Collins, Frederick, House
Why it's listed
Built between 1825 and 1831 at 1734 Beacon Street in Waban, this clapboard house is a temple-front example of Greek Revival architecture. Its gable end faces the street, and a two-story Ionic portico spans the facade. Unusually, the entrances sit on the two side elevations, each within a one-story Ionic porch centered on a five-bay wall. The tympanum and facade are flush-boarded to imitate the ashlar masonry of a Greek temple, and other features include full-length first-story windows, panelled corner pilasters and shaped window lintels. Frederick A. Collins, who is credited as architect, inherited part of his father's 100-acre estate running from Beacon Street to the Charles River. He and his brother Edward owned a glue factory nearby, and he served on the City Council. The house is the only survivor of the row of Collins family homes that gave the area the name Collins neighborhood. It is recognized as Waban's single temple-front Greek Revival house and remains in excellent condition and use as a dwelling.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an exceptionally well-preserved temple-front Greek Revival house and Waban's only example, with a locally distinctive arrangement of side entrances. It is also the only surviving house of the Collins family row that once gave the neighborhood its name.
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 86001786, listed September 4, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1734 Beacon St., Newton |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 4, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001786 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Frederick A. Collins |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is a dwelling; condition is listed as excellent with no major alterations and the building has not been moved. |
| Acreage | 0.6 |
| Coordinates | 42.32561, -71.23279 (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 86001786.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5497563
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.