Kemp Barn
Why it's listed
Behind a house at 186 Summer Avenue in Reading stands a barn built around 1853 for Robert "Father" Kemp, a Boston boot and shoe businessman. Kemp moved to Reading after his partner, John Mansfield, bought ten acres on Summer Avenue and sold half to him. He planned to raise apples and chickens while commuting to Boston on the railroad, which was then eight years old. The barn was probably built for his horse and carriage rather than for farm produce. Its design is as carefully detailed as the house. A cross gable breaks the rectangular form, and the first floor has a double sliding door flanked by doors with shouldered architraves. Pilasters support a bracketed, flush-boarded central gable pavilion, scrolled molding sits above the hayloft, and two semicircular windows flank it. A copper weathervane tops the roof. The barn was listed for its link to West Side development, to Kemp and later owners Charles and Katherine Howard, and as part of an Italianate ensemble.
Significance in brief: The barn is significant as a product of the 19th-century real estate boom on Reading's West Side and as the barn of a railroad commuter. It is also tied to Robert Kemp, a shoe manufacturer and choral leader, and to public servants Charles and Katherine Howard. It forms part of a high-style Italianate ensemble with the house and retains its integrity.
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 84002721, listed July 19, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 186 Summer Ave., Reading |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 19, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002721 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Exterior alterations noted: slates replaced with asphalt. |
| Acreage | 1.6 |
| Coordinates | 42.52207, -71.11634 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 84002721.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6387009
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.