Nichols-Sterner House
Also known as: William Nichols House
Why it's listed
Built about 1820 by farmer William Nichols, this brick house sits on a low, wooded rise along Pittsfield Road in the hill town of Richmond, Massachusetts. It is two and a half stories tall with a gabled front, a brick kitchen ell, and marble lintels and sills. The south entry has a Federal-style surround with a fanlight and beaded marble keystone. Inside, the side-hall plan, original woodwork, mantels, and the kitchen fireplace and bake oven survive. A greenhouse added in 1985 replaced an earlier clapboard ell. The house is listed as a well-preserved example of the shift from Federal to Greek Revival style and as one of only two period brick houses in town. The Nichols family lived here year-round until 1925. The 2.2-acre lot is what remains of a 103-acre farm, and the property may also hold archaeological remains from earlier occupation.
Significance in brief: The final nomination argues the house is a well-preserved, stylish example of the transition from Federal to Greek Revival style and is one of only two period brick houses in Richmond. It also retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship and feeling, and is tied to the Nichols family, who lived there from about 1820 to 1925. The earlier draft also cited artist Albert Sterner's murals, but the final version rests on architecture alone.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 87001997, listed September 17, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Swamp Rd., Richmond |
|---|---|
| County | Berkshire County |
| Listed | September 17, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87001997 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1820 |
| Architect / builder | William Nichols |
| Architectural style | Late Federal with Greek Revival features (transitional Federal/Greek Revival) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence and vacation home; restored by the present owners after sitting empty and neglected following the 1940s. A greenhouse addition was built in 1985. |
| Acreage | 2.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.40746, -73.31915 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 87001997.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7026548
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.