Swampscott Railroad Depot
Why it's listed
Built between 1868 and 1871 by the Eastern Railroad, this single-story wooden station at 10 Railroad Avenue in Swampscott served the town as it grew into a summer beach resort and later a commuter suburb. Measuring about 25 by 50 feet, it has a hipped slate roof, a clock cupola, clapboard siding and a broad canopy carried on paired Eastlake-style brackets. George W. Cram, a Boston house builder, was the likely designer of this standard railroad design. A 1954 fire led to the loss of the attic dormers, clock and scrolled eaves, and a 1989 canopy rebuild with steel beams removed some interior features. The exterior braces, siding, window and door frames, slate roof and upper cupola survive. It is the only remaining railroad station in Swampscott and one of few mid-19th-century stations still serving commuters in the state. Its architecture and its role in the town's transportation and social life support its listing.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the depot keeps considerable integrity of its post-Civil War Eastlake-Stick design despite later losses of decoration. It is the only surviving railroad station in Swampscott and one of few mid-19th-century stations in the state still serving commuters. It was also a focal point of the town's growth as a summer resort and later a suburb.
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 98001106, listed August 28, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 10 Railroad Ave., Swampscott |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | August 28, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98001106 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1868-1948 |
| Architect / builder | George W. Cram/Eastern Railroad |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian; Stick/Eastlake |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History, Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Form lists current function as rail-related (vacant), though the significance text describes it as still serving as a commuter station. Altered after a 1954 fire and by a 1986-89 restoration. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.47380, -70.92228 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 98001106.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7653390
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.