House at 129 High Street
Why it's listed
Built around 1896 on a hill facing west at 129 High Street in Reading, this Queen Anne style house is covered in clapboards and shingles and has a garage or carriage house. Its date comes from town water records, which show the house connected to the public water system in September 1896. The design takes the standard gable-end plan, used as early as the Greek Revival period, and adds two circular forms: an open porch and a round bay. An oriel window sits in the center of the gable, and an elaborate tripartite window with a stained-glass center panel is set within the porch. Henry H. Howard, a Boston real-estate man with an office at Chute and High Streets, was living here by 1900, probably after buying it from the builder. Later residents included Herbert and Eva Brackett and, from 1919, a local dentist. The house was listed for its place in Reading's growth as a residential community for Boston businessmen and as a conservative but substantial Queen Anne example.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house reflects Reading's growth as a desirable residential community for Boston businessmen. It is also presented as a substantial if conservative example of the Queen Anne style. The house is said to retain integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship and feeling.
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 84002664, listed July 19, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 129 High St., Reading |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 19, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002664 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.52442, -71.11106 (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 84002664.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5913918
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.