Upham, Phineas, House
Why it's listed
Located at 255 Upham Street in Melrose, this 2 1/2-story clapboarded house with a center chimney began as a two-story, one-cell lobby-entry half house east of the chimney. Early in the 18th century a one-cell addition was built to the west, followed by a rear lean-to. In the late 18th or early 19th century the north roof slope was raised. Inside, oak summer beams with chamfers and lamb's tongue stops, chamfered chimney girts, corner posts and original attic rafters survive. Restorations took place in 1914 and 1952. Phineas Upham, one of Melrose's original settlers, moved there in 1703 and his first house, now destroyed, stood on the same property. Local histories say he built this house for a son, and the estimated date range is 1703 to about 1740. The Upham family owned it for most of its history. It was listed for its surviving late First Period fabric and its additive form, and for concealed framing that may inform study of early construction.
Significance in brief: It keeps a late First Period half house with late First Period and Second Period additions, and its additive form is a good example of the likely common fate of one-cell houses (Criterion C). Hidden corner posts and joints may yield information on early building construction in Massachusetts Bay (Criterion D).
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 90000173, listed March 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 255 Upham St., Melrose |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | March 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000173 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Unknown; the house is traditionally said to have been built by Phineas Upham (1682-1766). |
| Architectural style | First Period core with Second Period additions |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Historic - Non-Aboriginal, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is described as good; the house is a residence and was restored in 1914 and 1952. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.44902, -71.05259 (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 90000173.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7186374
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.