Merriam, M.H. and Company
Why it's listed
Seven-nine Oakland Street in downtown Lexington, Massachusetts, holds the former M.H. Merriam & Company factory, built in 1882 at the edge of the Meriam Hill neighborhood. The long, narrow wood-frame building was extended around 1896 when a mid-19th-century barn from Matthew Merriam's former estate was moved to the site for offices and shipping, and a concrete garage followed around 1915. A small cottage and a brick shed also remain. The company made leather and fabric trimmings for shoe and clothing makers. By 1890 it was described as the largest and best equipped of its kind in the country and was the largest manufacturer in Lexington, a town where manufacturing was never a major part of the economy. It employed 30 to 35 workers, mostly women. The site was listed for its role in the town's commercial development and as a rare utilitarian wood-frame factory. A certified rehabilitation in 2007/2008 converted the factory into 15 residential units.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the factory was the principal manufacturing establishment in Lexington in the late 19th century and is tied to the growth of downtown Lexington as the town's commercial center. It is also called a rare surviving example of a utilitarian wood-frame factory in the town. Owner Matthew H. Merriam was a prominent local resident, and the firm made leather and fabric trimmings for the shoe and clothing industries.
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 09000033, listed February 18, 2009. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 7-9 Oakland St., Lexington |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | February 18, 2009 |
| Reference number | 09000033 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1882-1958 |
| Architectural style | No style (main block); Italianate (barn addition) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Community Planning and Development |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Rehabilitated in 2007/2008 as a residence with 15 units for people with brain injuries; the cottage was not rehabilitated and its interior finishes are in very poor condition. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.44890, -71.22769 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 09000033.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15713102
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.