Prescott Estate
Why it's listed
This large house at 770 Centre Street in Newton Corner sits on about 2.2 acres in an area of big suburban estates. Dating to about 1885 by stylistic analysis, it is a two-and-one-half-story building with a steeply pitched hip roof, walls of random dressed fieldstone, and trim and belt courses of red sandstone and terra cotta. A triple portal marks the entrance, and a polygonal bay with a half-timbered gable sits to the right. Its design draws on the quasi-Medieval side of early Queen Anne architecture, shaped by John Ruskin, with Romanesque details recalling H.H. Richardson and tall panelled chimneys. Masonry was seldom used for houses in this style, which makes it a rare local example. The land was once part of the estate of mill owner and congressman John Wiley Edmands. The house was probably built by Henry Pazolt, a Boston cigar merchant, and from about 1886 the Prescott family owned it. In 1954 it became part of the Carroll Center for the Blind, and it now holds condominiums.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a rare example of a domestic building done in masonry in the quasi-Medieval manner of early Queen Anne architecture, influenced by John Ruskin. It also shows Richardsonian Romanesque and Ruskinian Gothic touches. It reflects Newton Corner's growth as a prosperous, fashionable suburb of large estates.
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 86001866, listed September 4, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 770 Centre St., Newton |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 4, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001866 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; probably built by Henry Pazolt, a Boston cigar merchant |
| Architectural style | Medieval Revival (quasi-Medieval manner of early Queen Anne) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential condominiums; condition listed as excellent; not moved. |
| Acreage | 2.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.34590, -71.18932 (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 86001866.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7240844
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.