Nathaniel Allen House undergoes transformation into a center for arts and culture By Allison Pirog Boston University journalist,Updated April 21, 2021, 1 hour ago Email to a Friend The Allen Centerâs performance space will host musical performances.Adrienne Hartzell Knudsen The newly renovated Nathaniel Allen House â a former home and school that once served as a stop on the Underground Railroad, providing shelter to escaped enslaved people â is gradually opening as a center for arts and culture. The Newton Cultural Alliance purchased the Greek Revival home in West Newton in 2012 and plans to provide performance, rehearsal, and office space for arts and culture organizations.