Jenkins, Franklin B., House
Why it's listed
Built around 1860 at 2 Middle Street in Stoneham, this modest Greek Revival cottage follows a side-hall plan enlarged by a full ell on the west side, giving it an L shape. Clapboard siding, wide cornerboards treated as pilasters, a wide frieze and a raking cornice in the gable end mark the style. The entry is framed by pilasters, a frieze and a projecting molded architrave, and the half-length sidelights have since been filled in. The house rests on a brick foundation and has 2/1 sash. It was recorded as a well preserved example of the most common mid-nineteenth century house type in Stoneham. Franklin B. Jenkins, partner in the shoe manufacturing firm Jenkins and Vinton, lived here in the 1870s and may have built it. His neighbors included another shoe manufacturer, and he later moved to a larger frame house on Chestnut Street as the local shoe industry prospered. The house reflects both the town's building traditions and its social development.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a well preserved example of Stoneham's most prevalent mid-nineteenth century housing type. It is also tied to Franklin B. Jenkins, a local shoe manufacturer, and illustrates the community's social development. It is argued to meet criteria A, B 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 84002699, listed April 13, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2 Middle St., Stoneham |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | April 13, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002699 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential; the form lists a garage as an outbuilding, and the sash and sidelights have been altered. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 42.47546, -71.09920 (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 84002699.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5491278
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.