, and shops making machinery for cotton and woolen mills. The Hook & Hastings Company organ factory, Weston's largest industry, moved to the North Avenue area in 1888 and was a major town employer until it closed during the Great Depression. The Mass Central Railroad , the third to serve Weston, commenced service in 1881. Its tracks ran east–west through

1240-638: The site of Turtle Pond, the city of Cambridge completed construction of the Stony Brook Reservoir Dam, where Stony Brook joins the Charles, as part of its water supply. Stony Brook Reservoir has a drainage area of 23.57 square miles (61.0 km ) and an available storage capacity of 354,000,000 US gallons (1,340,000 m ) (1087 acre-feet). In 1910, Hobbs Pond was dammed to become the Cambridge Reservoir. Its drainage area

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1280-476: The site of earlier church meetinghouses. The first library (1899), central fire station (1914), and present town hall (1917) were also built during the estate era. Coinciding with the town's Bicentennial in 1913, an ambitious Town Improvement Plan began the process of creating the Town Green by draining and landscaping an existing wetland. Suburban development began in the early 20th century and increased with

1320-425: The south side of Boston Post Road, near the center of Weston, just east of its junction with Golden Ball Lane. It is a two-story wood frame structure, its main section covered by a hip roof and finished in wooden clapboards. A two-story ell, likely an older house, extends to one side, and a single-story ell to the other. The main entrance is at the center of a five-bay facade, flanked by simple pilasters and topped by

1360-445: The town. More than half of the town's housing stock was built in the thirty years between 1950 and 1979 and consisted largely of single family houses on increasingly expensive land. Population growth brought increased demand for town services including schools, and five new schools were constructed between 1950 and 1969. In recent years, the major trend is for many of these postwar houses to be replaced by much larger houses. According to

1400-424: The town. The population density was 674.0 inhabitants per square mile (260.2/km ). There were 3,825 housing units at an average density of 224.8 per square mile (86.8/km ). The racial makeup of the town was 90.26% White , 1.18% African American , 0.05% Native American , 6.82% Asian , 0.05% Pacific Islander , 0.43% from other races , and 1.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.90% of

1440-417: The town. The postwar period was characterized by exponential growth and proactive efforts to control and guide this growth in order to preserve the rural character of the town. In the early 1950s, Weston's selectmen initiated two important growth-control measures: a zoning bylaw increasing the amount of land needed to build and a land-acquisition policy reducing the amount of developable land by purchasing it for

1480-519: Was $ 153,918 and the median income for a family was $ 200,000+, figures that had risen to $ 189,041 and over $ 230,000 by 2007. Males had a median income of $ 100,000 versus $ 58,534 for females. The per capita income for the town was $ 105,640. About 2.1% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.8% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over. The Weston Public Library (WPL), with holdings of 209,000, offers services and programs for adults and youth. The Friends of

1520-502: Was incorporated as a separate town, Weston. Early settlers discovered that the amount of useful agricultural land was limited, as was the potential for water-powered industries. Weston did have one advantage: it was situated along the main route west from Boston. By the 18th century, residents were providing services to travelers on the Boston Post Road . Two taverns of great historical and architectural importance remain today:

1560-576: Was incorporated in 1713, and protection of the town's historic resources is driven by the Weston Historical Commission and Weston Historical Society. The town has one Local Historic District, 10 National Register Districts, 26 Historic Areas, and seven houses individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Weston's predominance as a residential community is reflected in its population density, which

1600-536: Was then occupied as a residence by six generations of the Jones family. It then underwent restoration, and has since been opened as a museum. Weston, Massachusetts Weston is an affluent town in Middlesex County , Massachusetts , United States, located approximately 15 miles (24 km) west of Boston . At the time of the 2020 United States Census , the population of Weston was 11,851. Weston

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