Wakefield Upper Depot
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Why it's listed
Built around 1889 at 27-29 Tuttle Street, this brick depot in Wakefield, Massachusetts, once served as a main railroad station near the town center. It is a 1 1/2 story rectangular building under a gable roof, with projecting gabled pavilions on the east and west sides and angled one-story bays on the east. The Panel Brick style is most visible in the end-wall chimneys, where brickwork is laid in panels and corbelling to form geometric designs. A corbelled stringcourse circles the building, and rough-cut granite lintels, sills and watertable add texture. A fire in 1975 destroyed the canopy and led to a rebuilt roof, but the building remains in excellent condition and now holds offices. Its importance lies in the railroad's arrival in 1845, arranged with help from Dr. Thaddeus Spaulding, which spurred industry and brought commuters to Boston. By 1893 the Boston & Maine ran 60 trains a day from Wakefield stations. It is one of two depots left downtown.
Significance in brief: It is one of two railroad depots remaining in downtown Wakefield and served as a main station for the town center. It is a well-preserved example of the unusual Panel Brick style. It also reflects the growth of Wakefield after the railroad arrived in 1845.
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 89000719, listed July 6, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 27--29 Tuttle St., Wakefield |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 6, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000719 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Panel Brick |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is listed as excellent and the present use is offices. The roof was replaced and the canopy lost in a fire in 1975. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.50219, -71.07575 (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 89000719.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7961033
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.