Kingsbury House
Why it's listed
This farmhouse at 137 Suffolk Road in Chestnut Hill, Newton, dates to about 1700 and follows the compact form of a traditional Georgian farmhouse. It has a massive central chimney, a saltbox profile, narrow corner boards, crown mouldings and tall windows framed into the cornice. Portions may have been built by the carpenter John Parker in the 1680s. His son sold the property to Ebenezer Stone in 1701, and Stone probably built the present house. Stone served as a selectman and as a representative to the General Court, and his descendants farmed in Chestnut Hill until the end of the nineteenth century. John Kingsbury bought the property in 1817, and his family became major landowners in the area. The house was moved to its present location in 1896 to make way for a new house for Edwin Webster. Despite the move and some alterations, it is valued as one of the few early eighteenth century buildings left in Newton and for its ties to early local figures.
Significance in brief: The nomination links the house to John Parker, an early settler, and Ebenezer Stone, a prominent figure in local affairs, under Criterion B. It is also one of relatively few early eighteenth century structures remaining in Newton, which supports Criterion 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 86001848, listed September 4, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 137 Suffolk St., Newton |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 4, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001848 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; probably built by Ebenezer Stone, with portions possibly built by John Parker in the 1680s |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Exploration/Settlement, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is a dwelling; condition is described as very good. Alterations include a new foundation, new shingle cladding and rear additions. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Within district | Old Chestnut Hill Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.32887, -71.17077 (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 86001848.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6413162
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.