Richardson, Zachariah, House
Why it's listed
Located at 597 Washington Street in Winchester, this two and one-half story house has a low-pitched gable roof and an elongated rectangular plan. Its surviving detail is Greek Revival, including six-over-nine and six-over-six sash, window and cornice moldings, and an entrance with sidelights. The uneven window placement and differences in framing, heavy hewn timbers in the south section and lighter framing in the north, suggest it was built in stages. It may incorporate part of a schoolhouse erected in 1794 and moved in 1818, which later became Zachariah Richardson's shoe shop. By 1854 it was a residence. The property is linked to the Richardson family, whose three founding brothers occupied farms in northeastern Winchester by 1642, along a stretch of Washington Street once known as Richardson's Row. The house was listed for its Greek Revival character, its reuse of earlier building fabric, and this family association.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a Greek Revival dwelling that incorporates parts of an earlier structure (Criterion C). It is also tied to the Richardson family, who settled in present-day Winchester by 1642 (Criterion A).
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 89000618, listed July 5, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 597 Washington St., Winchester |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 5, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000618 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is a dwelling; condition is described as very good, with a rear addition made in 1987. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 42.46896, -71.12476 (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 89000618.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14716054
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.