Hammond House
Why it's listed
Set at 9 Old Orchard Road in Chestnut Hill, this Newton farmhouse is believed to be the oldest house in the community and the only building there so far found to have First Period characteristics. Its oldest section, built between about 1700 and 1720, began as a one-room house with an end chimney and a chestnut frame. A second room was added soon after, producing a two-room central-chimney plan. A rear lean-to followed between about 1750 and 1800, and wings and ells were added in 1930. Exposed beams in the early rooms show beveled chamfers with lamb's tongue stops, and the first-floor fireplace is large, with a beehive oven. Joseph Everett Chandler restored the house in the 1920s, and Harold Field Kellog designed the 1930 additions, typical of Colonial Revival work on early houses. The land was first held by Thomas Hammond, who settled in Newton in the 1640s, and the Hammond family farmed it for nearly two centuries.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house keeps integrity of location, materials and workmanship in its First Period core, and is a rare surviving one-cell house enlarged to a two-room chimney plan within the First Period. It is believed to be the oldest house in Newton and the only building there found to have First Period characteristics. It is also tied to the Hammond family, early settlers of the area.
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 90000175, listed March 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 9 Old Orchard Rd., Newton |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | March 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000175 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Joseph Everett Chandler (1920s restoration architect); Harold Field Kellog (1930 additions) |
| Architectural style | First Period |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Historic - Non-Aboriginal, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good; in present use as a residence. |
| Acreage | 0.6 |
| Within district | Old Chestnut Hill Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.33225, -71.17331 (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 90000175.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5645847
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.