Olcott, John E., House
Why it's listed
Built around 1837 on Central Street in Waltham, this two-story brick double house reflects the earliest development of the neighborhood east of Waltham Common. Central Street, first called Middle Street, was laid out around 1836-1837. Deed research indicates the house probably represents the craftsmanship of John E. Olcott, a bricklayer from Watertown, who bought the lot for $600 and lived there until as late as 1887. The building has a five-bay by two-bay main block under a low hip roof, with walls of stretcher-bond brick and a rear-wall chimney. An enclosed porch projects from the center of the facade, and most windows now hold replacement sash. Despite these changes, it is valued as a rare surviving brick Federal-period house in a city where wood construction dominated until the early 1900s. It is still used as a private two-family residence on a corner lot.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a rare Waltham example of masonry Federal construction, in a town where wood was the usual building material until the early 1900s. It is also tied to a known bricklayer owner. Its vernacular rear-wall chimney form contrasts with high-style examples such as Gore Place.
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 89001492, listed September 28, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 35--37 Central St., Waltham |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 28, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001492 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | John E. Olcott, bricklayer |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is a private residence (double); condition is described as fair-good, with a front entrance porch added at an unknown date. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 42.37249, -71.23033 (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 89001492.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6230863
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.