Leland, Deacon William, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1717 at 27 Hollis Street in southwest Sherborn, this 2½-story clapboard house faces south and has a gable roof, a large central chimney, and a single-story western ell. Its five-bay facade has symmetrically placed narrow windows with 9/6 sash. Dark clapboards and red-painted trim give it a simple appearance. It was built for Deacon William Leland, son of Henry Leland, one of the area's first grantees. William Leland served five years as Town Clerk, represented Sherborn in the General Court in 1735, and ran a prosperous farm. The property stayed in the Leland family until the mid 19th century. Far from the present town center on one of the community's earliest roads, the house reflects dispersed agricultural settlement along the Charles River. Unlike other First Period houses in Sherborn, it has undergone little exterior alteration, and it illustrates the move from First Period to early Georgian building. It was listed under Criteria A, B and D.
Significance in brief: It is a well-preserved, little-altered early Georgian dwelling that shows Sherborn's shift from First Period to early Georgian construction. It was built by a prominent early 18th-century townsman and reflects the town's earliest pattern of dispersed agricultural settlement near the Charles River. It is also one of a cluster of early buildings useful for studying early architectural practice.
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 86000503, listed January 3, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 27 Hollis St., Sherborn |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | January 3, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000503 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | First Period/Early Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residence; the lot is described as exceptionally well maintained, with an herb garden beside the main block and a 20th-century garage. |
| Acreage | 3.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.20784, -71.39653 (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 86000503.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5245046
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.