Wetherbee, Levi, Farm
Also known as: Wetherbee-Cobleigh-Steele Farm
Why it's listed
Set on 36 acres along Middle Road in Boxborough, this farm centers on a 2½-story, center-chimney house that began as a one-story building in the 18th century and was raised to two stories in the early 1800s. Its lower frame has First Period-style chamfered girts, while the second-floor rooms contain finely carved Federal woodwork, including a reeded mantel and dado. Nearby are a 1941 apple barn built by Thomas A. Steele, a relocated icehouse of about 1904, a farm pond, fieldstone walls and the remains of a root cellar. The property reflects the town's farming economy. Ephraim Cobleigh, who bought it in 1863, expanded into market gardening, pears and grapes and helped found the Boxborough Farmer's Club in the house in 1874. Burpee Clark Steele later ran large apple orchards here from 1908. The town bought the farm in 1994, and the house is now vacant while the land serves recreation.
Significance in brief: The farmhouse shows early framing details and fine Federal-style woodwork from its early 19th-century enlargement. The farm also illustrates Boxborough's agricultural history, including orchards, market gardening and dairying under the Cobleigh and Steele families. Ephraim Cobleigh was a progressive farmer and founder of the Boxborough Farmer's Club, which was organized in the farmhouse in 1874.
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 06001128, listed December 12, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 484 Middle Rd., Boxborough |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | December 12, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06001128 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Thomas A. Steele, builder (1941 barn) |
| Architectural style | Colonial: Georgian |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Community Planning and Development, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house is listed as currently vacant; the town of Boxborough bought the farm in 1994, and the land is used for recreation. |
| Acreage | 36.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.48849, -71.52437 (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.
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 06001128.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6535550
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.