House at 60 William Street
Why it's listed
Built around 1850 on a bluff above the Charles River in Newton Corner, this modest L-plan house follows the Tuscan or Italian villa mode that was popular in the mid-nineteenth century. The style was promoted by the publications of A.J. Downing and was usually applied to larger, more elaborate residences, so a version scaled down for a small dwelling is uncommon. A three-story tower sits where the two wings meet and has round-headed windows in its upper story. The gable-roofed wings have deep cornices and returns typical of early Italianate houses. Early occupants probably enjoyed picturesque views from the tower. In 1855 the house was owned by Stephen Perry, who lived nearby in Watertown and held several properties in the area. In 1874 it was occupied by C.O. Lummus, a carpenter with a shop on Centre Street. The house is valued as a local example of the miniaturized villa type. It remains a dwelling in very good condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an important local example of the Italian villa style as miniaturized for smaller dwellings, meeting Criterion C. Its L-plan, three-story tower and early Italianate detailing recall a type usually seen in more elaborate houses.
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 86001833, listed September 4, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 60 William St., Newton |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 4, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001833 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Italianate (Tuscan or Italian villa mode) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In present use as a dwelling; condition described as very good, with a 20th-century porch alteration and a shed outbuilding. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.35944, -71.18275 (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 86001833.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715592
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.