Kemp Place
Why it's listed
Built in 1853 at 186 Summer Avenue in Reading, this 2-1/2-story Italianate house has transverse gables, shouldered or "eared" window architraves, a veranda with pierced Gothic columns, a Gothic cupola and a roof carried on paired brackets. An exterior chimney is decorated with terra-cotta rosettes, and the south veranda was extended in the 1920s. Robert Kemp, a Boston boot and shoe businessman who commuted by rail, built it after buying land from his partner Mansfield. He also led "Father Kemp's Old Folks," an amateur singing group that toured and travelled to England in 1861. Kemp sold the house in 1868 after financial reverses. Later owners included William Hawes, who started an early dollar store in Boston, and the Howard family. Charles Howard served as a lawyer, State Senator and town official, and his wife Katherine wrote a memoir and held national appointments. The house is valued for its architecture, its connection to these residents and its place in Reading's West Side growth.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is one of Reading's more high-styled Italianate houses and one of the few surviving houses with a cupola. It is also tied to Robert "Father" Kemp, a boot and shoe businessman and choral leader, and to public servants Charles and Katherine Howard. It is further presented as a product of the 19th-century West Side real estate boom and the railroad commuter.
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 84002723, 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 | 84002723 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 1.6 |
| Coordinates | 42.52161, -71.11681 (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 84002723.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6387022
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.