Elliott, Charles D., House
Why it's listed
Built in the 1860s at 7 Colman Street in West Newton, this 2-1/2-story Mansard house is an unusually elaborate example of its style in a neighborhood of modest Queen Anne houses and bungalows. Its boxy, strictly symmetrical form draws on classical architecture, with a shallow center pavilion under a low Mansard roof, window entablatures and pediments, and eaves with brackets and dentil coursing. The front porch has arched valencing, openwork panels and clustered posts with banded blocks derived from a 16th-century French architectural order. A rectangular cupola was removed in the 20th century, and asphalt siding now covers the walls. The house was evidently built for Charles D. Elliott, who ran a coal and lumber yard in West Newton and, with David C. Sanger, developed Henshaw Street and Oak Avenue in the 1870s. After Elliott left, his estate grounds were subdivided. The house served as the Children's Home orphanage from 1890 to 1902 and was owned by the Salvation Army by 1907.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is one of the most important Mansard-style houses in Newton because of its academic, classical design. It is unusually elaborate for the style, particularly in wood-frame construction, and sits among simple Queen Anne houses and bungalows. Its owner was also a local coal and lumber dealer who helped develop nearby streets.
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 86001792, listed September 4, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 7 Colman St., Newton |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 4, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001792 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Mansard |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Recorded in 1977 as in fair condition and in present use as a residence; asphalt siding covers the exterior and the cupola has been removed. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.35381, -71.22299 (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 86001792.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5076645
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.