House at 1 Woodcrest Drive
Why it's listed
Built about 1789, this two and one half story clapboard house at 1 Woodcrest Drive in Wakefield is a well preserved example of late Federal domestic architecture. Its five bay facade sits under a high gable roof with short returns and a boxed cornice. The central door has a surround of simple pilasters supporting a low entablature, with three-quarter length sidelights. Two internal chimneys suggest construction late in the Federal period, and the interior holds eight working fireplaces and two brick ovens. Corncobs were found in the walls, used as insulation. In the 19th century the house was the home of Capt. Aaron Foster, born in Danvers in 1803 and died in Wakefield in 1896, who served as Selectman, School Committeeman and Representative to the General Court. The house represents early settlement of Wakefield's northern rural section, now surrounded by a post-World War II subdivision built on farmland sold off by owners who could no longer keep large acreage.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a well preserved and very good example of late 18th century Federal domestic design. It represents early settlement of the northern rural section of town and was the 19th century home of Capt. Aaron Foster, a Selectman, School Committeeman and state Representative. The surrounding post-World War II subdivision reflects the sale of large farms for smaller houses.
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 89000673, listed July 6, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1 Woodcrest Dr., Wakefield |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 6, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000673 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is described as good, and the house is in residential use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.51978, -71.06379 (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 89000673.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715572
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.