Gilbrae Inn
Why it's listed
Gilbrae Inn, at 403 River Street in Waltham, began as a boarding house built by the Boston Manufacturing Company between 1827 and 1854. It was laid out as a conservative five-bay, center-entry Greek Revival building, with a sidelit entry, a lintel and 6/6 windows that remain visible. In the early 1870s the company added a third story under a mansard roof with gabled dormers, and the building appears to have been lengthened to the rear. A balustraded front verandah was probably added in the early twentieth century. Between 1874 and 1886 the building was joined to its neighbor at 405 River Street, forming a large inverted U-shaped structure, and the name Gilbrae comes from a plaid cloth made by the company. It is the only company-sponsored boarding house known to survive in the city, and its evolving appearance reflects the company's continuing provision of housing for workers. Aluminum siding from the 1970s is the main later alteration.
Significance in brief: It is the only known company-sponsored boarding house of the Boston Manufacturing Company to survive in Waltham. Its Greek Revival form combined with the later mansard roof reflects the company's long-standing commitment to employee housing. It meets criteria A 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 89001550, listed September 28, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 403 River St., Waltham |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 28, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001550 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; built by the Boston Manufacturing Company |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival/Mansard |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as good; present use is a dwelling. Aluminum siding added in the 1970s is the only non-contributing feature. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.37407, -71.23232 (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 89001550.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5561460
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.