Franklin School
Also known as: Franklin School Apartments
Why it's listed
Built in 1931 at 7 Stedman Road in southeast Lexington, Massachusetts, this former elementary school was designed by the architectural firm Kilham, Hopkins & Greely in the Georgian Revival style. It is a load-bearing red-brick building with cast stone trim, a slate gambrel roof, four chimneys and a central pedimented bay flanked by two projecting wings. Lexington built it to relieve crowded classrooms during a period of rapid population growth, and it was the only school the town constructed in the 1930s. An expansion in 1956 was removed when the school closed in 1985 and was sold. The original building was then converted into 16 apartments, with the 1931 floor plan, corridor, brick walls and arches largely kept. Five newer apartment buildings stand behind it but are not part of the listing. The property is recognized for its architecture and for its role in the town's education history, serving local children for more than fifty years.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant under Criteria A and C at the local level. It was the only elementary school built in Lexington during the 1930s, as part of the town's school expansion, and is a well-preserved Georgian Revival primary school. It is also tied to the locally and regionally prominent architectural firm Kilham, Hopkins & Greely.
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 09000437, listed September 25, 2009. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 7 Stedman Rd., Lexington |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 25, 2009 |
| Reference number | 09000437 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1931-1959 |
| Architect / builder | Kilham, Hopkins & Greely |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival: Georgian Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Closed as a school in 1985 and converted to 16 residential apartments; the complex was undergoing interior renovation at the time of the form. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 42.43085, -71.22870 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 09000437.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5491814
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.