Curtis, Paul, House
Also known as: M. Delano House
Why it's listed
Overlooking the Mystic River at the corner of South and Curtis Streets in Medford, this two and one half story house was built in 1839 for Paul Curtis, a shipbuilder. Curtis was born in South Scituate in 1800, came to Medford in 1818, and worked in Thatcher Magoun's yards before opening his own yard on the river at the foot of Winthrop Street, directly across from his home. Twenty-seven ships were built there between 1839 and 1852, and he later moved to East Boston. The house has a temple front with four two-story fluted Ionic columns, one-story Ionic porches, white clapboarding, and a lower rear kitchen ell. It is considered Medford's most elaborate and well preserved Greek Revival building. Its link to shipbuilding, the city's main nineteenth-century industry, adds to its importance. A local tradition connects it to the poem "Over the River and through the Woods," though no evidence confirms or disproves that.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it Medford's most elaborate and best preserved example of Greek Revival architecture, with a temple facade and Ionic porches. It is also tied to shipbuilding, Medford's major nineteenth-century industry, through its builder Paul Curtis and its site opposite his shipyard. A local tradition links it to the poem "Over the River and through the Woods," but the form says this could not be confirmed.
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 75000272, listed May 6, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 114 South St., Medford |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | May 6, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75000272 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1839 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good physical condition, needing only a few superficial repairs; occupied as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.41724, -71.11657 (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 75000272.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5595401
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.