Bryant, William, Octagon House
Why it's listed
Built around 1851 at the busy corner of Spring and Washington Streets in Stoneham, this octagonal house was home to William Bryant, a shoecutter. It has eight equal sides, two stories, clapboard siding, a granite foundation and a low-pitched bracketed roof topped by a central cupola. The entry is framed by full-length sidelights and a transom, shelters under an open porch and is reached by three granite steps. Windows hold six-over-six sash, and an ell extends from the rear. Octagonal houses were popularized at mid-century by Orson Fowler as an inexpensive way to house a growing population. This was one of three octagons raised in Stoneham between 1850 and 1855, and it keeps most of its original surfaces and details. Worcester Brothers reportedly built it, apparently using interlocking timber construction. Its listing rests on its integrity and its value as a well preserved example of the octagon form, an uncommon alternative to the Greek Revival cottages favored by contemporary shoe workers.
Significance in brief: The house is a simply detailed but well preserved example of the mid-nineteenth century octagonal residential form. It is one of three octagon houses built in Stoneham between 1850 and 1855 and retains most of its original surfaces and details. It also shows an alternative to the Greek Revival cottage in which most shoe workers of the period lived.
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 84002526, listed April 13, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Spring and Washington Sts., Stoneham |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | April 13, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002526 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Worcester Brothers (reportedly) |
| Architectural style | Octagon |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a residence; the form reports no major alterations, no move and no outbuildings. |
| Acreage | 0.6 |
| Coordinates | 42.48186, -71.09393 (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 84002526.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8006074
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.