{"nrhp_refnum":"84002794","name":"Pierce House","other_names":[],"category":"building","location":{"address":"128 Salem St.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Reading","county":"Middlesex County","state":"MA","lat":42.527221617000066,"lon":-71.09557201499996,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1984-07-19","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Industry","Architecture"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A Stick-style private dwelling at 128 Salem Street in Reading, Massachusetts, built between 1875 and 1880 for Samuel Pierce and attributed to architect George Abbott.","why_significant":"The house is tied to Samuel Pierce, who ran Reading's most important organ pipe and organ accessories firm. It is also described as one of the town's best examples of Stick-style architecture, with elaborate woodwork. The form states it retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship and feeling.","narrative":"Built between 1875 and 1880 at 128 Salem Street in Reading, this wood-frame house is an elaborate example of Stick-style design, attributed to architect George Abbott. Its asymmetrical form is topped by a steeply pitched gable roof with exposed rafter ends, and the end and center gables carry decorative screens, one with a cut-out floral design. Knee braces, vertical-board siding and a front porch with arches, chamfered posts on pedestals, scalloped trim and eaves brackets show what jigsaw work could do with wood. Samuel Pierce, the original owner, ran Reading's leading organ pipe and organ accessories business. He began manufacturing in an ell of his house in 1847, moved to specialized buildings on Pierce Street in 1852, and employed about fifty men. He also served as selectman, as a state legislator and as treasurer of the Old South Congregational Society. The house was listed for its link to the organ industry, for its connection with Pierce, and as one of the town's best Stick-style buildings.","period_of_significance":null,"architect_builder":"George Abbott","architectural_style":"Stick Style","criteria":["A","B","C"],"status_note":"Present use is a private dwelling; alterations include a 1 1/2 and 1 story rear extension and altered fenestration on the east side.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:11:57.347164-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/23/7922/63792223/content/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_MA/84002794.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/84002794/92a40dbf3c-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/84002794/92a40dbf3c-1600.webp","licence":"CC BY-SA 4.0","author":"User:Magicpiano","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ReadingMA_PierceHouse.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_PierceHouse.jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/63792223","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierce_House_(Reading,_Massachusetts)","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7191804"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/massachusetts/middlesex-county/pierce-house-84002794/"}