Pierce House
Why it's listed
Built between 1875 and 1880 at 128 Salem Street in Reading, this wood-frame house is an elaborate example of Stick-style design, attributed to architect George Abbott. Its asymmetrical form is topped by a steeply pitched gable roof with exposed rafter ends, and the end and center gables carry decorative screens, one with a cut-out floral design. Knee braces, vertical-board siding and a front porch with arches, chamfered posts on pedestals, scalloped trim and eaves brackets show what jigsaw work could do with wood. Samuel Pierce, the original owner, ran Reading's leading organ pipe and organ accessories business. He began manufacturing in an ell of his house in 1847, moved to specialized buildings on Pierce Street in 1852, and employed about fifty men. He also served as selectman, as a state legislator and as treasurer of the Old South Congregational Society. The house was listed for its link to the organ industry, for its connection with Pierce, and as one of the town's best Stick-style buildings.
Significance in brief: The house is tied to Samuel Pierce, who ran Reading's most important organ pipe and organ accessories firm. It is also described as one of the town's best examples of Stick-style architecture, with elaborate woodwork. The form states it retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship and feeling.
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 84002794, listed July 19, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 128 Salem St., Reading |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 19, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002794 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | George Abbott |
| Architectural style | Stick Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is a private dwelling; alterations include a 1 1/2 and 1 story rear extension and altered fenestration on the east side. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.52722, -71.09557 (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 84002794.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7191804
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.