House at 18A and 20 Aborn Street
Why it's listed
Set on a rise behind a fieldstone retaining wall on one acre, this rambling Queen Anne house in Wakefield was built around 1883-88. It runs along the crest of a small hill and has two main parts: a cross-gabled two-and-a-half-story section entered through an extended porte-cochere, and a two-story gabled section joined to it by a high porch. Porches, oriels, bays, overhanging upper stories, ornamented bargeboards, flower and thistle gable ornaments, brackets and an exterior chimney give it a complex, lively composition. A double carriage barn of about 1888, with servants' apartments above, repeats the house's themes. It was listed as probably the largest and grandest Queen Anne house in its neighborhood. Aborn Street was named for shoe manufacturer John G. Aborn and opened by the heirs of his father-in-law, John White. The surrounding streets became home to middle-class businessmen and craftsmen, many working in shoemaking, and some commuting to Boston by train.
Significance in brief: The form describes it as probably the largest and grandest example of high-style Queen Anne architecture in its neighborhood. It retains integrity of location, setting, design, materials, workmanship, feeling and association. It also reflects the middle-class, shoemaking-related development of the Aborn Street area.
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 89000676, listed July 6, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 18A and 20 Aborn St., Wakefield |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 6, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000676 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is stated as good; present use is dwelling and barn; no major alterations; not moved. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.51253, -71.07159 (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 89000676.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5914011
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.