Bartlett-Hawkes Farm
Why it's listed
This farmhouse at 15 Winnetaska Road in Waban, Newton, began around 1736 as a three-bay half house with a saltbox roof, a chimney behind the ridge and a dog-leg stair between the entrance and chimney. It was later extended two bays to the north, giving the look of a five-bay, center-entrance house. The entrance, with sidelights and paneled pilasters, appears to date from the late Federal period. A second story and entrance were added around 1820, a north ell before 1895, and a rear lean-to and ell around 1915, when the house was moved from 27 Metacomet Road. The first section is thought to date from the 1736 marriage of Ebenezer Bartlett and Anne Clark. Elisha Bartlett bought the 100-acre farm in 1788, and his son Peregrine sold it in the early 1850s to farmer George B. Hawkes. It is listed as Waban's only intact Federal period structure and as an example of changing domestic architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it Waban's only intact Federal period structure. Its 19th- and 20th-century changes show a progression of styles and technology in American domestic architecture, so it meets Criterion C.
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 86001770, listed September 4, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 15 Winnetaska Rd., Newton |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 4, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001770 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is listed as excellent; present use is dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.32819, -71.23907 (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 86001770.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4865380
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.