Old Medford High School
Also known as: Medford High School
Why it's listed
Old Medford High School at 22-24 Forest Street is a three-story red brick school building made up of a central block from 1895 and two L-plan wings added in 1929 and 1939. The original building was designed by the Boston firm Hartwell & Richardson, which specialized in school and public buildings. It features a rusticated first floor, an Ionic entrance, arched windows and sandstone trim donated by General Samuel Crocker Lawrence. It was dedicated in 1896 and cost $150,000. Medford's growth as a Boston suburb led to a 1914 rear addition, later destroyed by fire in 1965, and then to the north and south wings. The south wing, designed by Michael A. Dyer, architect of Medford's City Hall, contained an auditorium said to be the largest in the Commonwealth when completed. The property was listed for its architecture and its role in the growth of public education in Medford. Apart from the auditorium, it has been vacant since the 1965 fire.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an excellent local example of late 19th century institutional Renaissance Revival architecture, designed by the prominent Boston firm Hartwell & Richardson. It also has historical significance through its association with the development of public education in Medford. The 1929 and 1939 wings are described as among the finest local examples of their style.
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 83004068, listed October 6, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 22-24 Forest St., Medford |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | October 6, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83004068 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899, 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Hartwell & Richardson (1895); Michael Dyer (1929, 1939) |
| Architectural style | Renaissance Revival (original building); Renaissance Revival and Colonial Revival (1929 and 1939 wings) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant since a 1965 fire, except for the south wing auditorium, which is used for theatrical performances. The high school moved to a new building on Winter Street in 1971. |
| Acreage | 3.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.42090, -71.10831 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 83004068.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7084497
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.