Holbrook, Richard, Houses
Why it's listed
Two small Greek Revival cottages stand side by side at 29-31 Heard Street in Waltham, on a very narrow street of closely spaced mid-19th century houses. Richard Holbrook, a housewright, built them about 1844 after buying the lots in 1843 from George Miller, who developed this part of the area. Each is a one-and-a-half story clapboard house with a pedimented attic, deep cornice, full entablature, cornerboards, gable windows and a side center entrance. Original 6/6 sash survives, and the entrance at 29 Heard keeps its corniced entablature and sidelights. The pair is the only surviving example in Waltham of Greek Revival houses built as a double, and few cottages of this type remain in the city. Early owners included carpenters, a mechanic, a laborer and a grocer, reflecting the working-class and small-business character of the neighborhood. Patrick Welch acquired both by 1892 and probably joined them with a connecting link. The houses remain residential and in good condition.
Significance in brief: The houses are a well detailed and unusual example of Greek Revival design in Waltham, being one of very few 1½ story cottages in the style and the only surviving double house. The builder is known, which adds to the architectural value. They also illustrate the mid-19th century growth of the Main Street area as a home for workers and small businessmen.
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 89001565, listed September 28, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 27 Heard St., Waltham |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 28, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001565 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Richard Holbrook, housewright |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Residential use, condition described as good; the connecting link was built between 1900 and 1911 and a non-contributing garage is on the lot. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.37636, -71.23046 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 89001565.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7326493
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.