Dutton-Holden Homestead
Why it's listed
Set on a 1.65-acre lot at 28 Pond Street in Billerica, this farmhouse began in the mid-1700s as a center-chimney building and grew over time into a five-bay, 2 1/2-story saltbox with a rear lean-to. A long east wing was added around 1800-1810, ending in a two-story carriage house and shoemaker's shop. The timber frame, fieldstone foundation and plastered, paneled interiors show typical Middlesex County construction. The southwest chamber has fluted pilasters, raised-field paneling and a dentiled cornice in the Georgian manner. Other features include a chicken coop, fieldstone walls and a nineteenth-century hitching post. The land was once part of a larger farm held by the Dutton family, then by neighbors Thomas Kidder and Joshua Davis, all prominent in town affairs. Later it passed to the Holden family. Architectural evidence suggests construction between 1750 and 1770, rather than the earlier date long assumed, so the house is valued for its preserved fabric and farm setting.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as a well-preserved example of an evolved 18th-century center-chimney saltbox farmhouse, with intact Georgian interior finishes and early framing. It is also tied to a succession of prominent Billerica farming families, including the Duttons, Kidders, Davises and Holdens. The surviving farm features and the house's gradual growth illustrate the life of a local farmstead.
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 01000307, listed March 29, 2001. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 28 Pond St., Billerica |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | March 29, 2001 |
| Reference number | 01000307 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Colonial: Georgian |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Community Planning and Development |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling; the form lists current function as domestic single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 1.7 |
| Coordinates | 42.56580, -71.26401 (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 01000307.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5317547
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.