Bacon, Robert, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1830 at 6 Mystic Valley Parkway in Winchester, this two-and-a-half story house has a rectangular plan and a symmetrical five-bay facade. Brick end walls rise to parapets with double end chimneys, and the center entrance has a transom and sidelights with leaded glass tracery under a one-story Doric portico. Windows are six-over-six sash. The house is regarded as Winchester's only high-style example of the shift from Federal to Greek Revival design. It is attributed to John Kutts, a Boston builder-architect, and his original drawings, a carpenter's bill and a plasterer's contract survive, which offers insight into building practices of the period. Robert Bacon, who came from Boston in 1824 to run a felting mill on the Aberjona River, had the house built on high ground overlooking his factory, the river and workers' housing, an ensemble known as Baconville. The mills operated until 1951 and were an important early employer in the town.
Significance in brief: It is described as Winchester's only high-style example of the transition from Federal to Greek Revival architecture. It is attributed to John Kutts, and his drawings, a carpenter's bill and a plasterer's contract survive. It is also associated with Robert Bacon, a prosperous felt mill owner.
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 89000611, listed July 5, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 6 Mystic Valley Pkwy., Winchester |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 5, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000611 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | John Kutts of Boston |
| Architectural style | Federal/Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Excellent condition; still used as a dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Coordinates | 42.44351, -71.14238 (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 89000611.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7341783
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.