Warren, H. M., School
Why it's listed
Built around 1895-1897 at 30 Converse Street in Wakefield, this two-story brick school was designed by Charles E. Park in the Renaissance Revival style. It sits under a hipped slate roof with three hipped dormers. The north facade has two projecting five-bay end pavilions flanking a central section entered through a triple-arched portico. First-floor windows have modest flared brick lintels, while second-floor windows have arched limestone surrounds. The school is named for Major Horace M. Warren, a Wakefield soldier in the Civil War who fought at Bull Run, Ball's Bluff, Port Hudson and Spotsylvania before being killed at the Weldon Railroad. It was built to educate the many children who arrived during Wakefield's peak suburban growth from the 1870s to the 1910s, when easy commuting to Boston and the town's lakes drew new residents. The building is described as one of the finest in Wakefield's well designed group of schools and retains its original design, materials and setting. It is in fair condition and recorded as closed.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of the finest in an unusually well designed group of Wakefield schools and an excellent example of Renaissance Revival style. It also represents the town's main period of suburban growth (1870-1910), when many new families arrived and needed schools. The school is named for Major Horace M. Warren, a Wakefield Civil War soldier killed in action.
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 89000750, listed July 6, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 30 Converse St., Wakefield |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 6, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000750 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Charles E. Park |
| Architectural style | Renaissance Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in fair condition, with no major alterations recorded; the form lists its present use as closed. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.49933, -71.08417 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 89000750.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5627976
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.