House at 509 North Avenue
Why it's listed
This modest house at 509 North Avenue in Wakefield is a 1½-story clapboard dwelling, three bays wide and one deep, dated to about 1848. Brick and cement block foundations suggest it was moved to its site, possibly before 1869. Its Greek Revival character appears in the gable roof with a boxed cornice and returns above a wide frieze, plain door and window surrounds, and a central chimney that matches Wakefield's conservative pattern. A porch and east ell were added around 1890. The lot lies beside Lakeside Cemetery on land once held by ice companies, some of which was sold to the cemetery in 1846 and then laid out in lots and streets. Many residents of the street were Irish immigrants who came from the 1850s to work in rattan and shoe factories. Dennis O'Connell, born in Ireland and listed as a shoemaker in 1869, lived here. The house was listed for its well-preserved local architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a well-preserved example of local Greek Revival design, notable for its conservative detailing such as a boxed cornice with returns and a central chimney. It also reflects the development of the Lakeside Cemetery area on former ice company land and the Irish workers who settled there.
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 89000746, listed July 6, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 509 North Ave., Wakefield |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 6, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000746 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival/early Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Recorded in 1985 as a dwelling in fair condition; the porch and a one-story east ell were added about 1890. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.50974, -71.08123 (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 89000746.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5914369
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.