House at 13 Sheffield Road
Why it's listed
Built around 1918, this 1½-story Craftsman bungalow at 13 Sheffield Road in Wakefield combines stucco with fieldstone. A low, widespread gable roof carries a broad cross gable, and wide eaves extend on exposed purlins. Battered porch supports are typical of the style, and purlins also appear on the rectangular oriel. Strapwork in the gable end and on the gabled dormer gives the house an unusual, medieval-inspired look that sets it apart in a neighborhood of bungalows. The house is recorded in excellent condition, with no major alterations and a contributing garage. The land lies on what was once Cowdry's Hill, settled in the late 17th century and later farmed by James Eustis. After his heirs began dividing it in the 1870s, H. Seymour Kelsey had laid out 67 lots by 1916. Only two had sold when the plan was re-filed in 1922. The house was recognized as an outstanding local example of Craftsman design.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an outstanding example of a Craftsman style bungalow in a neighborhood of similar houses. It keeps its integrity of location, setting, design, materials, workmanship, feeling and association. It is considered significant at the local level for its architecture.
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 89000734, listed July 6, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 13 Sheffield Rd., Wakefield |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 6, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000734 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Craftsman Bungalow |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a dwelling; recorded in excellent condition with no major alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.50357, -71.08882 (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 89000734.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5913945
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.