Baker, Charles, Property
Why it's listed
Number 119-121 Adams Street is a double house on Waltham's South Side, built about 1881-1883. It has an irregular plan with a broad end gable facing the street, two 2-story octagonal bays, and cross-gables on the side walls. Entrances sit on the side walls and open onto corner porches with Stick Style cross-bracing. Windows have cornice-headed lintels and 2/2 wood sash, and small curved brackets decorate the eaves. The house still has its original clapboards and has had no major alterations. It was built on the lot of the Fuller-Bemis Farmhouse, which dates to about 1776 and was part of a 160-acre farm. The watch company acquired the land in 1854 and held this parcel until the early 1880s. By 1886 Charles Baker, a watch company employee, owned the house. Later owners and tenants included a carpenter and a steam-fitter. The property was listed for its well-preserved architecture and its link to worker housing in the neighborhood.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an unusually well preserved example of the double-house type that spread across Waltham's South Side in the late 19th century. It keeps its original clapboards and Stick Style details. It also illustrates how the Waltham Watch Company shaped South Side development, housing industrial workers as owners and renters.
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 89001485, listed September 28, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 119--121 Adams St., Waltham |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 28, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001485 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Italianate with stick elements |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition with no major alterations; still used as a double house. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.36688, -71.24081 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 89001485.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5075385
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.