Nichols, Richard, House
Why it's listed
Built about 1733, this clapboard farmhouse at 483 Franklin Street in Reading is a good example of First Period building, a tradition that still reflected late medieval, organic rather than symmetrical planning. It may first have been a three-bay half-house, later enlarged by two bays and then by a third bay to the east. Small six-over-six windows touch the plate on the second story, the door surround is plain, and a large central chimney probably organized the interior rooms. The foundation is rubblestone. The Nichols family held land here from the first grant to John Nichols in 1686/7, and the house was owned and farmed by the family until 1893. Two Nichols farmsteads in the Franklin Street area covered over 143 acres, much of it still thinly settled because of long family ownership and the Meadow Brook Golf Club links. The house was listed for its early homestead role, family association and architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant as the center of one of the earliest and most extensive homesteads in Reading and for its long link with the locally prominent Nichols family. It is also valued for its early date and as a good example of First Period architecture. It is said to retain integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship 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 84002760, listed July 19, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 483 Franklin St., Reading |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 19, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002760 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | First Period |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as a private residence; later additions include an ell, a west addition and an east addition, and there is a two-car garage. |
| Acreage | 1.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.62540, -71.12386 (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 84002760.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7328065
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.