Beacon Street Tomb
Why it's listed
Built around 1858-60 on the southern edge of Lakeside Cemetery in Wakefield, this small granite tomb is a one-story Greek Revival building with ashlar walls and a gable roof. The roof extends at the south front into a pediment carried on filled Doric columns, and a double-leaf entrance opens on that facade. The stucco-covered tympanum holds a louvered oculus, and there are no windows. The tomb stored caskets through the winter, when frozen ground could not be dug for burial, and served the cemetery from its construction until recently. Lakeside Cemetery was laid out on the shore of Lake Quannapowitt by a group of South Reading citizens, on land that had belonged to one of the many ice companies on the lake, because the First Parish Cemetery could not meet the needs of a growing population. The building is regarded as one of the purest examples of Greek Revival design in Wakefield and keeps its original materials and setting. It is now vacant and in fair condition.
Significance in brief: The tomb is described as one of the purest Greek Revival buildings in Wakefield. It retains integrity of location, setting, design, materials, workmanship, feeling and association. It also reflects the mid-19th century development of Lakeside Cemetery as a public cemetery near Lake Quannapowitt, meeting Criteria A and C at the local level.
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 89000714, listed July 6, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Beacon St., Wakefield |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 6, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000714 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is listed as vacant; condition is fair, with no major alterations. The tomb served the cemetery until recently. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.50985, -71.08002 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 89000714.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4875988
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.