Damon, Joseph, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1754, this two-story, five-bay clapboard house at 178 South Street in Reading is a good local example of the Georgian-Federal vernacular tradition. It sits at the foot of a hill on high granite foundations, with 6/6 windows set high and a plain, narrow door surround. The house is believed to have been moved across the road around 1798-99. At that time its central chimney was removed and two interior splayed chimneys were built. An ell mentioned in 1813 extends downhill on rubble stone foundations. The property reflects the Damon family, who held the house under divided ownership for more than a century, a common practice in the 18th century when housing was scarce. One family member, Rufus, was a shoemaker and may have used part of the ell as a shoe shop. The house is significant for establishing a node of settlement in southwest Reading, for its Damon family connection, and as a largely intact Georgian house remodeled in the Federal period.
Significance in brief: The house marks an early node of settlement in the southwest part of Reading and is tied to the locally important Damon family. It is also a nearly intact Georgian house remodeled in the Federal period. It is cited under Criteria A, B and 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 84002559, listed July 19, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 178 South St., Reading |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 19, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002559 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Federal vernacular (Georgian-Federal vernacular tradition) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as virtually intact, retaining integrity of design, setting, materials, workmanship and feeling. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.50523, -71.11601 (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 84002559.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6282458
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.