Pratt House
Why it's listed
Built around 1809 at 456 Haverhill Street in Reading, this clapboarded house is a plain example of the local Georgian-Federal building tradition. It is only one room deep, with a tall narrow door framed by a simple surround and a high entablature. A thin molded cornice stops short of the wide cornerboards, and small second-floor windows sit well below the plate. A two-story rear ell with a shed roof, often called an English gable, is a form commonly seen in Reading. The house was one of several Pratt family homes that gave the name Pratt Row to the neighborhood in the 19th century. Samuel Pratt, a blacksmith, owned it before 1809, and his son Joseph L. Pratt, also a blacksmith, held it by 1835. Joseph began making shoes in 1834, was among the first townsmen to use a stitching machine, later sold lamps and glassware, and served many years as selectman. The house retains its original location, setting and much of its original material.
Significance in brief: It is a good example of the vernacular Georgian-Federal building tradition in Reading. It was one of a group of Pratt family houses that gave the name "Pratt Row" to the area. It is also linked to Joseph L. Pratt, an innovative shoemaker who used a stitching machine early and later served as selectman.
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 84002797, listed July 19, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 456 Haverhill St., Reading |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 19, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002797 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Federal (vernacular Georgian-Federal) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship and feeling; sash was replaced c. 1870. |
| Acreage | 1.1 |
| Coordinates | 42.54621, -71.09134 (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 84002797.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7238764
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.