Smith, Curtis S., House
Why it's listed
Built around 1883 at 56 Fairmont Avenue in Newton Corner, this Queen Anne style house is described as one of the fullest expressions of the style in a suburban setting. Its design is asymmetrical and varied, with a clapboarded lower story and upper stories covered in cut wood shingles laid in a staggered butt pattern. Notable features include an ogival corner turret, a tall panelled chimney, a gabled entrance porch with a spindle frieze, and windows with small panes bordering a large central pane, a popular stock item of the period. A carriage house remains on the lot, and the house is in excellent condition with no major alterations. The land was once part of the Brackett estate, which was subdivided into houselots during Newton Corner's late nineteenth century suburbanization. The first occupant, S. Curtis Smith, taught at Boston's English High School and typified the Boston commuters who settled in Newton.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an outstanding, well-preserved example of the middle phase of the Queen Anne style, meeting Criterion C. It also illustrates the late nineteenth century suburbanization of Newton Corner, when the Brackett estate was subdivided into houselots and occupied by Boston commuters.
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 86001881, listed September 4, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 56 Fairmont Ave., Newton |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 4, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001881 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is as a dwelling; condition is described as excellent with no major alterations and not moved. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 42.34957, -71.19030 (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 86001881.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5195880
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.