Boardman, E., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1820 at 34 Salem Street in Wakefield, Massachusetts, this three-story, five-bay Federal house was designed and built by contractor Elias Boardman. Local residents of what was then South Reading nicknamed it "Boardman's Folly" because they considered it too grand and extravagant for the town. The house has a hip roof, interior chimneys, clapboard walls and a granite block foundation. Ornament is concentrated at the center door, which has narrow pilasters, a full Doric entablature with modillion blocks, an elliptical leaded fanlight and three-quarter-length sidelights. The third-floor windows are smaller than those below, a typical Federal device. A rear ell, probably Greek Revival, was extended later, and the Palladian window came from a house in Groton. It is listed as a well-preserved, high-style Federal mansion reflecting Beacon Hill influence, and it remains a dwelling in fair condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an excellent, well-preserved example of high-style Federal design that reflects the Boston/Beacon Hill influence of its builder. It is described as one of the most high-style Federal houses in Wakefield. It meets criterion 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 89000686, listed July 6, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 34 Salem St., Wakefield |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 6, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000686 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Elias Boardman |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is a dwelling; condition is described as fair. A rear ell was added in the early 1900s and a garage is noncontributing. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.50872, -71.06805 (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 89000686.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5321755
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.