Manning, Joseph K., House
Why it's listed
Built about 1875 at 35-37 Forest Street, just north of Medford Square, this three-story house combines Second Empire and Eastlake design. A mansard roof with patterned slate, a turret with iron cresting and a cupola crown the building. Its most striking feature is a one-story hexagonal porch pavilion with sculptural brackets, turned balusters and a saw-cut floral frieze. Inside, original details include two decorated staircases, etched vestibule glass, three marble fireplaces and plaster ceiling rosettes. Joseph K. Manning, a wealthy lumber dealer from a family in Medford's lumber trade, had the house built. Its size and ornament reflect his business connections to skilled builders and craftsmen. It is one of only two high-style Second Empire homes remaining in the city and recalls the Forest Street neighborhood that developed from subdivided estates after 1844. It was recognized locally for architecture and for community development. It has since been rehabilitated and converted to condominiums.
Significance in brief: The house is one of only two high-style Second Empire residences in Medford and shows an architectural character now nearly extinct in the city. Its elaborate design and craftsmanship reflect the commercial success and social standing of its owner, tied to Medford's lumber industry. It is significant locally under architecture and community planning and development.
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 88000712, listed April 7, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 35--37 Forest St., Medford |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | April 7, 1989 |
| Reference number | 88000712 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1875-1906 |
| Architectural style | Second Empire; Eastlake |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Recently restored and rehabilitated according to the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and converted to condominiums. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.41971, -71.10973 (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 88000712.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6284474
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.