38 Smithfield Road exterior — white clapboard colonial with broad front porch and herringbone brick walk, Newton Massachusetts

A Home Owner's Guide

38 Smithfield Road
Newton, Massachusetts

Prepared with care by Claire and Tom Harmon · 2003 – 2026

Newtonville Newton Historic District For Jason and Shannon

Welcome Letter

Dear Jason and Shannon

May 28th, 2026

We first walked through the old structure on a chilly April day. It was raw and cold outside, but the house was warm and felt like home. We had been married for only seven months.

At the time, it was a small house — about 1,500 square feet, with one and a half bathrooms, concrete walls, concrete ceilings, concrete floors, and a beautiful herringbone tile floor that seemed to go on forever. We cut a piece of the floor and had it mounted at the front door; connecting this house to its past. It is the reason you will find the herringbone pattern on the front walk, the front hallway, the driveway, and the brick on the back of the garage.

We loved the little house. We brought our first daughter, Emma, home in November 2004, and our second daughter, Lily Rose, came home in July 2006. Both of our daughters went to Mason-Rice and Walnut Park Montessori. One of the great gifts of this location is walkability — we walked our daughters to school many days, and often walked them into town in the stroller for coffee. The ability to walk to Newton Centre for dinner is one of the lovely gifts of living at 38 Smithfield.

A few years ago, after trying many different architects and ideas for expanding the old structure, we decided to build this house and tear down the old one. The old structure resisted renovation due to its concrete construction. We were deeply sad to tear it down.

When we built this house, our intention was to build a home that looked and felt like an old Newton house. The purpose of the porch was to capture a feeling of place, belonging, and home. Sitting there with coffee in the morning, hearing people say good morning as they walk by, confirms that it works. The architect was David Walsh, and the builder was James Sullivan. Anytime you can complete a project like this and still love your contractor, it is a big win.

We chose the high ceilings to give a sense of space, and dug a deeper basement to give the lower level a feeling to match the rest of the house. We envisioned the big windows across the back for years — we always could see the glow of green through summer and reds and yellows in the fall.

Throughout the house there are intentional choices to tie the house to the past. The guest bathroom tile mirrors a pattern you can find in early 20th century houses all over the Boston area. The herringbone runs through the house in wood, brick, and tile — a thread connecting old and new.

Living here is easy. Two Whole Foods nearby — we always preferred the little one at Newton Four Corners. Sycamore, Jinney's, Little Big Diner, and O'Hara's are some restaurants to try. But for great pizza, Picco in Boston is worth the drive.

You will likely find the drive to Boston, the airport, and Cambridge easy. Walk to Newtonville. Walk to Newton Centre. Walk and take the Green Line into town. Living in this location has been a loving gift to all of our lives, and we hope you enjoy this space and this location as much as we have.

With warmth,
Claire and Tom Harmon
38 Smithfield Road · 2003 – 2026
The open kitchen and living area looking toward the back windows and green tree line
Kitchen & living area — the back windows we imagined for years
Entry hallway with herringbone floor and staircase, looking toward the library with Salamander green walls
Entry hall — the herringbone floor, the library beyond

Where You Live

History of the Area

Newtonville

Newton was founded in 1630 as part of "Newtowne" — a settlement that originally encompassed what is now both Cambridge and Newton. Newton incorporated as its own town in 1688 and took the name "Newton" in 1691.

The village now known as Newtonville developed around a mill built in 1664 by John Spring, who dammed Smelt Brook to power a grist mill. A large pond formed behind the dam — first called Spring's Pond, later Pearl Lake, and eventually Bullough's Pond.

Newtonville's growth accelerated with the arrival of railroad service from Boston in 1834, and by the mid-19th century it had become a residential suburb — a character it has maintained ever since.

Bullough's Pond

Bullough's Pond is the defining natural feature of this neighborhood — a 4-acre historic pond at the intersection of Walnut Street and Commonwealth Avenue, less than a half-mile from 38 Smithfield. The City of Newton has owned it since 1897, when the Newton Land and Improvement Company donated it for public use. The Bullough's Pond Association, founded in 1983, stewards it today.

Year Event
1664John Spring builds a dam across Smelt Brook; Spring's Pond forms
1835John Bullough purchases a share in the mill; pond gradually takes his name
1855Walnut Street extended south, bisecting the original pond
1886The old mill burns in a fire
1895Frederick Law Olmsted designs the Newton stretch of Commonwealth Avenue, with a trolley to Norumbega Park
1897City of Newton receives the pond as a public recreational gift
1910s–70sCity maintains the pond for ice skating; Newton High School hockey plays home games on the ice
1983Bill and Betsy Leitch found the Bullough's Pond Association after observing deterioration from siltation
1993Dredging and Laundry Brook drainage improvements completed

Today Bullough's Pond is a neighborhood gathering place for walking, bird watching, and nature observation. Residents are welcome to join the Bullough's Pond Association at bulloughspond.org.

Commonwealth Avenue — The stretch running through Newtonville was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, designer of Central Park and Boston's Emerald Necklace, and completed in 1895. Originally built with a trolley line running to Norumbega Park in Weston. Today it is a broad, tree-lined boulevard and one of Newton's signature streets.

The History of Smithfield Road

Historical atlases of Newton document how Smithfield Road developed from farmland into a residential street. The land under 38 Smithfield Road was part of the Frank Morse farm in the mid-19th century, acquired by the Newton Land & Improvement Company during their Newton Park development in the 1880s–1890s.

1855 — The Morse Farm: The Hopkins Atlas shows the area as part of the undivided Frank Morse farm — a large agricultural parcel abutting Pearl Lake (Bullough's Pond) to the west.

1895 — Platted as Newton Park: The Newton Land & Improvement Company subdivided the former Morse farmland into building lots. William Smithfield is recorded as owning multiple substantial parcels — the road almost certainly takes his name.

1917 — Fully Developed: Smithfield Road is clearly labeled in the Bromley Atlas with individual lots owned by families including the Kilpatricks, Burns, and Wright. The street configuration visible today was largely set by this time.

A note on your soil: When we first moved in and worked in the yard, we often found glass in the ground. We later learned that more than 100 years ago there were greenhouses just south of our house, and when they were torn down, much of the greenhouse glass ended up in the soil of all the homes around. When we built the new house we had the soil cleaned of debris — but it was an interesting reminder of the past.

A note on your neighbors: 17 Smithfield Road, as well as 71, 77 & 89 Smithfield Street were all built by the same builder using the same poured concrete and rebar structure as the original home. 77 Smithfield Street's core house is virtually identical to the original home and 17 Smithfield Road across the street shares the herringbone floor pattern.

Historical map source: Leventhal Map & Education Center, Boston Public Library — collections.leventhalmap.org

Quick Neighborhood Reference

Village
Newtonville
Nearest Pond
Bullough's Pond (~0.5 mi) — Walnut St at Commonwealth Ave
Commuter Rail
Newtonville Station — Framingham/Worcester Line
Green Line
Newton Centre — D Branch
Notable Boulevard
Commonwealth Avenue (Olmsted-designed, 1895)
Historic District
Yes — Newton Historic Commission oversight applies to exterior changes

Key Systems

Utilities & Systems

Everything you need to know about where things are and how they work.

Water

ItemLocation
Main shutoffBasement utility room — front of the room
Exterior spigot shutoff (winter)Basement — look for the Lima Bros. irrigation label
Garage sink shutoffBehind the washer and dryer in the garage
Rear hose bibChimney wall, rear exterior of the house
Front hose bibInside the garage, near the porch door

Winterizing: Before the first frost, shut off the garage sink line (behind washer/dryer) and call Lima Bros. to blow out the irrigation lines. In winter, keep the garage sink water off when not in use — one forgotten open garage door in a cold snap is all it takes.

Gas

ItemLocation
Main shutoffBasement utility room — toward the front of the room
Exterior meterNorth side of the house, near the AC condensers
EmergencyNational Grid — 1-800-233-5325 (24/7)

Electricity

ItemLocation / Detail
Main Eaton panelBasement utility room — left side of the utility board
Sub-panelBasement utility room — right side (white box)
Service entrySouth side of the house, at the garage
EmergencyEversource — 1-800-592-2000 (24/7)

All breakers are correctly labeled. Color-coded dots indicate floor: Green = first floor, Blue = basement, Yellow = outside/AC/sub-panel. If a breaker trips: push firmly OFF, then firmly ON. If it trips again, unplug everything on that circuit first — if still tripping, call Wheaton Electric.

Heating

The home uses a single HTP ELU/EFTU series condensing gas boiler. Two rooms have radiant in-floor heating (mud room and master bathroom). The rest of the house is heated by hydronic air handlers — one in the basement, one in the attic.

ZoneMethodArea
BasementHydronic air handlerBasement
1st FloorHydronic air handlerFirst floor living areas
2nd FloorHydronic air handler (attic)Second floor bedrooms
Master BedroomRadiant in-floor + air handlerMaster bedroom & bath
3rd FloorHydronic air handler (attic)Third floor

Annual service: September — book before the heating season. Do not put thick rugs over the radiant floors in the mud room or master bath; they reduce heat output.

Cooling

ItemDetail
Condenser unitsNorth side of house (exterior) — 4 dedicated AC circuits
Last serviced2024 — service again on a 2-year cycle
Air filterTrion Air Bear whole-home media filter — next to the air handler in the basement; replace every ~6 months. Spare kept at the unit.

Internet & Smart Home

ItemDetail
ProviderVerizon Fios (fiber optic) — do not switch to Xfinity
Router locationBasement utility room
Coverage noteVerizon network extenders on all four floors; guest bedroom on 2nd floor gives best 2nd-floor coverage
SystemNotes
Ecobee thermostatControls all zones; app available (iOS/Android) — 1-877-932-6233
Lutron Caseta lightingSmartHub in basement utility room — wired, not WiFi. Changing WiFi does not affect Lutron.
Sonos audioFour Sonos Amps rack-mounted in basement. Zones: Kitchen/Living Room, Library, Main, Mud/Bath. Installer: dB A/V (617) 694-8208

Kitchen Appliances

All kitchen and laundry appliances were purchased through Yale Appliance, 296 Freeport St, Dorchester — (617) 379-3440. Yale can assist with warranty questions and service referrals for all brands.

ApplianceModelNotes
Gaggenau Induction CooktopCX482610Full-surface induction — flexible zone placement; Home Connect app compatible
Gaggenau Built-In OvenBO 480/481 613Pyrolytic self-cleaning; Home Connect. E-Nr. and FD-Nr. inside oven door frame.
Gaggenau Combi-Steam OvenBS 470/474/484 612Full steam, combi-steam, and convection. Requires distilled or filtered water for steam.
Gaggenau Warming DrawerWS 482 / WS 463Keeps food at serving temperature; also proofs bread dough
Sub-Zero RefrigeratorIC-30RID-RH30" column, panel-ready. Icemaker tip: reach inside and push arm down if ice stops — freezes in the up position.
Sub-Zero FreezerIC-24FI-LH24" column, panel-ready. Sub-Zero support: 1-800-222-7820
Bosch DishwasherSHV878ZD3N800 DLX, 24" — near the wall sink
Miele Dishwasher (island)G7366SCVIIsland dishwasher
HydroTap (kitchen tap)Zip Celsius AIO BCSInstant boiling, chilled, sparkling water. Filter every 18 months (Drinking Well Co.). CO₂ refill at IGO's Welding, Watertown.

Fireplaces & Gas Stove

UnitNotes
Main / living area fireplaceMendota gas fireplace — annual service. Call Commonwealth Fireplace, Norwood: (781) 762-2088
Main bedroom fireplaceMendota gas fireplace — has not been heavily used; smells of burn-off when first lit. Service before regular use. Call Commonwealth Fireplace.
Living room gas stoveCleaned last year by the installing company. Contact Commonwealth Fireplace for ongoing service.

Always Good to Know

Emergency Contacts

Gas Leak
National Grid
1-800-233-5325 (24/7)
Power / Electrical
Eversource
1-800-592-2000 (24/7)
Water Main / Sewer
Newton DPW
(617) 796-1000
Plumbing
Baker Elman
(617) 882-0409
Electrician
Wheaton Electric
wheatonelectric.com
Fireplace
Commonwealth Fireplace
(781) 762-2088

Fire extinguishers are located in the kitchen, garage, and utility room. The garage unit is a 5 lb. near the first bay door.

Who to Call

Vendor Directory

These are our trusted vendors — most have worked here for years and know the house.

Fireplace
Commonwealth Fireplace
151 Carnegie Row, Norwood MA
(781) 762-2088
commonwealthfireplace.com
Tue–Sat 10am–5pm (Thu until 7pm)

Annual service: August/September before heating season. Book early — they fill up fast.

Plumber (first call)
Baker Elman
(617) 882-0409

Highly responsive. Handled the final plumbing inspection. Call them first for any plumbing issue.

Electrician (first call)
Wheaton Electric
wheatonelectric.com

Excellent response time. First call for any electrical issue.

Irrigation (call every spring & fall)
Lima Bros. Irrigation
(508) 405-2539

Open system each spring. Blow out lines before first frost each fall. Look for their yellow tag on the basement shutoff.

Gutters (twice annual)
Ned Stevens
nedstevens.com · Newton

June and third week of November. Not earlier — Norway maples don't finish dropping until late November.

Landscaping
Hope Landscaping — Rosa
(781) 330-5374

Lawn care, mowing, seasonal cleanup.

Appliances
Yale Appliance
296 Freeport St, Dorchester
(617) 379-3440
clientservices@yaleappliance.com
yaleappliance.com

All appliances purchased here. Quote on file: YS00389275 (kitchen).

Audio / AV
dB A/V
(617) 694-8208
dbavsystems@yahoo.com
4 Blueberry Ln, Franklin MA

Installed all Sonos amps, in-ceiling speakers, and network drops. First call for any AV or speaker issue.

Windows
Pella — David Kean
(603) 725-4502
KeanDM@pellanewengland.com

Service Manager — contact for any window issue, seals, hardware, or warranty claims.

HydroTap Filter
Drinking Well Co.
drinkingwellco.com

Replace the kitchen tap filter every 18 months.

CO₂ Refill (HydroTap sparkling)
IGO's Welding Supply
igoswelding.com · Watertown
~$50 per refill

Use the valve seal when reconnecting the cylinder. There are videos showing how — it's easy.

Pest Control
TruGreen
trugreen.com

Proactive service. No current pest activity.

Paint Colors

Every paint color is documented for exact match on touch-ups. The Malta custom color is only at National Lumber Newton #2 — do not try to match by eye.

SurfaceColorBrand / CodeFinishWhere to Get It
All interior wallsChantilly LaceBenjamin Moore OC-65EggshellAny BM dealer — specify base 466
Library wallsSalamanderBenjamin Moore 2050-10EggshellAny BM dealer
Interior trim & cabinetryMalta (custom)BM Advance, custom matchSatinNational Lumber Newton #2 only — (617) 244-8020
All ceilingsChantilly LaceBenjamin Moore OC-65, base 508Ultra flatAny BM dealer — specify base 508 ceiling formula
Exterior sidingSweet BluetteBenjamin Moore 813Low lustreAny BM dealer — Regal Select MoorGard, base W103
Exterior trimChantilly LaceBenjamin Moore OC-65Soft glossAny BM dealer — Regal Select MoorGlo, base W096

Porch ceiling note: The porch ceiling is painted blue intentionally — it is a traditional insect deterrent. Maintain the blue color when repainting.

Keep It Beautiful

Seasonal Maintenance

The house is designed for ease. These are the rhythms that keep it at its best.

Spring / Move-In
Change all access codes
Set up Ecobee, Lutron, and Sonos under your accounts
Call Lima Bros. to open irrigation system
Pressure wash or Mold Armor the exterior (especially after yellow pollen season, late June)
Clean back bluestone patio with Mold Armor (3–4 times per year)
Check sump pump — confirm it is plugged in and operational
Wash front porch with muriatic acid and reseal (bluestone)
Replace air filter if due
Summer
June: Ned Stevens gutter cleaning (post-pollen, before summer)
Windex hose attachment on kitchen windows a few times per year — works surprisingly well
Steam clean wood kitchen floors periodically (a $100 Amazon unit works great)
Norway maple seedlings drop May 10 – June 15 — seasonal, not a maintenance failure
August / September
Book fireplace service — Commonwealth Fireplace fills up early
Book boiler service before heating season
Yard cleanup and back tree line trim (every 2 years)
Late November
Third week of November: Ned Stevens gutter cleaning — not before; Norway maples drop late
Clear the basement steps and window wells of leaves (clean 2x annually)
Clear the stormwater drain at end of driveway — must stay clear or driveway pools and freezes
Before First Frost
Shut off irrigation (Lima Bros. blowout)
Shut off garage sink water line (behind washer/dryer) for the season
Snow: use snow blower only on brick driveway — plows will damage the brick
Keep the septic/city drain at end of driveway clear
Every 6 Months
Replace HVAC air filter — spare kept at the air handler in the basement
Smoke detector: test monthly, battery annually, replace units every 10 years
CO detector: replace every 5–7 years
Every 18 Months
Replace HydroTap kitchen water filter — Drinking Well Co.

Miscellaneous Notes

Trash pickup is Friday. Trash and recycling containers were designed to be placed outside the south side garage door.

If you use the hanging vacuum in the garage and suck up water, empty it immediately. If you let it sit, you will spend days wondering what stinks in the garage.

If there is beeping in the house, it is likely the bar refrigerator or the dishwasher near the sink — a door was left open.

The hose in the garage reaches 100 feet and is both hot and cold. Hot water is fantastic in cold weather for a quick car wash or driveway rinse.

The outer edges of the herringbone brick pattern on the driveway are each centered on the middle of the garage bays — placed as a visual guide for lining up while backing in.

Tom Harmon: Contact via DwellGuide · hello@dwellguide.com — Please feel free to reach out with any questions.

Leventhal Map & Education Center

Historical Maps

The history of Smithfield Road and Newtonville is documented in a remarkable series of historical atlases, all digitized and freely available through the Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center at the Boston Public Library.

1855
Hopkins Atlas of Newton
H.F. Walling & O.W. Gray · Middlesex County

The earliest atlas showing this area. The land now occupied by Smithfield Road appears as part of the undivided Frank Morse farm — a large agricultural parcel abutting Pearl Lake (Bullough's Pond) to the west. Few roads existed in this section of Newtonville.

View on Atlascope
1874
Hopkins Atlas — Atlas of the City of Newton
G.M. Hopkins & Co. · Philadelphia

The Frank Morse parcel remains largely intact. Neighboring landowners include Phillip Goodrich and Jno. Hasleton. The Newton Land & Improvement Company has begun acquiring land around Bullough's Pond in preparation for residential development — the same company that would later donate the pond to the City.

View on Atlascope
Smithfield Road Named
1895
Bromley Atlas of Newton
G.W. Bromley & Co. · Philadelphia

The transformation is complete. The Newton Land & Improvement Company has subdivided the former Morse farmland into building lots under the name Newton Park. William Smithfield is recorded as owning multiple substantial parcels along what is now Smithfield Road — two parcels of 2 acres 31,200 sq ft and 3 acres 29,200 sq ft. Smithfield Road almost certainly takes its name from this family. The same atlas shows Bullough's Pond by its current name, and records the Newton Land & Improvement Company as trustee of the pond lands — the same company that donated the pond to the City two years later in 1897.

View on Atlascope
1917
Bromley Atlas of Newton
G.W. Bromley & Co. · Philadelphia

The neighborhood is fully built out. Smithfield Road is clearly labeled, and individual lots are owned by families including the Kilpatricks, Burns, and Wright. The street configuration visible today was largely set by this time. This is the neighborhood as it looked when the concrete houses — including the original at 38 Smithfield — were built.

View on Atlascope
Explore with Atlascope

The Leventhal Map Center's Atlascope tool lets you enter any address and overlay historical atlas layers from the 1850s through the 1930s onto a modern map. Type in 38 Smithfield Road, Newton to see your land in each era.

Open Atlascope Browse the Full Collection

Recorded Ownership History

This is a historical background document for new owners. It is not a legal opinion on title and does not replace a title examination by closing counsel or the title insurer.

YearEventRegistry Reference
1949Early deed (referenced in later documents)Referenced in subsequent filings
1951Deed recordedBook 7742, Page 320
1955Deed recordedBook 8627, Page 410
1987Deed recordedBook 19176, Page 57
1997Deed recordedBook 27506, Page 342
2003Lot subdivision — Porter plan reconfigures 38 and 64 Smithfield RoadPlan No. 340 / Instrument No. 1452
2003Deed to Robin M. WeissBook 39646, Page 549
2003Deed to Thomas R. and Claire E. HarmonBook 39865, Page 483
2008–2019Newton ZBA Variance grantedPetition #08-19
2020Historic District approval obtained for 2018–2021 renovationNewton Historic Commission

Local Favorites

From Us to You

Restaurants

Sycamore, Jinney's, Little Big Diner, and O'Hara's are our Newtonville favorites. For pizza worth the drive: Picco in Boston.

Grocery

Two Whole Foods nearby. We always preferred the smaller one at Newton Four Corners — easier parking, same quality.

Walkability

Walk to Newtonville. Walk to Newton Centre for dinner. Walk and take the Green Line D Branch from Newton Centre into Boston. One of the great gifts of this location.

Schools

Mason-Rice Elementary, Walnut Park Montessori, Bigelow Middle School, and Newton North High School — all walkable or a short drive.

The Porch

Sitting on the porch with coffee in the morning, hearing people say good morning as they walk by — this is the heart of 38 Smithfield. We built the porch for exactly this.

Bullough's Pond

A half-mile walk — a lovely neighborhood gathering place for walking, bird watching, and nature. Join the Bullough's Pond Association at bulloughspond.org.