Eddy, George W., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1913 at 85 Bigelow Road in West Newton, this 2 1/2 story stucco house is an example of the Craftsman style by the Boston architectural firm Chapman & Frazer. A slate hip roof curves over paired second-story windows, and two dormers repeat the curve. A pent roof on carved brackets crosses the facade and shelters a recessed entry with heavy Doric columns and leaded glass. A two-story wing with an overhanging second story extends to the right, and a once-open porch on the left has been enclosed. A matching detached garage stands to the north. George W. Eddy, the original owner, was a commissions merchant and later president of the C.F. Eddy Company, a coal, wood and hay business his father began in Newton in 1870. The house is valued as Newton's finest example of English Craftsman design and as a reflection of the city's early twentieth century suburban growth, with houses built in established areas as well as new subdivisions.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is Newton's finest example of the English Craftsman style, marked by symmetry and planar stucco surfaces, and an exceptional design by a noted Boston firm. It also represents Newton's early 20th century suburban growth, including infill of established areas. It meets criteria A 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 90000038, listed February 16, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 85 Bigelow Rd., Newton |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | February 16, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000038 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Chapman & Frazer |
| Architectural style | Craftsman |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential, same as original; condition is listed as excellent with no major alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.34069, -71.21670 (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 90000038.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5545597
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.