Roberts House
Why it's listed
Built in 1911 at 59 Prospect Street in Reading, this two and one-half story, three-bay house combines a boxy, hipped-roof Colonial Revival form with Craftsman details. Wide eaves with exposed rafter ends, stucco wall covering, a chunky entrance portico and a side sun porch mark the Craftsman influence. The sun porch reflects the period's concern with health and naturalness. A horizontal band of three windows at the center of the second floor is a Shingle-style element, echoed by the shingles on the lower front facade. Prospect Street was laid out by members of the Temple family in 1848, and the area grew with railroad commuters and other professionals. Nearby land was held by C. D. Thomas, whose firm with Daniel Creesy probably built speculative houses. James and Martha Roberts, the original owners, held several properties in the area. The house was listed as a product of the West Side real estate boom and as an excellent local example of the Craftsman style. No major alterations are recorded.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant as a product of the 19th-century real estate boom on Reading's West Side and as an excellent example of the Craftsman style in Reading. It retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship.
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 84002815, listed July 19, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 59 Prospect St., Reading |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 19, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002815 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival/Craftsman |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a dwelling; the form reports no major alterations and a garage outbuilding. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.51907, -71.10796 (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 84002815.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7352021
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.