Simpson, Dr. Thomas, House
Why it's listed
This house at 114 Main Street in Wakefield is a three-quarters form dwelling that records show was built before 1750 by Thomas Simpson. It sits on a slight rise facing west across Lake Quannapowitt, where the Brown and Simpson families settled the north end of the lake. John Pratt lived there in 1750 and 1765, and like many 17th and 18th century homes it served as the homestead of a substantial farm. The house was altered in the Federal period, when rear two-story ells were added around 1800. Its front and side door surrounds are Federal in design, with pilasters with entasis, a low entablature, and sidelights at the front. Having two developed door surrounds is noted as a local trait of lakeside houses that faced west rather than south. The house was listed for its architectural value as a well-preserved local example of lakeside design.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a well-preserved example of local design for lakeside homes in Wakefield during the Georgian and Federal periods. It retains integrity of location, setting, design, materials, workmanship, feeling and association. It is also tied to early settlement of the north end of the lake by the Brown and Simpson families.
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 89000665, listed July 6, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 114 Main St., Wakefield |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 6, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000665 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Built by D. Thomas Simpson before 1750 |
| Architectural style | Georgian/Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is as a dwelling; later alterations include re-siding and a noncontributing attached garage (c. 1950). |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.51840, -71.07580 (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 89000665.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5304442
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.