Buswell, Clara, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1875 at 481 Main Street in Stoneham, this Italianate house was originally a residence and now serves as an office. It has an L-shaped plan with the entry and porch at the angle of the L. It is nearly identical to its neighbor at 477 Main Street, the Onslow Gilmore House, and may have been built by Gilmore on speculation. Clara Buswell owned it by 1889. The house keeps its bracketed cornice, patterned slate roof, heavy window lintels, paired arched gable windows, first-story bay windows and most of its original two-over-two sash, along with granite curbing and posts. Aluminum siding has replaced clapboards, and part of the porch has been enclosed. It was listed for its architecture, as a fine local Italianate example and one of few period houses left on a street once lined with elaborate homes built for manufacturers and tradesmen after the Civil War.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an excellent local example of the Italianate style and one of the few period houses left on Main Street. It meets criterion C and retains integrity of location, design and workmanship. It is also representative of the fine houses built after the Civil War for prominent manufacturers and tradesmen.
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 84002528, listed April 13, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 481 Main St., Stoneham |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | April 13, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002528 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; possibly built by Onslow Gilmore on speculation |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Originally a residence; now used as an office. Alterations include aluminum siding, a partly enclosed porch and a smaller replacement entry door. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.47534, -71.10089 (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 84002528.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5125954
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.