Hartwell House
Why it's listed
This bungalow at 121 Willow Street in Reading, Massachusetts, was built in 1918 and faces east, set back from the road on a hill. Its walls are shingle and stone, and the architect is unknown. Tapering porch columns of fieldstone support a gable with trellis work in the peak. A fieldstone chimney is visible along its whole length, and the roof curves upward at the overhang with pointed eaves extending well beyond the walls. A gable window was replaced around 1980. The design combines hand-crafted natural materials, utility and cozy shelter, ideas typical of the period. Willow Street stayed largely undeveloped for years, possibly because the ground was low and often wet; only one house stood on it in 1889. George Hartwell, an engineer, lived here with his wife in 1920. The house was listed because it is an excellent local example of the bungalow style and retains its original character.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an excellent example of the bungalow style in Reading. It retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship. It is listed under Criterion C for its architecture.
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 84002635, listed July 19, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 121 Willow St., Reading |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 19, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002635 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Bungalow |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as a dwelling; a gable window was replaced around 1980. |
| Acreage | 1.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.53040, -71.12320 (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 84002635.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715512
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.