History

Record of Ownership

The earliest recorded ownership of the site was in 1676 in the name of Samuel Truesdale.  Over the next 100 years the Middlesex County Registry of Deeds lists a number of transactions between the Truesdale family and their neighbors, resulting in David Hall Jr. owning the current site, including a house and barn seen on the 1855 Newton Atlas. The house became vacant in 1899 presumably following Hall’s death, followed by a series of tenants beginning in 1901 and terminating in the sale on July 17, 1917 to Crescenzo Angino. It stayed in the Angino family until it was purchased by the City of Newton in 2005.

Farm Operation

Very little information is available about the specific use of the farm from 1670 to 1917. For the large Angino family, the farm served primarily as a food source. A broad array of fruits, vegetables were grown on the 1.5 acres under cultivation. Chickens, rabbits, pigs, and a cow were raised. Surplus vegetables and flowers were sold on site.

The barn was used to store machinery and farm implements, and to house the large animals. In the 1930′s the barn served as the staging operation for the oldest son’s electrical business, which eventually became Mass Electric.

Many of the original structures from this period can still be seen on the site, including the farmhouse, barn, chicken coop, and stonework. In addition, apple trees and grapevines planted by the Anginos have survived to the present day.