Flanley's Block
Why it's listed
Flanley's Block is a three-story brick commercial building on a downtown corner lot at 349-353 Main Street in Wakefield. Built around 1895 by John Flanley, a Wakefield-born furniture dealer who had taken over an earlier firm in 1884, it housed his store selling furniture, bedding, carpets and wallpaper. In 1918 the Odd Fellows dedicated the building to their organization. The flat-roofed, trapezoidal structure was shaped to fit its lot. Above largely original storefronts, the north and east facades each have five bays with triple shallow recessed arches, arched double windows, brick medallions and a heavy cornice that emphasizes horizontal lines. Though basically Italianate, its geometric, planar detailing anticipates twentieth-century commercial design. The block also records the northward growth of Wakefield's commercial district during the 1890s. It was listed as a well-preserved local example of its type, and a two-story addition from the 1930s extends the west side.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is a well-preserved example of a simplified Italian Renaissance commercial block that is basically Italianate but foreshadows 20th-century commercial design through geometric, abstract detailing. It also reflects the continuing expansion of Wakefield's downtown commercial district in the late 19th century. It meets criterion C at the local level.
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 89000729, listed July 6, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 349--353 Main St., Wakefield |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 6, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000729 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Renaissance Revival (basically Italianate) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is described as good; present use is commercial. A two-story addition on the west was made in the 1930s. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.50442, -71.07156 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 89000729.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5457398
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.