Nichols, Daniel, Homestead
Why it's listed
Built around 1741-42, this farmhouse at 434 Haverhill Street in Reading was the home of Daniel Nichols, who bought the land from the Town of Reading. He was probably a farmer and took part in church and town affairs between 1742 and 1760, serving as tithing man, selectman and surveyor of highways. His son-in-law Amos Pearson lived here next. Later the house was divided into a two-family dwelling by the Parker and Pratt families, and so many Pratts lived nearby that upper Haverhill Street became known as "Pratt Row." The building follows a common Reading house type of the later 18th century: rectangular, five bays long and one bay deep, with a rear leanto, two interior chimneys and granite foundations. Its main architectural emphasis is the door surround, with paneled pilasters, a high entablature and sidelights. An ell, the subject of an 1849 deed, may have been added then. It was listed for its farming past, its family associations and its largely unchanged Georgian form.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant as an old farming homestead, for its link to the locally important Nichols and Pratt families, and for its early date and unchanged vernacular Georgian lines. It is said to retain integrity of location, design, setting and feeling.
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 84002753, listed July 19, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 434 Haverhill St., Reading |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 19, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002753 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Vernacular (Georgian) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 2.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.54550, -71.09058 (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 84002753.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5218262
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.