Wheat, Samuel, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1735 at 399 Waltham Street in West Newton, this narrow, gambrel-roofed house is among the oldest surviving dwellings in Newton. It is clapboarded and Georgian in style, and it sits on a large lot of just over an acre close to a busy street. Later changes include six-over-six window sash added in the early 19th century, along with dormers and an elaborate classical doorway, yet the steep roof, tall narrow profile and small dimensions still show what a substantial early 18th-century home looked like. Two-story gambrel-roofed houses from that era are rare in Newton. The house was evidently built for Dr. Samuel Wheat (1703-1770), a physician's son who arrived in Newton as a boy, served on committees including one choosing the site of a new meeting house, and was selectman in 1753. After his death the property passed to his daughter Catherine and her husband, Capt. Thomas Eustis. Its age, intact character and links to a prominent local family support its listing.
Significance in brief: It is one of the earliest houses in West Newton and one of the oldest in Newton, and it has survived remarkably intact despite remodelings in the late 18th and 19th centuries. It is also associated with the prominent local Wheat family, notably Dr. Samuel Wheat, who served as selectman. The form says it meets criteria B and C.
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 86001895, listed September 4, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 399 Waltham St., Newton |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 4, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001895 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residence; condition described as good, with no outbuildings and no major alterations listed. |
| Acreage | 1.1 |
| Coordinates | 42.35315, -71.22430 (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 86001895.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7412918
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.