Lane, David, House
Why it's listed
On a low hill on the east side of North Road in Bedford, this house began around 1781 as a center-chimney Cape Cod type dwelling with a symmetrical south facade. It was built, presumably, by David Lane (1759-1842), who married his second cousin Molly that year. Lane belonged to the Bedford militia that marched to Concord on April 18, 1775, and he was one of the last Revolutionary survivors in town. The house was extended east and given a rear ell in the early to mid-nineteenth century, and later changes altered the entry, added dormers, and in 1972 added a connector and garage. Inside, it keeps raised panelling, cased beams and several fireplaces. The lot is part of land that Job Lane bought from Fitz John Winthrop in 1664, which stayed in the Lane family into the twentieth century. The house was listed for its architecture and its Revolutionary War association.
Significance in brief: The house keeps much of its original design, its site and its link to David Lane, a Revolutionary War soldier. Despite additions, it preserves its original scale, floor plan and interior details, making it a good local example of eighteenth-century vernacular architecture. The lot is also part of a parcel once known as the Governor John Winthrop Grant.
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 80000644, listed April 2, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 147 North Rd., Bedford |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | April 2, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80000644 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1781 or earlier |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Vernacular; center chimney Cape Cod type house |
| Areas of significance | Military, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; condition listed as excellent and altered, on its original site. |
| Acreage | 1.4 |
| Coordinates | 42.50236, -71.28435 (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 80000644.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5236333
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.