Noyes-Parris House
Why it's listed
Built around 1690 by Peter Noyes, this house at 204 Old Connecticut Path in Wayland began as a single-cell First Period dwelling and grew over time. A rear leanto and a second cell were added, and about 1790 the house was raised to a full two stories with a rebuilt roof, giving it the clapboard finish and symmetrical sash windows of the Second Period. Inside, the left front room and chamber keep early features: a chamfered longitudinal summer beam with taper stops, whitewashed ceiling boards, and the remains of an earlier all-principal-rafter roof in the attic. A Second Period paneled fireplace wall also survives. The house is tied to Noyes, a leader in the town's settlement, and to the Rev. Samuel Parris, who married Noyes's daughter, became part owner in the early 1700s, and played a prominent role in the Salem Witch Trials. Parris's descendants owned it from 1733 to 1796. A small late 18th-century barn stands beside it.
Significance in brief: The house retains First Period framing, including a rare longitudinal summer beam and the remains of an all-principal-rafter roof, which the nomination argues embodies distinctive construction under Criterion C. It is also associated with Peter Noyes, a settlement leader, and with Rev. Samuel Parris, a prominent figure in the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, who married Noyes's daughter.
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 90000187, listed March 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 204 Old Connecticut Path, Wayland |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | March 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000187 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Peter Noyes (builder) |
| Architectural style | First Period core with Second Period vernacular exterior |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good; present use is residential. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.34887, -71.36146 (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 90000187.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7067364
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.