Lake, Stanley, House
Why it's listed
Set on open fields above the Ipswich River at 95 River Road in Topsfield, this farmhouse began as a single-cell dwelling built by Mathew Stanley between about 1680 and 1693. A lean-to was added to the east end before 1710, then raised to a full two stories around 1710 with an end overhang, and a further room and chimney bay were added in 1752. The house keeps original shadow-molded sheathing, chamfered summer beams, and one of only two known pendants still in place in a First Period house. The 1752 addition shows the framing traditions of the late 17th century persisting into the middle of the 18th. A barn built before 1718 still stands beside the house, one of fewer than half a dozen surviving First Period barns. Together the buildings are among five known pre-1730 Massachusetts farmsteads where both house and barn remain in their original relationship. Eleazer Lake bought the property in 1718.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to be significant under Criterion C for its phased First Period construction, which shows how such houses grew from a single cell to a larger plan. It retains original shadow-molded sheathing, a rare surviving pendant in an enclosed overhang, and a conservative 1752 addition. The pre-1718 barn is one of fewer than half a dozen extant First Period barns and survives in place with the house.
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 90000260, listed March 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 95 River Rd., Topsfield |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | March 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000260 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Mathew Stanley built the original house; architect unknown |
| Architectural style | First Period, with Second Period exterior finishes |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good; present use is residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | River Road-Cross Street Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.63386, -70.96244 (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 90000260.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7599738
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.