Hager-Mead House
Why it's listed
Standing at 411 Main Street in Waltham, this clapboard house dates to 1795 and is among the few Georgian houses left in the city. It has a five-by-two bay profile, two ridge chimneys, a molded front cornice, cornice-headed first-floor windows, and a pedimented entry with modillions, Doric pilasters and a narrow six-pane transom. The windows still hold original 6/9 double-hung sash. Deed research supports the tradition that Samuel Hager, a Watertown farmer, built the house and sold it in 1796 to Stephen Mead, a Charlestown blacksmith. The land earlier held a blacksmith shop, and a wheelwright's shop once stood east of the house. The Mead family kept the property until the mid-nineteenth century. Later owners included land developer James H. Ellison and real estate agent Frederic I. Robinson, both of whom rented it out. Surrounded by twentieth-century housing on a busy road, it is the last remnant of the early village center near Beaver Brook, which is why it was listed.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is one of the very few surviving Georgian houses in Waltham and the last remnant of the small village center that existed at Main Street and Beaver Brook around 1800. It is cited under criteria A and C, with integrity of location, design, materials, workmanship, feeling and association.
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 89001572, listed September 28, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 411 Main St., Waltham |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 28, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001572 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; traditionally built by Samuel Hager |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as good; no major alterations, not moved, no outbuildings; present use is professional. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.37778, -71.22663 (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 89001572.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5638613
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.