House at 28 Cordis Street
Why it's listed
Built between about 1835 and 1845 on a corner lot in Wakefield, this five-bay Greek Revival house keeps the older Georgian-Federal form of a gable roof parallel to the street. Its front porch of fluted Doric columns turns the corner to shelter the side, a relatively high-style feature for a conservative town and one of few such porches left in Wakefield. The center door has a fluted architrave surround with corner blocks and long sidelights, and a delicate wooden fence of nearly Federal character defines the lawn. The house dates from the years when the railroad opened through town and the population doubled. Its first owner was Joseph W. Vinton, a Main Street tavern keeper who served as representative for South Reading in 1840. Later it belonged to shoe manufacturer and developer John G. Aborn, who probably rented it out. Later changes include a two-story ell and a rear extension with a rounded bay, plus vinyl siding.
Significance in brief: It is described as a high-style Greek Revival house with a rare surviving porch of fluted Doric columns and a contemporary wooden fence, both uncommon in Wakefield. It reflects the prosperity that followed the arrival of the railroad after 1840. It is considered significant under criterion C at the local level.
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 89000675, listed July 6, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 28 Cordis St., Wakefield |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 6, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000675 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is a dwelling; condition is listed as fair, with vinyl siding. A small non-contributing tool shed (c. 1940) stands on the lot. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.51542, -71.07132 (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 89000675.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5914196
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.