Stonehurst - The Paine Estate

Directions to parking for

Waltham’s Paine Estate (Stonehurst) and the Storer Conservation Area

Waltham plays host to a number of fine old manors whose opulence, even though some of them (the Lyman Estate, 1793, for instance) were raised and landscaped in a period so far removed from today’s world that it’s easy to think nothing but rustic trading posts and Plimoth Plantation-like huts could have existed. Surprise! The Lyman Estate (“The Vale”), with its greenhouses dating from 1820, was a focal point for New World efforts to transplant wine grapes to this continent and a centerpiece of the frantic camellia growing and hybridizing craze for which eighteenth century New England was renowned. No less important is the neighboring Robert Treat Paine Estate (“Stonehurst”) and the Storer Woods that surround it, between them amounting to 134 acres of woodlands and meadows. Paine and his wife Lydia (a Lyman daughter) hired H. H. Richardson (the architect of Trinity Church) in 1884 and, naturally, the Olmsteads, to put an addition on their “summer home” and landscape the environs. ‘Nuff said … but wait until you see the Richardson-signature Syrian arch and the first story’s massive glacial boulders! Not to mention, glorious in season, Olmstead’s rhododendron collection.

To get there try this:

From Route 128/95

Drive Route 128/95 to Exit 27A in Waltham, steering for Totten Pond Road/Wyman Street.

• If southbound on 128 be sure to take Exit 27A (Totten Pond Road/Wyman Street) … NOT 27 B (Winter Street). At the end of the exit ramp merge right, cross back over 128, and continue straight through the lights you’ll almost immediately encounter.

• If northbound on 128 take Exit 27A and, when you reach the lights at the end of the exit ramp turn right (Totten Pond Road).

Either way, from the lights continue 1.3 miles as Totten Pond Road descends past Prospect Hill Park (on the right) and intersects Lexington Street at a set of lights. In anticipation of making a right turn at these lights, drift to the right side of Totten Pond Road as you approach them. Turn right and then … WARNING … stay left as Lexington Street bears off in that direction. Don’t get caught taking the right-hand fork onto Bacon Street. At the first set of lights after the turn, go left onto Beaver Street and drive it 0.4 miles to a rotary. Take the second exit, still Beaver Street, and continue 0.1 miles to Robert Treat Paine Drive (on the left). Turn left and climb about 0.2 miles to the parking area. It’ll be on the right.

Other possibilities

From Lexington and points north an option is to take Waltham Street over Trapelo Road (where it becomes Lexington Street) and stay on it all the way to Beaver Street. Or, take Spring Street (becomes Smith Street as it crosses Route 2 and Wyman Street south of Trapelo Road) to Totten Pond Road, make a left, and then follow the “From 128/95” directions.

*** Good Luck !!! ***

For those navigating to the start with MapQuest or a GPS system:

190 Robert Treat Paine Drive, Waltham, MA 02452

To contact us call 978-808-0900