{"nrhp_refnum":"84002496","name":"Batchelder, George, House","other_names":[],"category":"building","location":{"address":"127-129 Franklin St.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Reading","county":"Middlesex County","state":"MA","lat":42.55434562800008,"lon":-71.10439745799994,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1984-07-19","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Architecture"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A five-bay, two and one-half story Federal-style clapboard house at 127-129 Franklin Street in Reading, Massachusetts, built about 1825 for George Batchelder. It was moved in 1947 from its original site on Main Street.","why_significant":"The nomination argues the house is significant for its connection with the locally important Batchelder family and as an example of high-style Federal architecture in Reading. Its door enframement has more Federal high-style elements than most surviving examples. The house also illustrates the traditional pattern of Reading's development, with younger sons building on family land. It is said to retain integrity despite the move.","narrative":"Built around 1825 by George Batchelder, this five-bay, two and one-half story Federal house at 127-129 Franklin Street in Reading is notable for its refined entrance. Tapered pilasters carry a wide entablature, and an elliptical louvered fanlight in a starburst pattern sits above a six-panel door flanked by half-length sidelights. The low roof slope is another Federal feature. The house was originally on the east side of Main Street, facing west, but was moved in 1947 to make room for a gas station. It now faces south on a hillside, and the move is judged not to have harmed its integrity. The property reflects how Reading grew: Batchelder family homesteads occupied this stretch of Franklin Street from about 1765, and younger sons built new houses on family land in a modern style with conservative detailing. The house was listed for its link to the Batchelder family and for its high-style Federal design.","period_of_significance":null,"architect_builder":"George Batchelder (builder, original owner)","architectural_style":"Federal","criteria":["A","C"],"status_note":"Moved in 1947 to make way for a gas station; now faces south on a hillside slope. Alterations include a western two-story ell and changed fenestration.","vacant_flag":null,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:11:56.228802-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/17/7907/63790717/content/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_MA/84002496.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/84002496/52738751c0-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/84002496/52738751c0-1600.webp","licence":"CC BY-SA 4.0","author":"User:Magicpiano","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ReadingMA_GeorgeBatchelderHouse.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">User:Magicpiano</a>, <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0\" rel=\"license noopener\">CC BY-SA 4.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ReadingMA_GeorgeBatchelderHouse.jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/63790717","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Batchelder_House","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5536788"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/massachusetts/middlesex-county/batchelder-george-house-84002496/"}