Coggin, Gilman, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1847 at 123 Prescott Street, this Greek Revival house was the home of Gilman Coggin, a Reading shoe manufacturer. Its gable end faces quiet Prescott Street rather than busier Summer Avenue, and the gable returns form a full pediment carried by wide corner pilasters. The recessed main doorway is mainly Federal in design, with pilasters, half-length sidelights and a fan-shaped transom. A wraparound porch with square posts and entasis was added in the Colonial Revival manner, along with a 19th-century rear extension. A barn on the lot bears a sign saying it was raised on September 17, 1851. Reading was known for infants' and children's shoes in the 1800s, and Coggin may have been among the men who profited from small manufactories. He moved his business to Somersworth, New Hampshire, in 1897. The house was listed for its role in the growth of Reading's west side, its link to Coggin, and its architecture.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to be significant for its part in the 19th-century development of Reading's west side and for its link to shoe manufacturer Gilman A. Coggin. It is also considered an example of Greek Revival architecture updated in the Colonial Revival period for healthful outdoor living.
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 84002551, listed July 19, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 123 Prescott St., Reading |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 19, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002551 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.51854, -71.12693 (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 84002551.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5562469
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.