Boit, Elizabeth, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1911 at 127 Chestnut Street in Wakefield, this stucco house is a well preserved example of the English Cottage style. Local architect Harland O. Perkins designed it, along with the neighboring houses at 88 and 90 Prospect Street, drawing on the work of C.F.A. Voysey. It has a tripartite angled plan, two and a half stories, a tile roof supported by heavy brackets, and a portico with a Neo-Georgian surround. The house was built by Elizabeth Boit, born in 1848, who co-founded the Harvard Knitting Mills, a key part of Wakefield's economy from 1889. She handled the business side, supported progressive employee relations, and was the first woman to serve as a bank director. The house and its neighbors formed a family compound with a landscaped inner court, a playhouse and greenhouses. It is the only remaining home of a Wakefield manufacturer, as the mansions of Cyrus Wakefield and S.O. Richardson have been destroyed.
Significance in brief: The house is an extremely well preserved example of the English Cottage style and keeps its integrity. It was built by Elizabeth Boit, a co-founder of the Harvard Knitting Mills, a major local industry. It is the focus of Wakefield's only family residential compound and the only surviving home of a Wakefield manufacturer.
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 89000720, listed July 6, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 127 Chestnut St., Wakefield |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 6, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000720 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Harland O. Perkins (architect) |
| Architectural style | English Cottage Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is dwelling; condition listed as good with no major alterations and no outbuildings. |
| Acreage | 1.8 |
| Coordinates | 42.50317, -71.08588 (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 89000720.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715455
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.