Old Farm
Why it's listed
Old Farm is a house at 9 Maple Street in Wenham, reached by a long lane through meadows and woodland. Its oldest part dates to 1689 or earlier and consists of the left-hand front rooms and chimney bay, which formed a single-cell house. The right-hand rooms and a lean-to were added in the 18th century, and a gambrel roof was built between 1890 and 1900. In 1911 architect Joseph Everett Chandler restored and enlarged the house for a Boston family, adding a service wing and rooms that blend First and Second Period features. An entrance hall followed in 1930. Inside, exposed chamfered framing and molded post heads survive. The combination of molded post heads with a longitudinal summer beam is an unusual variant, probably derived from Salem practice, since Wenham was once part of Salem. The house also reflects the early 20th-century interest in restoring First Period buildings, and a garden designed by Ellen Shipman remains south of the house.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it keeps integrity in its First Period frame, which embodies distinctive characteristics of form and construction under Criterion C. It is a representative example of late 17th-century Essex County framing, with an unusual combination of molded post heads and a longitudinal summer beam. It is also an example of the early 20th-century First Period restoration movement.
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 90000265, listed March 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 9 Maple St., Wenham |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | March 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000265 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Restoration and enlargement by Joseph Everett Chandler, 1911; entrance hall designed 1930 by J. Hamden Robb of Gordon Allen Associates; garden by Ellen Shipman; original builder unknown |
| Architectural style | First Period core with Second Period style exterior |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Recorded as in good condition and in present use as a residence; not moved. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.59879, -70.91697 (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 90000265.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7083958
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.