Goulding, Eleazer, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1825 at 137 Western Avenue in Sherborn, this 2½-story gable-roofed farmhouse was constructed by local master builder Capt. Ebenezer Mann for Eleazer Goulding, a farmer who briefly served as selectman in 1815. Clapboard and shingle cover the exterior, and a shed stands on the two-acre lot. The front door is framed by slender Doric pilasters beneath a shallow fan and dentilated cornice, and the windows are simply trimmed with six-over-six sash. The facade is restrained and well proportioned. Mann built quality houses in Sherborn from about 1805 to 1840, including the more elaborate Col. Calvin Sanger House in town. The Goulding House shows how the same builder adapted his work to a farmhouse in the town's western countryside. A rear wing, probably added in the mid 19th century, is the only major change. The house and its surroundings keep a rural character, and it was listed for its architecture as an intact Federal country house.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as a finely detailed, intact example of a Federal-style country house by Ebenezer Mann, Sherborn's early 19th century master builder. It retains integrity of setting, design, location, materials, workmanship, feeling and association. It is also noted as a restrained rural counterpart to Mann's more elaborate in-town Sanger House.
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 86000501, listed January 3, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 137 Western Ave., Sherborn |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | January 3, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000501 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Capt. Ebenezer Mann |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residence; a rear wing, probably mid 19th century, is the only major alteration noted, and the house has not been moved. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 42.24087, -71.40614 (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 86000501.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5354473
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.