Wells, Charles, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1894 at 99 Prescott Street in Reading, this two-story Queen Anne house was constructed for Charles D. Wells and his wife, Mabel Flint Wells. Wells, who came from Richibucto, New Brunswick, bought the land in 1893 and worked as a blacksmith, with his shop facing Elm Park. The house has clapboard and shingle walls, a corner tower with its original ornamental copper finial, a small triangular dormer, a high decorative fieldstone foundation and a porch with a turned balustrade. Its barn survives intact, reflecting the era when horse and carriage were the main means of transportation. The property sits on a corner lot facing south, and complete settings of this kind are now uncommon in the town. It was recognized for its link to Wells and as a well-preserved, modest example of Queen Anne design, with no major alterations recorded.
Significance in brief: It is considered one of the best preserved examples in Reading of a modest Queen Anne house with its barn, set on a corner lot where few such complete settings remain. It is also significant for its connection with Charles D. Wells, a local blacksmith. The property retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship and feeling.
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 84002842, listed July 19, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 99 Prescott St., Reading |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 19, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002842 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house retains its original barn intact and has had no major alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.51915, -71.11356 (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 84002842.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5083435
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.