Lawrence, Phineas, House
Also known as: Phineas Lawrence--Coffin House
Why it's listed
Set on a wooded one-acre lot along Trapelo Road in Waltham, this two-story, five-bay Federal farmhouse dates to about 1810. It has a center hall plan, clapboard front, brick side walls to the cornice line, a granite foundation and three chimneys. A two-story rear ell was added around 1860, and a garage, porches and entrance pavilions followed in the 20th century. A small late 19th century barn also stands on the property. The house was probably built by the father and uncle of Phineas Lawrence, whose family prospered as farmers as local roads and industry grew. Lawrence was born here in 1826, ran a dairy farm, served on Waltham's early Boards of Aldermen, and wrote local and family histories of the Trapelo Road area. When the state took surrounding land for hospitals, the old farm shrank to its present size. The house is valued as a rare surviving example of Waltham's farmhouses from its agricultural period.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is one of the few remaining Federal-period farmhouses typical of Waltham's early agricultural era, and it keeps its integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship. It was also the birthplace and home of Phineas Lawrence (1826-1924), a civic leader, businessman and local historian who wrote about the Trapelo Road area and the Brown family. It is rated significant at the local level.
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 87001397, listed August 20, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 257 Trapelo Rd., Waltham |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | August 20, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87001397 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 and 1900- (specific dates ca. 1810, 1860, 1925) |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and architecturally intact despite minor alterations; used as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.39528, -71.20635 (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 87001397.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7186358
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.