Browne, Abraham, House
Why it's listed
Built between about 1694 and 1701 for Capt. Abraham Browne, this two-story, single-cell house on Main Street in Watertown is a rare surviving example of First Period construction in eastern Massachusetts. It retains a transverse summer beam, tusk-tenon floor joists, molded horizontal sheathing, original plaster laid directly over brick nogging, painted decoration and wrought hinges. A three-part casement window in the rear wall is the only known example in Massachusetts still in its original position. A large central-chimney addition, made after 1727, reflects Second Period building. In 1919 the property passed to the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities. William Sumner Appleton restored it in 1919-20 with Joseph Everett Chandler and Norman Isham, and the work revealed unusual information about early construction methods. The site also includes the c. 1800 Derby Barn, attributed to Samuel McIntire and moved from the Elias Hasket Derby estate in 1925. The house is listed for its architecture and its potential for further research.
Significance in brief: The house is an outstanding example of the single-cell original plan with rare First Period construction and decorative features, including the only known in-situ three-part casement opening in Massachusetts. It is one of the most complete First Period houses in the county and retains tusk-tenon joists, molded sheathing, painted plaster decoration and original hardware. Its 1919-20 restoration by William Sumner Appleton is also cited as an outstanding example of early twentieth-century restoration philosophy.
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 90000186, listed March 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 562 Main St., Watertown |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | March 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000186 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; the Derby Barn is attributed to Samuel McIntire |
| Architectural style | First Period |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Historic - Non-Aboriginal, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is museum/residence; condition is described as excellent but altered. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.37225, -71.20044 (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 90000186.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715423
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.