House at 54 Spring Street
Why it's listed
Built around 1889-1890, this 2 1/2 story Queen Anne house at 54 Spring Street sits on a sloping lot in the Greenwood section of Wakefield, Massachusetts. Its gable end faces the street, with intersecting side gables forming bays, a pattern common among Wakefield houses of the period. A one-story porch wraps the north and part of the west facade. The most notable feature is the decorative shingle work filling the gables and the porch pediment, along with shingled shed-roof hoods over second-floor windows, ornamental bosses on the lintels and decorated barge boards. The house is thought to be part of a late nineteenth century suburban development for commuters to Boston. Greenwood was farmland until the later 1800s, when streetcar access made it attractive to suburban settlers. The house retains its original design, materials and setting, and was recognized for its architecture and its link to that suburban growth.
Significance in brief: The house is a good example of the late Queen Anne style and keeps its original intricate shingle work in the gables. It was probably built as part of a late 19th century suburban development for Boston commuters. It is considered significant at the local level under Criteria A and C.
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 89000703, listed July 6, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 54 Spring St., Wakefield |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 6, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000703 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Recorded in fair condition and used as a dwelling, with a noncontributing garage (c.1920); no major alterations listed. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.47534, -71.07133 (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 89000703.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5914407
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.