Page, Christopher, House
Why it's listed
This five-bay, 2 1/2-story clapboard house at 50 Old Billerica Road in Bedford dates to about 1730 and is a late example of First Period construction in Massachusetts. It has a central chimney, a two-cell plan and a quirk-beaded frame. Its roof is the most unusual feature: a principal/common rafter system that was already old-fashioned when built, and one of the rare survivals of that earlier form. Unchamfered posts paired with quirk-beaded beams point to a transition in framing practice. Christopher Page (1710-1786) received the land in 1737 from his father, Nathaniel Page. Who built the house remains unknown. Later changes include an 18th-century lean-to, Federal-period mantels and stair, and an early 20th-century Colonial Revival porch and raised dormer. The original central chimney was removed around 1800, but its large foundation survives in the cellar. Open fields and stone walls preserve a rural setting in a suburban area.
Significance in brief: The house is a late First Period frame building that keeps its integrity of location, design, materials and workmanship. It is notable for a rare, old-fashioned principal/common rafter roof used around 1730 and for quirk-beaded beams combined with unchamfered posts, which show a transition in framing practice. Its central chimney foundation and two-cell plan survive despite Federal-era remodeling.
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 90000163, listed March 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2 Meyers Ln. (formerly 50 Old Billercia Rd.), Bedford |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | March 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000163 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Late 1st Period / Federal exterior |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is described as good; the house is a present residence and was originally a residence. An 18th-century barn on the property burned in March 1986. |
| Acreage | 5.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.49684, -71.25847 (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 90000163.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5113020
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.