Lane, Job, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1664 by Job Lane, this saltbox farmhouse at 295 North Road is the oldest dwelling in Bedford. Lane bought about 1,500 acres from Fitz-John Winthrop, when the area was still part of Billerica. The house has a center chimney, five bays and a stone foundation. Later additions include shed extensions and an enclosed porch, and the exterior was reshingled in 1900. Inside, it keeps a narrow winding staircase, wide floor boards, hand-hewn beams, paneled walls and early hardware. A river-scene fresco in the west parlor is believed to be the work of Rufus Porter. The house was ordered garrisoned for protection during King Philip's War in 1675, and later Lane descendants held military rank. One of them was wounded at Concord on April 19, 1775. A will also set aside the old back kitchen as a neighborhood schoolhouse. Bedford planned to acquire and restore the property as a living farm.
Significance in brief: It is the oldest dwelling in Bedford and was built by Job Lane on land bought from Fitz-John Winthrop. It was garrisoned during King Philip's War, and the Lane family was prominent in town, church and military affairs. Its little-changed interior and a fresco believed to be by Rufus Porter give it architectural significance.
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 73000278, listed May 8, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 295 North St., Bedford |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | May 8, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73000278 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1664 |
| Architect / builder | Job Lane |
| Architectural style | Saltbox with center chimney |
| Areas of significance | Military, Education, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in fair condition, altered, on its original site, and unoccupied. The town of Bedford hoped to acquire and restore it and open it to the public. |
| Acreage | 9.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.51287, -71.28395 (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 73000278.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715630
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.