Hammond, Ephraim, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1775, this clapboard farmhouse at 265 Beaver Street in Waltham is the city's only side hall plan Georgian house. It has a two-story main block, a three-bay facade, an end gable roof, and ells projecting from the east and west walls, with 6/6 sash windows and an Italianate rear porch. Local history credits it to Ephraim Hammond, whose family had held the surrounding land since the mid-1600s. The house originally stood on Pidgeon Hill and was moved in the late 19th century. Later it served as the coachman's house on the Warren family's Cedar Hill estate. Cornelia Otis Warren left the estate to a charitable corporation, and the Massachusetts Girl Scouts restored the house in the 1920s, uncovering early hinges, hand-cut kitchen beams, and a large fireplace. A mid-19th-century barn is included. The property was listed for its architecture, its agricultural and estate history, and its Girl Scout associations.
Significance in brief: It is the only side hall plan Georgian period house in Waltham and one of a handful of mid-18th century dwellings in the community. It is also tied to Waltham's agricultural and estate history through the Hammond family and the Warren family's Cedar Hill estate. Its long association with the Massachusetts Girl Scouts, who restored it in the 1920s, adds social history significance.
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 89001490, listed September 28, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 265 Beaver St., Waltham |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 28, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001490 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; probably built by Ephraim Hammond |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as good; owned by the Girl Scouts since the 1920s restoration, with a large barn on the property. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.38632, -71.21357 (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 89001490.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5382274
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.