House at 26 Center Avenue
Why it's listed
Built around 1870 according to the town valuation book, this clapboard house at 26 Center Avenue in Reading sits on a slight rise close to the street. Its design blends several traditions. A Greek Revival setting on high brick foundations and a trabeated doorway surround combine with cut-out bargeboards along the eaves and long first-floor front windows capped with bracketed Italianate hoods. The house belongs to an area once called Cummingsville, after developer Amos Cummings, and also nicknamed Mudville for its flooded, unpaved streets. Cummings planned to finance or build workers' cottages, but the Panic of 1857 collapsed the Loan Fund Association he served as treasurer, and the expected building boom never came. Erastis Knight, a Boston machinist probably tied to the railroad, was assessed for the house in 1870 and owned it for many years. The property was listed for its place in the neighborhood's development, its association with Knight, and its eclectic architecture.
Significance in brief: It is significant as part of Cummingsville, a 19th-century real-estate development, and for its link to railroad employee Erastis Knight. It is also significant for its eclectic mix of 19th-century architectural styles. It retains 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 84002679, listed July 19, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 26 Center Ave., Reading |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 19, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002679 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival-Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Major alterations include a one-story rear extension and shed-roof dormers; the house has not been moved and has a garage outbuilding. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.51820, -71.10635 (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 84002679.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5914187
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.