Prospect House
Why it's listed
Prospect House, at 11 Hammond Street in Waltham, is a Greek Revival tavern and hotel built in 1839 by Leonard Smith. Its symmetrical five-bay facade is dominated by a monumental two-tier porch with fluted Doric columns and a broad pedimented gable. The second-story portico keeps its original cast iron balcony. Smith came from a family active in Main Street tavern ownership since 1779, and he reused brick from an older tavern in the chimneys. The inn operated until 1909. In the 1910s or 1920s it was turned 90 degrees to face Hammond Street and converted to apartments as commercial blocks rose on Main Street. Aluminum siding, replaced window sash and other changes have altered it, but its temple-front form remains clear. It is the only survivor of the taverns that once served travelers on Main Street, part of the old Connecticut Path linking Boston and Hartford, which is why it was listed.
Significance in brief: It is the only surviving tavern/hotel of the many that once lined Main Street, which was part of a major east-west transportation route. It is also a rare temple-front Greek Revival tavern/hotel, and its original form and features outweigh the effect of later alterations.
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 89001568, listed September 28, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 11 Hammond St., Waltham |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 28, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001568 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Built by Leonard Smith; architect unknown. Waltham architect Florence Lusconb was involved in the later conversion to an apartment house. |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is an apartment house; condition is described as good/fair. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.37669, -71.24554 (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 89001568.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7250772
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.