Blodgett, William, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1875 on Mount Ida in Newton Corner, this clapboard house is a well-preserved example of the Stick Style. Its design emphasizes tall, vertical proportions, steep projecting roofs and an overall angularity, with a polygonal tower and a porte-cochere adding energy to the composition. The plan departs from traditional center-hall or side-hall layouts, producing broken interior space and irregularly shaped rooms. Detailing is abundant, including paired cornice brackets, bosses, applied ornament, balusters, trellises, paneled chimneys, stained glass and elaborate finials. William Blodgett, a Boston carpet dealer, bought the house between 1879 and 1883. The property reflects the lavish suburban residences that prosperous Boston businessmen built in the third quarter of the nineteenth century, on a hill developed shortly after the Civil War. Its address was later changed from 645 Centre Street to 11 Fairmont Avenue, because the main entrance now faces Fairmont Avenue. A garage is the only outbuilding.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an outstanding, well-preserved example of the Stick Style in Newton, meeting Criterion C. It shows the style's tall, angular forms, steep projecting roofs and abundant applied detail. It is also typical of the lavish suburban homes built by well-to-do Boston businessmen in the third quarter of the nineteenth century.
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 86001776, listed September 4, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 11 Fairmont Ave., Newton |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 4, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001776 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Stick Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as very good, with no major alterations and not moved; present use is a dwelling, and the original use was also a dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.6 |
| Coordinates | 42.34944, -71.18763 (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 86001776.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14716038
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.