House at 102 Staniford Street
Why it's listed
Built around 1869 on a lot of roughly 1.27 acres in Auburndale, this farmstead at 102 Staniford Street in Newton preserves a rare group of agricultural buildings. The clapboard house was originally a south-facing structure three bays wide and one bay deep. Its entrance now sits on the east side, in what was once the rear ell, behind a full-width porch with paired posts, lattice-like treillage and an open-work balustrade. Small round-headed gable windows and boxed eaves recall its vernacular Italianate origins. Additions were made in 1896 and 1915, and the house remains in excellent condition and in residential use. Two large barns still stand north of the house, evidence of the property's operation as a farm during the 19th century. Members of the Carey family have owned it for more than a century. The ensemble was listed as a rare survivor of the farming that marked the early development of Auburndale.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the property meets Criterion A as a rare surviving ensemble of farm buildings that represents Auburndale's agricultural beginnings. The house keeps its vernacular Italianate character, and two large barns remain to the north. It was worked as a farm in the 19th century and has been held by one family for over a century.
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 86001814, listed September 4, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 102 Staniford St., Newton |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 4, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001814 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Vernacular Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is a dwelling; condition is described as excellent, with additions made in 1896 and 1915. |
| Acreage | 1.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.35314, -71.24810 (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 86001814.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715562
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.