Vaughn, H. G., House
Why it's listed
Completed in 1915 at 5 Sparhawk Road in Sherborn, this L-shaped Dutch Colonial Revival estate was designed by the Boston firm of Little and Browne for Henry G. Vaughn, a prominent Boston lawyer. Stucco-covered walls rise to a red tile roof, and four Dutch-inspired gables, one on each elevation, are outlined in copper. A marble courtyard lies on the north side, and the main facade has a five-bay central pavilion with a round-arched arcade. Inside, 18th and 19th century panelling, mantels and staircases salvaged from other New England buildings are combined with murals of Roman ruins and Dutch streetscapes. Between 1900 and 1930, wealthy Bostonians built country houses in southeast Sherborn, and this is the only Dutch Colonial Revival house of its scale in the town. It has had no major alterations and keeps its setting, design and materials. Arthur Little and Herbert Browne were pioneers of New England Colonial Revival architecture. The Vaughns lived here until 1946.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as a fine, intact example of the high-style estates built in Sherborn in the early 20th century for wealthy Bostonians. It is the only Dutch Colonial Revival building of its scale in the town. It retains integrity and is tied to the well-known architectural firm of Little and Browne.
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 86000511, listed January 3, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 5 Sparhawk Rd., Sherborn |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | January 3, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000511 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Little and Browne of Boston |
| Architectural style | Dutch Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residence; no major alterations are recorded. The carriage house is now a separate residence under separate ownership and is not part of the nomination. |
| Acreage | 6.6 |
| Coordinates | 42.20693, -71.36861 (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 86000511.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5628252
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.