Albree-Hall-Lawrence House
Why it's listed
This timber frame house at 353 Lawrence Road in Medford grew in stages. The rear ell, probably the oldest part, dates to before 1785 and may have been moved to the site or may incorporate a house standing there around 1720. The front section was added in the late eighteenth century, its east wall was extended around 1800, and the east end was enlarged between 1830 and 1840. Further ells and stable alterations came after 1930. John Albree, an English immigrant, bought the land in 1720, and a descendant served in the Revolution. Nathaniel Hall acquired the farm in 1799, and his grandson, the historian Francis Parkman, was sent there in 1831 to recover from an illness. Later the property was leased to a pig farmer, then bought by Samuel Lawrence, who added it to his estate near the Middlesex Fells. Of Medford's fewer than twenty buildings from before 1800, it is considered one of the best preserved.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is one of the best preserved examples of Medford's fewer than twenty pre-1800 buildings. It is tied to the Albree family, a Revolutionary War veteran, and later owners including Nathaniel Hall and Samuel Lawrence. The historian Francis Parkman also stayed there as a boy.
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 76000256, listed April 30, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 353 Lawrence Rd., Medford |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | April 30, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76000256 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; the stable has been converted to a garage and studio. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.42484, -71.11950 (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 76000256.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4712681
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.