Wakefield Rattan Co.
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Why it's listed
Four brick factory buildings at 134 Water Street in Wakefield, Massachusetts, are the surviving remnant of the Wakefield Rattan Co., once the largest producer of reed and rattan products in the world. The flat-roofed, utilitarian buildings were constructed after 1890 and range from one to four stories, with arched windows, granite sills and pilasters or corbeled cornices. A fire around 1972 nearly razed the yard and left these structures. The company, founded by Cyrus Wakefield, who arrived in South Reading in 1851, grew to employ 1,000 people by 1873 and made the Wakefield name famous for wicker furniture. Its success shaped the town's housing, business and industrial districts, and the town was renamed in Wakefield's honor in 1868. After a 1897 merger the firm became Heywood-Wakefield Co. The complex is recognized for its local and national significance in industry and for its local architectural character.
Significance in brief: The buildings are all that remains of what was once the world's largest producer of reed and rattan products. The company was a primary employer in Wakefield and influenced its residential, commercial and industrial growth. Founder Cyrus Wakefield's contributions led the town to be renamed in his honor in 1868.
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 89000692, listed July 6, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 134 Water St., Wakefield |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 6, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000692 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Late 19th-early 20th century vernacular industrial |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is described as good; the property is in present use as multi-use manufacturing. |
| Acreage | 5.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.50309, -71.06580 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 89000692.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7961068
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.