House at 2 Nichols Street
Why it's listed
This 1½-story house at 2 Nichols Street in Wakefield was built around 1890-1900 and sits on a raised corner lot facing west. Its design blends Shingle, Queen Anne and Tudor Revival features. A steep hip roof covers the main block, and transverse gables on the west and south give it the complex massing typical of the Queen Anne style. The south gable forms a rounded bay with smooth shingle surfaces, while the west dormers show Tudor Revival influence. The house rests on a high fieldstone foundation, common for houses of its period in Wakefield. It was designed by local builder Berndt Heurlin, listed in an 1904 directory as a clerk and bookkeeper, and it has an identical twin on Cedar Place. The land was once part of the James Eustis farm, which his family subdivided in the 1880s, though most development came after 1900. The house is recognized for its architecture and its intact original character. A 1960s attached garage is the only noted addition.
Significance in brief: The house is an eclectic mix of Shingle, Queen Anne and Tudor Revival elements, designed by a local builder. It is one of two identical houses in Wakefield. It retains integrity of location, setting, design, materials, workmanship, feeling and association, and 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 89000740, listed July 6, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2 Nichols St., Wakefield |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 6, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000740 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Berndt Heurlin |
| Architectural style | Shingle Style (eclectic combination of Shingle, Queen Anne and Tudor Revival) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as good; present use is a dwelling. An attached garage from the 1960s is non-contributing. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.50583, -71.08342 (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 89000740.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5914205
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.