Boston and Maine Railroad Depot
Why it's listed
Built in 1870 by the Boston and Maine Railroad, this wood-clapboard depot on Lincoln Street in Reading replaced an earlier 1845 station that spanned the tracks. The long, seven-bay building has paneled pilasters topped by chamfered knee braces that support a deeply overhanging roof, creating a sheltered waiting area. A bay-window composition with five tall windows was added to the track side in 1891, probably along with the colored-glass upper sash. Some decorative roof trim has since been removed. The depot reflects the railroad's influence on the town, which moved from farming to manufacturing and then to commuter living. A necktie factory shipped goods to Boston by rail, the building housed a telegraph station in 1883, and excursion trains drew crowds. It is described as the only surviving railroad-related building in Reading still intact on its original site, and an example of Stick style-Queen Anne design.
Significance in brief: The depot is presented as the most visible reminder of the railroad's role in turning Reading from an agricultural town into an industrial and then commuter community. It is the only remaining railroad-related building in Reading still intact on its original site. It is also an example of Stick style-Queen Anne architecture, meeting Criteria A and 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 84002509, listed July 19, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Lincoln St., Reading |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 19, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002509 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Stick style - Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The inventory form lists the present use as vacant (Boston and Maine waiting room), while the criteria statement says it is still in use as a railroad station. Alterations include a 1891 remodeling, trim removed in 1955 and aluminum gutters added in 1975. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 42.52160, -71.10756 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 84002509.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7300454
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.