Brooks, Francis, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1887-1888 at 78-80 Prescott Street in Reading, this wood-clapboard house was constructed for Francis E. Brooks on land that had belonged to the Prescott family. It is regarded as one of the town's finer Stick Style Queen Anne houses, with sunbursts, jigsaw ornament and decorative shingle patterns, all set on a high brick foundation on a raised lot facing the street. Brooks was a local entrepreneur whose ventures ranged from wood engraving to bicycle sales and repairs, and he ran the Hill Brush Company, which made so-called magnetic hair brushes and other appliances. The house was built as the surrounding Prescott farmland was being sold and developed, when Pratt Street and Sunnyside Avenue were cut through. Together with its neighbors, it recalls a New England town of the 1880s and 1890s. It has undergone no major alterations and keeps its original character.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant for its connection with local entrepreneur Francis E. Brooks and as one of the town's finer examples of Queen Anne detailing. It displays sunbursts, jigsaw ornament and decorative shingle patterns, and retains its integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship and feeling.
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 84002524, listed July 19, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 78-80 Prescott St., Reading |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 19, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002524 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne / Stick Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Well maintained, with no major alterations; still used as a dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.51926, -71.11235 (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 84002524.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5480342
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.