Putnam, Deacon Edward, Jr., House
Why it's listed
Located at 4 Gregory Street in Middleton, this house began about 1705 as a two-story, one-room-deep structure with a central chimney and a plank frame. It is believed to have been built by the father of Edward Putnam, Jr., a prominent deacon in the Salem Village church, who deeded land and houses to both his sons in 1718. A western addition, perhaps from about 1718, was also built in First Period fashion. The house is valued for its framing: transverse binding beams on the first floor, boxed tie beams above, chamfered posts, and a large kitchen fireplace with a smoke shelf. These features suggest the original house had an end leanto kitchen later replaced by the addition. A gabled porch was added about 1800, and a restoration around 1963 added a new leanto and altered the chimney top. A 19th-century barn is attached by an extension of the leanto. Despite these changes, the house retains its integrity and illustrates uncommon early construction patterns.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to meet Criterion C for its plank frame, transverse first-story binding beams and restored chimney evidence. These embody uncommon patterns of First Period domestic construction. Its original plan is read as a single cell with an end leanto kitchen, and the form says it keeps its integrity despite modern additions.
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 90000243, listed March 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 4 Gregory St., Middleton |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | March 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000243 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; the earliest core is believed to have been built by the father of Edward Putnam, Jr. |
| Architectural style | First Period |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Recorded as in good condition and in use as a residence; restored about 1963. |
| Acreage | 2.6 |
| Coordinates | 42.59463, -70.99216 (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 90000243.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5245022
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.