Sanger, Asa, House
Why it's listed
This house at 70 Washington Street in Sherborn dates to the early decades of the 18th century, though an exact construction date has not been established. It shows the shift from massive First Period building to lighter, symmetrical Georgian design. Its five-bay facade has simply framed 9/6 windows, an integral lean-to, and a large brick chimney rising from the center of the ridge. Early ownership is credited to Elisha Bullen. By the Revolution it belonged to Asa Sanger, a farmer who, according to a 19th-century history, was putting on a roof when he heard cannon fire and set off for Concord. The Sangers were a prominent Sherborn family involved in farming, tavern and shop keeping, law, and later factory ownership. The building stayed largely intact until the 1960s, when the clapboards were shingled and a Greek Revival-style entry replaced the earlier transom-topped doorway. It was listed for its architecture and its association with the Sanger family.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to be a fine example of the transition from First Period to Georgian-style dwellings. It keeps the massive form, central chimney and lean-to of the earlier type, with the symmetry and plan of the later style. It is also associated with the Sanger family, prominent in Sherborn, and with Asa Sanger, who left his roof work to head for Concord.
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 86000507, listed January 3, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 70 Washington St., Sherborn |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | January 3, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000507 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | First Period/Georgian transitional |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residence; clapboards now covered with wood shingles and the entrance altered about 1960. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.23555, -71.38061 (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 86000507.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4803156
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.