Historical Commission splits 3-2 on fate of historic Greenwood Lane house

At its Aug. 11 meeting the Historical Commission voted to preserve a historically significant house in Piety Corner at least into mid-2027.

The land at 63 Greenwood Lane once belonged to Reverend Benjamin Worcester, a Swedenborgian minister and educator who led a church.. In January 1886, Worcester sold around 25,000 square feet of land to two of his sons. Tax records show a third Worcester son, James, living on the land later that year, leading commissioners to believe James — a carpenter by trade — built the structure. 

Commissioner Marie Daly, who prepared the home’s historical report, discovered the Worcester name carried weight in Waltham and beyond at the time of the home’s construction. Another member of the family, Alfred, became a nationally known physician and one of the founders of the original Waltham Hospital. His brother Joseph was a prominent structural engineer who worked on the original Harvard Stadium. 

A stone wall, which predates the house by two and a half centuries, runs along the property’s western edge. Commissioners noted that it marks the lot line from colonial land grants given in 1636, dividing the area now known as Piety Corner. 

The case for demolition

The commission was tasked with deciding whether the house should be preserved for at least another year, despite owner Frank Valentino’s request to demolish it and replace it with a new single-family home. 

Valentino’s attorney Richard LeClair argued that the house is structurally beyond saving. Although part of the existing structure dates back to 1884, he said the rest has been altered by a “hodgepodge” of renovations. LeClair said a contractor found the floors uneven and suspected rot, making rehabilitation economically infeasible.

John Morrison, who lived in the house as a child, spoke during the public hearing but agreed the new owner has a right to “be comfortable where they live.”

A split vote

The vote to demolish or delay was split, with the commission voting 3-2 to find the house “preferably preserved.” 

It imposed a maximum one-year delay, giving the owner time to reconsider total demolition and explore alternatives that might preserve historical significance. 

LeClair argued the one-year delay should start from April, when the applicant filed his portion of the paperwork for the hearing. Chair Mort Isaacson said he would contact the city’s Law Department and get back to him. 

For now, the former home of two Waltham legends and a colonial-era stone wall will stand for at least eight more months on Greenwood Lane.