House at 556 Lowell Street
Why it's listed
Built about 1894 for Denis Lyons, a Boston wine merchant who commuted to his firm, W. J. and D. Lyons Co., this house at 556 Lowell Street is the largest and most ornate Queen Anne residence in Wakefield's Montrose section. It features asymmetrical massing, porches, oriels and a three-story copper turreted bay, along with Colonial Revival touches such as carved porch pediments, ornamented spandrels, shingled bands and turned spindles on the porch frieze. Its strong horizontal line is more pronounced than on most local Queen Anne houses. The property sits well back from the road behind a high hedge, with wide lawns, old trees and a gambrel carriage barn that once served as servants' quarters. This arrangement differs from neighboring houses, which face the street on small lots. The area developed slowly as a rural hamlet after the railroad arrived in 1850. The house was recognized for its architecture and its retained integrity at the local level.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is the largest, most fully developed and ornate Queen Anne house in Montrose. It shows complex asymmetrical massing, a three-story copper turreted bay and Colonial Revival detailing. It also keeps its integrity and its unusual setting, set back behind a high hedge.
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 89000670, listed July 6, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 556 Lowell St., Wakefield |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 6, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000670 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne/Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is a dwelling; the carriage house to the rear is now a residence. No major alterations are noted. |
| Acreage | 4.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.51533, -71.05087 (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 89000670.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5914410
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.