Tenney Homestead
Why it's listed
Set well back from Taylor Road in Stow on a 5.7-acre open field, this farmhouse dates to about 1700-1725 and is a 2 1/2 story, clapboarded building with a central chimney, one room deep. A two-story ell projects from the right rear, and another ell extends from the left end, with a small lean-to tucked into the corner. The front door has a simple Greek Revival surround. Most early features are hidden, but visible evidence, including a beveled summer beam and fireplaces with side beehive ovens, points to a late transitional First Period date. Early sponge-painted sheathing survives beneath later coverings. The original stone chimney stack, changing to brick from the attic floor up, is unusual in this part of Massachusetts and resembles chimneys in Carlisle and elsewhere in Stow. The house was listed for this chimney and for the information its concealed finishes could provide. The Tenney family farmed here from 1690 to the mid 1930s.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to be significant under criterion D because its concealed sponge-painted sheathing and First Period frame could yield information about late First Period room decoration. It is also argued to be eligible under criterion C for its rare early stone chimney, a type apparently tied to a regional trend in western Middlesex County. It has a long association with the Tenney family, farmers in Stow from 1690 to the mid 1930s.
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 90000181, listed March 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 156 Taylor Rd., Stow |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | March 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000181 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | First Period / Federal updating |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Historic - Non-Aboriginal, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is described as good; the property is in present use as a residence. |
| Acreage | 5.7 |
| Coordinates | 42.44757, -71.51399 (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 90000181.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7700280
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.