Pierce, F. Lincoln, Houses
Why it's listed
Two houses at 231 and 237 Mill Street in Newtonville were built in 1914 as a matched pair by the Boston architects Derby & Robinson. Number 237, at the corner of Upland Road, is a five-bay, two-story Neo-Federal house with a low hip roof, clapboard siding, a modillion cornice and a fanlighted center entry. Number 231 is a three-bay gambrel-roof cottage in the sturdier Georgian Revival manner, with pedimented dormers and a center entry. Both sit on low terraces among mature trees. Boston lawyer F. Lincoln Peirce and his wife commissioned the houses on land bought from the heirs of Governor William Claflin. The pair was featured in The House Beautiful in December 1915, which urged suburban builders to choose traditional forms. The houses are valued as well-detailed Colonial Revival design and as evidence of early 20th century suburban infill in Newton. They retain their original design, materials and setting, and are still used as homes.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the houses are an exceptionally well detailed and landscaped pair of Colonial Revival dwellings by an important Boston firm. They also reflect Newton's early 20th century suburban growth, which filled in established areas as well as new subdivisions.
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 90000041, listed February 16, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 231--237 Mill St., Newton |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | February 16, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000041 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Derby & Robinson |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival (237 Mill Street Neo-Federal; 231 Mill Street Georgian Revival) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential; condition is listed as excellent with no major alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.6 |
| Coordinates | 42.34240, -71.20280 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 90000041.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5423956
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.