French, Daniel, School
Why it's listed
Standing at 38-40 Common Street in Waltham, this small Greek Revival cottage began in 1847 as a private schoolhouse. Daniel French, a mathematics teacher born in 1814, came to Waltham in 1842, served as high school principal, and started his own school in 1844. He bought land on Common Street and built the schoolhouse, which opened on June 21, 1847. After losing a leg in 1858 he stopped teaching, became a lawyer, served as town clerk, and represented Waltham in the General Court in 1861. He was an abolitionist and a temperance leader. In 1859 he sold the building to a grocer, and it became a residence around 1860. The wood-frame building faces the street with its gable end and has clapboard siding, paneled corner pilasters and a cornice. Two long first-story windows may have replaced earlier entries. Later additions include two bays on the side and gabled dormers. It now serves as a two-family home.
Significance in brief: It reflects the growth of Waltham's town center in the mid-19th century and is a well-preserved vernacular Greek Revival cottage with features from both its school and residential uses. It is also tied to Daniel French, a local educator, public servant and activist, who built and ran the school in its first decade.
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 89001581, listed September 28, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 38--40 Common St., Waltham |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 28, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001581 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; appears to have been built by Daniel French |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is a two-family residence; condition described as fair; not moved. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 42.37758, -71.23694 (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 89001581.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5217203
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.