Sanborn, Rev. Peter, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1812 by Rev. Peter Sanborn, this farmhouse at 55 Lowell Street in Reading is a vernacular Federal dwelling with five bays facing south and a ridge parallel to the road. A central chimney originally served five fireplaces, and the second-floor windows sit high under the eaves. Sanborn served as third minister of Reading's Third Parish Church from 1790 to 1820 and donated land for the Academy, the Third Congregational Society and the Bethesda Congregational Church. Later owners included clockmaker Benjamin Boyce, who bought it as a rental in 1860, and Howard P. Nichols, who gave it Victorian remodeling and raised the saltbox roof. Porches were added in 1920. From 1946 to 1950 the Bishops, local historians and authors, restored it to a single residence, removing the porch and Victorian features. Its prominent corner near the Common, its ties to these figures and its Federal character support its listing.
Significance in brief: The house is significant for its prominent location at an intersection just off the Common, for its association with Rev. Peter Sanborn, clockmaker Benjamin Boyce and local historians C. Nelson and Eleanor Bishop, and as an example of vernacular Federal architecture. It retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship and feeling.
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 84002819, listed July 19, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 55 Lowell St., Reading |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 19, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002819 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Rev. Peter Sanborn (original owner-builder) |
| Architectural style | Federal; central chimney, saltbox |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a single residence; restored in 1946-50 after Victorian-era alterations, with the porch and Victorian windows and doors removed. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.52703, -71.10579 (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 84002819.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7317687
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.