As property values change and community needs evolve, sometimes familiar structures that were once part of the built landscape are removed or significantly altered. Here are some of the buildings that once defined Waban.

Railroad Station

The original rail station in Waban was one of three stations in Newton designed by architect H.H. Richardson. The others were in Chestnut Hill and at Woodland. The Waban station was demolished in 1958. Additional stations in Newton, including Newton Highlands and Newton Centre, are the work of a successor architectural firm after the death of H. H. Richardson.

St. Philip Neri Church

The Church of St. Philip Neri opened in 1928 near the intersection of Beacon and Chestnut Streets. This brick church with an educational wing served families until it was razed in 2017 to make way for new housing.

Waban Hall

Waban Hall, situated at the corner of Woodward and Wyman Streets, and built in 1890 through the efforts of the Waban Improvement Society, has the distinction of being Waban’s first commercial block. The hall was designed to accommodate several shops on the street level and had a community hall on the upper story. it was here the Waban Improvement Society held its meetings, local children attended public school, and the Waban Christian Union held its first services. A laundry and Moulton’s General Store were the first to rent shops. Although significantly altered, the shingle-style structure remains an important component of Waban’s commercial center.