Shaw, Thomas Mott, Estate
Also known as: Garfield Woods
Why it's listed
Set on a wooded hill in Concord, this estate holds a house and garage/carriage house designed and built in 1909-1910 by Boston architect Thomas Mott Shaw on land his father, George Russell Shaw, bought from the Adams family. Shaw built twin L-shaped houses, each with a projecting tower; the one with the round tower burned in 1931, leaving its foundation, while the octagonal-tower house survives. The two-and-one-half-story house has stucco walls, a slate roof, a fieldstone foundation and steeply pitched gables, combining Tudor Revival forms with Arts and Crafts details. Shaw later became known for restoration work, including at Williamsburg, and lived here for over fifty years. The property was valued for this association, for its design, and as an example of Concord's development as a country-estate suburb of Boston. A 1985 rehabilitation restored some original features, and the garage now serves as a rental unit.
Significance in brief: The estate is tied to Boston architect Thomas Mott Shaw, who designed and built it and lived there for over fifty years. It is also noted for an unusual blend of English vernacular and Arts and Crafts design, described as the only unaltered known example of this architecture in Concord. It reflects Concord's growth as a wealthy Boston suburb.
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 87001395, listed November 20, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 317 Garfield Rd., Concord |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | November 20, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87001395 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1909-1938 |
| Architect / builder | Thomas Mott Shaw |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals - Tudor Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Historic single dwelling now used as multiple dwellings; the house and garage/carriage house were rehabilitated in 1985, and the garage was converted to a rental unit. |
| Acreage | 6.7 |
| Coordinates | 42.42845, -71.36311 (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 87001395.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715883
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.