Stone Building
Also known as: The East Lexington Branch Library; Cary Memorial Library
Why it's listed
Built in 1833 to a design by Concord architect Isaac Melvin, this two-story Greek Revival building on Massachusetts Avenue in East Lexington began as a public hall. Merchant Eli Robbins commissioned it so that lectures, preaching and meetings could be held, including those voicing anti-slavery views. A tetrastyle portico with fluted Doric columns, a pediment with quarter-circle windows and a detailed central entrance mark the front. From 1835 the Religious Society of the East Village met there, with preachers including Charles Follen, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Theodore Parker and others. Amos Bronson Alcott held conversation meetings in the hall. Abner Stone bought the building in 1851 and lived there until 1872. His family later offered it to the town as a library, and it was named the Stone Building in gratitude. It continues as the East Lexington Branch Library, with the upstairs meeting room much as it was.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it was an early center of free-thinking and discussion for religious, philosophical and cultural groups in East Lexington. It is also described as the most elaborate Greek Revival structure in East Lexington today.
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 76000252, listed April 30, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 735 Massachusetts Ave., Lexington |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | April 30, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76000252 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Isaac Melvin (architect); John Colby (contractor); Curtis Capell (carpenter) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the town, occupied, and in use as the East Lexington Branch Library; exterior described as basically unaltered, with the downstairs adapted for library use. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 42.42950, -71.20682 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 76000252.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q2351520
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.