Wilson Conservation Lands – Bracebridge Road

Overview

Woods and gardens above and adjacent to the Cochituate and Sudbury Aqueducts. Historic stone bridge that once crossed a stream connecting two small ponds, as shown on an 1895 map.

Size: 0.5 acres (conservation area) + 1.5 acres (conservation restriction) Longest Walk: 0.2 miles Acquired: 1990s and 2012

Longer Walks that include this property:
A Loop Along the Aqueducts
Waban to Chestnut Hill

Maps

Scan this code using the camera or QR code app on your smartphone for quick access to maps and other information on the property.

Other maps and aerial photos:

Bing Maps bird’s-eye photo

Newton Assessor

Connects to: Aqueduct Trails

GPS Enabled Trail Map

Access City of Newton GIS Map

To see your location, press the location icon while viewing the map on your smartphone. If the blue location dot doesn’t appear when you open the map, come back to this page and click here.

Owner & Administrator Websites

Conservation Commission (owner of conservation area)
Newton Conservators (conservation restriction holder on privately owned parcel)

Photo Gallery

Panoramic photo by Ken Mallory (2017)

The Treeway under construction

Photos by Ken Mallory

A new trail will enter from Bracebridge Road onto land that is part of the conservation restriction donated by the Wilsons to the Conservators. (2016)

The trail will start at an opening in this fence

Signs at the edges of the conservation restriction land invite walkers to cross the property, known as "Jolly's Hollow." The signs warn: "Beware of the gardener--she talks." The gardener was Andrée Wilson, an active conservationist, who passed away in 2016. Andrée and her husband Richard were founding members of the Conservators.

The Wilson residence is visible at rear. The house, known as Mount Pleasant, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. More information about the Wilson family and the house is on this web page.

This bridge once crossed a stream that connected two small ponds.

A portion of the Wilson Conservation Area, which the Wilsons donated to the City of Newton in the early 1990s.

An entrance to the conservation restriction land in the spring

First three photos shown here. Click a photo to view the complete slideshow or click here to browse the complete gallery.

History

~1856

House built by real estate developer Roswell Turner on land between the aqueducts. According to a 1983 Newton Historical Society report, “Except for the Colonial Revival trimming and a twentieth century addition to the north facade, this house represents the Italianate Style complete with hipped roof, tower, and arched windows. From 1844, Mr. Turner lived in Newton Centre where he bought and sold numerous properties. A manuscript by Margaret Orr in the Jackson Homestead Collection describes him as the real estate developer of Pelham Street, Lake Street, and the part of Beacon Street near the village center. Charles Davis, owner until 1907, called the estate ‘Mount Pleasant.'”

1986

Mount Pleasant listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

1990s

Half-acre parcel above the Sudbury Aqueduct donated to the City of Newton by Richard and Andrée Wilson, to form the Wilson Conservation Area.

2012

Conservation restriction on adjacent 1.5 acre parcel on Bracebridge Road donated by the Wilsons to the Newton Conservators.

Features

Conservation Area, MBTA Green Line, Woods Trail

Additional Information

Newton Assessor’s Map ID: 64016 0023 and other parcels

The story of Jolly’s Hollow: How conservation land builds community Newton Tab, November 30, 2017 (reprinted in Newton Conservators Newsletter, Spring 2018)

Conservation restriction

1895 Bromley Atlas of Newton

Report a Problem

Report a Problem in a Newton Conservation Area

Wilson Conservation Lands – Bracebridge Road

Overview

Maps