Henfield House
Also known as: Little--Spears House
Why it's listed
Located at 300 Main Street in Lynnfield, this house began around 1700 as a two-and-a-half-story half house with a lean-to and a chimney at its west end. A western section was added in the early 18th century, and the post-1730 date of that addition is shown by the unfinished longitudinal summer beam in the first-floor room. The result is a five-bay, central-chimney saltbox with clapboard siding, a reconstructed cove cornice and a Greek Revival doorway. Its importance lies in the surviving early fabric. The east side has chamfered beams with lamb's tongue stops, and the attic holds original rafters, collar beams and vertical planking. Four original riven clapboards remain attached to the planks beneath the gable peak, a rare survival of First Period exterior finish. Much of the earliest frame is hidden behind later boxing and panels, so it may still reveal more about how such houses were built. The original builder is unknown, and the house is named for the family that lived there for most of the 18th century.
Significance in brief: The house keeps a rare chamfered First Period frame, planked walls and early roof construction, and four original gable-end clapboards survive in the attic. This supports its significance for architecture (Criterion C). Because the earliest frame is now boxed in, it may also yield more information about First Period building practices (Criterion D).
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 90000240, listed March 4, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 300 Main St., Lynnfield |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | March 4, 1991 |
| Reference number | 90000240 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | First Period / saltbox |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Historic - Non-Aboriginal, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Recorded in good condition and in use as a residence. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 42.53500, -71.05906 (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 90000240.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5714173
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.