Warren, Dr. Samuel, House
Also known as: Zenith Products Company
Why it's listed
This nine-bay, 2 1/2-story Georgian house at 432 Cherry Street in West Newton grew in three stages during the 18th century. William Williams, a local housewright, built the first three-bay section around 1716. Dr. John Allen doubled it in 1750, and a five-bay addition around 1785 made it the largest residence in the village, known as the "Mansion House" and possibly a tavern. It was originally on Washington Street and was moved around the corner in 1868 to make room for a grammar school. It then became a three-family residence and remained an apartment house until 1960. Owners then restored its Georgian look, including quoins, narrow clapboards, a gambrel roof and a reproduction doorway, and converted it to business use. It is listed as the oldest of three surviving colonial-period buildings in West Newton and for its ties to early town figures such as John Pigeon and Dr. Samuel Warren.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant for its role in West Newton's community development and for its Georgian architecture. Its three-part construction over about seventy-five years is also cited. It is the oldest of three surviving colonial-period buildings in West Newton and is linked to people involved in the town's early development, including Revolutionary patriot John Pigeon.
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 85000028, listed January 3, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 432 Cherry St., Newton |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | January 3, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85000028 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1700-1899 |
| Architect / builder | William Williams |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored to its 18th-century appearance around 1960 and in use at the time of nomination as an antiques business. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 41.63382, -70.92097 (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 85000028.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5304372
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.