Stimpson, William, House
Why it's listed
Standing at 22 Prospect Street in Wakefield, this 2½-story, five-bay clapboard house dates from before 1795 and reflects early Federal design as practiced locally. Its central chimney is a local variation, since contemporary Federal houses in other communities had moved to double chimneys. Other features include a boxed cornice with eave returns, 6/6 sash, simply molded window surrounds, and a slightly paired arrangement of the outer bays on the north facade. Inside are six fireplaces and two brick ovens, which a local researcher suggested may mean it was first intended as a two-family house. William Stimpson, a physician, probably had it built between 1765 and 1804 after moving his earlier house elsewhere in town. Later owner William Atwell, a razor strop manufacturer, ran his shop at the rear, and the property stayed in the Atwell family into the 20th century. It is valued as a well-preserved local example of Federal architecture.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as a typical, well-preserved example of early Federal design in Wakefield. It keeps a central chimney, a local variation on the standard Federal plan, and retains its integrity. It also has local historical links to Dr. William Stimpson and to the later Atwell family, who made razor strops at the rear of the house.
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 89000741, listed July 6, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 22 Prospect St., Wakefield |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 6, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000741 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | William Stimpson (builder/original owner, physician); architect listed as NA |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a dwelling; condition marked on the form as fair/poor; additions made at the southwest corner and a shed addition on the south side in the 20th century. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.50570, -71.08061 (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 89000741.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8018846
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.