Andrews, Joseph, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1851 at 258 Linden Street in Waltham, this center-entrance Italianate house has wide overhanging eaves with paired brackets, deep corner returns on the gable ends, and prominent gabled dormers. The entrance has a transom and sidelights, and a semicircular porch with Tuscan columns was added in the Colonial Revival style. Charles Harrington, a Bleachery worker who was also an important local builder, constructed it for Frances and Joseph Andrews. He had bought a large tract in 1845 and laid out half of Linden Street, creating one of Waltham's first suburban developments. Later occupants included iron founders and manufacturers, a superior court judge, and a milkman who ran his business from the property. In the 1950s the surrounding estate was subdivided, the rear ells were removed, and the house was moved forward to its present spot on a cement foundation. It is recognized as an excellent local example of Italianate design that still retains most original features.
Significance in brief: The house is described as one of the best examples in the city of an Italianate house with wide overhanging eaves. It was built by a well-known nineteenth century Waltham builder and was among the first houses erected after Linden Street was built in the mid-1840s. Later occupants included people important in Waltham's development.
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 89001554, listed September 28, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 258 Linden St., Waltham |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 28, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001554 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Charles Harrington |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential; condition is described as excellent. The rear ells were removed and the house was moved forward on its lot in the 1950s. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.38354, -71.21736 (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 89001554.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6281067
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.