Wellington, William, House
Why it's listed
This farmhouse on Trapelo Road in Waltham was built around 1779, and the form attributes it to William Wellington. It is a five-bay by three-bay clapboard building with a center entrance framed by Doric pilasters, an entablature and a full pediment. Windows have raised mouldings, cornice-headed lintels and 12/12 sash, and the low hip roof carries substantial brick chimneys. Later changes include a bay window from the late 1890s or early 1900s, a Colonial Revival porch and a rear ell. The house is described as Waltham's finest Georgian vernacular example. The Wellington family, descended from Roger Wellington, who received land in Watertown in 1636, held the farm for generations. William served as selectman for seventeen years, and the family ran inns and farmed. The family sold the property about 1903, and in 1930 the county took much of the farm for a tuberculosis hospital. The listing covers only the house and the land within 25 feet of it. The house retains its rural setting of mature trees and an old stone wall.
Significance in brief: The form calls it Waltham's finest and most substantial example of Georgian vernacular architecture, with high-quality craftsmanship. It is also associated with the prominent Wellington family, who were active in civic affairs in the Trapelo Road area and Waltham in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is said to retain integrity of location, setting, design, materials, workmanship, feeling and association.
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 89001512, listed September 28, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 775 Trapelo Rd., Waltham |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 28, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001512 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; built by William Wellington according to Sanderson |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition good; occupied as the residence of the Superintendent of the Middlesex County Sanatorium. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.40673, -71.21987 (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 89001512.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14716044
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.