Cleale, Joseph, House
Why it's listed
Set in a rural part of west Sherborn at 147 Western Avenue, this farmhouse was built around 1820-1825 by Joseph Cleale, a farmer who moved from Ipswich in 1816. The 2 1/2-story main block faces west and has recessed entrance porches at the corners of its gable end, a layout common in southeastern Massachusetts but not elsewhere in Sherborn, where this is the oldest example. Federal and Greek Revival features appear together. The most unusual details are the window caps, which are large Gothicized fans ending in pointed arches over 12/12 windows. A long hip-roofed ell extends behind, once a carriage house and later converted to living space, with a late 19th century porch and an early 20th century shed. Originally clapboard, the house has recently been given a shingle surface. It stayed in the Cleale family into the 1930s and was listed for its well-preserved architecture and its integrity of location, design, setting, workmanship and feeling.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of Sherborn's most stylish farmhouses, combining Federal and Greek Revival elements with Gothic Revival window details. Its two-bay plan with recessed corner entry porches and a long rear ell is typical of southeastern Massachusetts, and it is the oldest house of this type in town. It retains integrity and meets Criterion 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 86000498, listed January 3, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 147 Western Ave., Sherborn |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | January 3, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000498 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Joseph Cleale (builder, per the historical section); architect listed as N/A |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival (with Federal elements and Gothic Revival details) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residence; the former carriage house ell has been converted to residential use. The form reports no major alterations. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 42.23943, -71.40597 (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 86000498.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6282158
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.