Meetinghouse Common District
Why it's listed
Lynnfield's town center is organized around a common and a group of buildings that mostly date from the nineteenth century. The district covers about 20 acres and includes 14 buildings and two cemeteries, with religious, commercial, cultural and residential structures set back from the street under mature trees. Its focal point is the Meeting House of 1714, an oak-framed building enlarged in 1782 and given a second floor in 1836. Over time it served as a church, town hall, school and fire station, and it was restored after 1960 for civic use. Nearby are the Public Library, whose oldest section was built in 1856 as a school, the Centre Congregational Church with its 1832 chapel and 1960 addition, the Old Parsonage of 1839, and several Bryant, Whittredge and Mottey family houses. The Old Burying Ground dates to 1714. The grouping reflects the town's development, and the area has seen few major alterations since the nineteenth century.
Significance in brief: The district is significant for its grouping of fine architectural examples and its link to the development of Lynnfield. The 1714 Meeting House has served religious, civic, governmental and social functions and is described as one of the three oldest meeting houses in Massachusetts. The area around the common has changed little since the nineteenth century.
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 76000260, listed November 21, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Summer, S. Common, and Main Sts., Lynnfield |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | November 21, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76000260 |
| Resource type | District |
| Areas of significance | Military, Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The 1714 Meeting House was restored by the Lynn Historical Society after 1960 and is again used for civic meetings. The form describes the district as occupied and mixed in use, with a Gulf station noted as the only real intrusion. |
| Acreage | 20 |
| Coordinates | 42.53933, -71.04954 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 76000260.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6807922
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.