Buckingham, John, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1864 at 33-35 Waban Street in Newton Corner, this clapboard house is a sidehall Mansard dwelling with a long rear ell. It retains its bellcast Mansard roof with early fish scale patterned slate, ornate segmental dormers and a denticular cornice. Two single-story polygonal bay windows, a feature that began in the Italianate period, and elaborate porches at the main and rear entrances add to its character. An arcaded iron fence cast at a Waltham foundry borders the property, and an ornate Mansard-roofed carriage house with a ventilator stands at the rear. John Buckingham, pastor of the Unitarian Church in Chestnut Hill, moved here in 1866, and the Buckingham family owned it until 1973. Regular commuter rail service from 1844 spurred suburban growth in Newton Corner, and this house is considered representative of the wood frame homes built by Boston commuters and the newly rich upper middle class. Its exceptional preservation supports its listing.
Significance in brief: The house is described as an exceptionally well-preserved sidehall Mansard house. It represents the wood frame suburban houses built by Boston commuters in Newton Corner after the Civil War. It is argued to meet 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 86001778, listed September 4, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 33--35 Waban St., Newton |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 4, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001778 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Mansard |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is dwelling; condition is described as very good, with no major alterations and not moved. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.35750, -71.19045 (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 86001778.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6223752
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.