House at 30 Sheffield Road
Why it's listed
Built around 1917 on a high, rounded lot behind a fieldstone embankment, this 1½-story house at 30 Sheffield Road in Wakefield is an example of the Craftsman style. The style aimed to make a house look hand-crafted while using machine-made materials, and this design mixes stucco, fieldstone, brick and wood. A gable roof covers the main body, and two large cross gables at the ends form porches on heavy columns. The central entry sits under a gabled hood, a low shed dormer holds a band of windows, and a pergola, exposed purlins and contrasting wooden trim add to its distinctive look. The house was among the first built in a development begun in 1916, when H. Seymour Kelsey bought a large tract north of Prospect Street. By 1922 only two lots had been sold and built on, a slow start the form attributes to World War I. It is regarded as locally significant for its architecture and its preserved integrity.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a well-designed, executed and preserved example of the Craftsman style and one of Wakefield's most creative Craftsman designs. It also is one of the first houses in a development begun in 1916 by H. Seymour Kelsey. It retains integrity of location, setting, design, materials, workmanship, feeling and association.
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 89000733, listed July 6, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 30 Sheffield Rd., Wakefield |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 6, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000733 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Craftsman Style |
| 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 no major alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.50336, -71.09027 (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 89000733.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5914222
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.