House at 107 William Street
Why it's listed
This c. 1820-1830 cottage at 107 William Street in Stoneham is regarded as one of the town's best preserved examples of a traditional Greek Revival house. It keeps the five-bay, center-entry facade of earlier houses instead of turning its gable end to the street. Its later date shows in its height, which produces a central window placement, in twin chimneys and in a wide frieze. The main block sits on a granite foundation, while a one-story ell on the east side, possibly once a shop, rests on brick. Clapboards cover the whole, with plain cornerboards, a molded water table, 6/6 sash and an entry with sidelights and a very narrow transom. The house stood beside the Hay Tavern, an early landmark near William and Central Streets, and dates from the period of growth that followed construction of the Main Street turnpike in 1806. Its survival near Main Street, where many early buildings have been lost, adds to its importance.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of Stoneham's best preserved examples of a traditional Greek Revival cottage, reflecting the town's early industrial period. It keeps integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship. It also survives near Main Street, which has lost many early buildings.
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 84002660, listed April 13, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 107 William St., Stoneham |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | April 13, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002660 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential; no major alterations and not moved. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.48431, -71.09827 (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 84002660.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5913857
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.