Fuller, William Griffin, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1850 at 32 Franklin Street in Stoneham, this two-story house combines Greek Revival and Italianate details on a traditional five-bay, center-entry plan. A bracketed, slate-clad pitched roof, windows with projecting lintels and 6/6 sash, glazed double doors at the entrance and a one-story Ionic porch across the facade are its main features. Vinyl siding was added around 1980, yet most original features remain, and the property keeps its integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship. In 1939 a smaller three-bay replica was built to the west, and a one-story walkway now links the two buildings. The house is also tied to William Griffin Fuller, born in 1810, who worked in the leather and real estate businesses and served as a trustee of the Stoneham Five Cents Savings Bank. It is regarded as one of the best detailed late Greek Revival and early Italianate houses in the town, and it is now a nursing home.
Significance in brief: It is described as one of the best detailed late Greek Revival/early Italianate houses in Stoneham, with high-quality architectural design. It is also associated with William Griffin Fuller, a local leather and real estate businessman and savings bank trustee. It is argued to meet criteria A, B 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 84002621, listed April 13, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 32 Franklin St., Stoneham |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | April 13, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002621 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival/Italianate transitional |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Presently used as a nursing home; in good exterior condition, with vinyl siding added about 1980 and a three-bay replica built to the west in 1939 and joined by a walkway. |
| Acreage | 0.7 |
| Coordinates | 42.47863, -71.09857 (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 84002621.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8010216
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.