Smith-Peterson House
Why it's listed
Built in 1902 at 32 Farlow Road in Newton Corner, this Georgian Revival house sits on a suburban estate lot of about 1.32 acres. It is a two-and-a-half-story rectangular structure with a hip roof and flanking two-story wings. Its focal point is a monumental entrance portico with Scamozzi capitals and an oculus in the pediment, while a full-height elliptical bay projects into the space beneath the portico. Alternating wood quoins and an entrance with a leaded glass fanlight and half-sidelights add to its detail. It was judged the finest expression of the Georgian Revival style in Newton, a style widely used for early twentieth-century houses there. The land was once part of the estate of John S. Farlow, who made a fortune in the China trade and gave generously to the Newton Free Library, the cemetery and the park system. Farlow began selling lots in the 1890s. Dr. Marius Smith-Peterson, a renowned orthopedic surgeon, lived here. The house remains a dwelling in excellent condition.
Significance in brief: The form argues the house represents the highest expression of the Georgian Revival style in Newton. It follows the disciplined Neo-Classical phase of Georgian design and has a monumental entrance portico. It was built on land from the estate of John S. Farlow, a China-trade merchant and local benefactor, and was later occupied by the orthopedic surgeon Dr. Marius Smith-Peterson.
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 86001882, listed September 4, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 32 Farlow Rd., Newton |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 4, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001882 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Georgian Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is listed as excellent, with no major alterations and not moved. Present use is as a dwelling, the same as the original use. |
| Acreage | 1.3 |
| Within district | Farlow Hill Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.34719, -71.17844 (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 86001882.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7544926
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.