Hapgood House
Why it's listed
Built around 1726, this five-bay, 2 1/2-story clapboarded house on Treaty Elm Lane in Stow is a transitional First Period dwelling with a central chimney. It was probably built by Hezekiah Hapgood, who married in 1724 and settled on the western part of his father's farm in 1726. The Hapgoods stayed a prominent farming family in Stow into the 20th century, and the house was associated with the same family for about two hundred years. Inside, beaded beams, exposed joists and a large original fireplace with the remains of a beehive oven survive. The original two-landing stairway keeps its balustrade, a rare survival of a common late First Period feature. The second floor combines longitudinal summer beams with a common-rafter roof, an unusual framing method that may help explain early 18th-century building practices. A lean-to and a one-story ell were added, and 1960s restoration work recovered the casement windows, clapboards and chimney.
Significance in brief: The form argues the house is an excellent example of a transitional First Period house that retains integrity of location, design, materials, workmanship and setting (Criterion C). Its intact front stair balustrade is a rare survival of a common late First Period feature. The second-floor longitudinal summer beams combined with a common-rafter roof are an unusual framing method that may yield information on early 18th-century framing (Criterion D).
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 90000180, listed March 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 76 Treaty Elm Ln., Stow |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | March 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000180 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Probably built by Hezekiah Hapgood |
| Architectural style | First Period (transitional) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Good condition; restored by the present owner and still used as a residence. |
| Acreage | 1.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.42057, -71.50914 (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 90000180.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5651608
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.