Foster, Stephen, House
Also known as: Greenwood Kennels
Why it's listed
Set back from North Street amid farm fields in Topsfield, this two and one half story clapboard house dates to about 1680-1700. It is three bays wide and one room deep, with small additions at the right rear and 19th-century trim, including a one-story porch on square posts. Only the very steep roof hints at its First Period origins. Inside, a massive oak frame is exposed on the second floor and in the attic, with a chamfered summer beam, jowled corner posts and hewn purlins. The house is notable for keeping its single-cell form, which later additions usually obscure. Its most unusual feature is a tree branch left on the rear plate to act as a brace, a practical solution by a single carpenter. The all-oak frame is of substantial dimensions, which could point to an earlier date than the traditional c. 1700 or to old-fashioned methods. The house retains its original rural setting, and the barn and sheds nearby are in disrepair.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to be significant under Criterion C for its integrity of design, materials, workmanship and setting in its First Period frame. It keeps the single-cell massing that later additions usually hide. A tree branch left on the rear plate to serve as a brace is an unusual example of vernacular carpentry.
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 90000262, listed March 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 109 North St., Topsfield |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | March 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000262 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | First Period |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as good; present use is residence and kennel. The 20th-century barn and two sheds are in disrepair. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.65984, -70.93348 (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 90000262.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7609217
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.