Williams, Micah, House
Why it's listed
This Greek Revival cottage at 342 William Street in Stoneham dates to about 1830-40. It was built for the daughter of Micah Williams, who owned land along William Street in the mid and late nineteenth century, and it faces the Williams family homestead across the road. The house keeps the older five-bay, center-entry facade rather than turning its gable end to the street. Its greater height, which places the windows in the center, and its twin chimneys point to the later date. Clapboards cover the walls, with narrow cornerboards and a wider frieze and water table, and the house sits on a granite foundation. The entry has three-quarter-length sidelights and an early twentieth century open hipped-roof porch. A one-story ell extends from the rear. The house stands on a hill behind a granite retaining wall. It was listed as an excellent, well-preserved example of a traditional Greek Revival cottage from Stoneham's early industrial period.
Significance in brief: The nomination describes it as one of Stoneham's best preserved examples of a traditional Greek Revival cottage. It keeps the five-bay, center-entry facade of earlier house forms, while its height and twin chimneys show its later date. It is held to retain integrity and to meet criterion 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 84002851, listed April 13, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 342 William St., Stoneham |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | April 13, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002851 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential, the same as its original use; the form notes an early twentieth century entry porch as a major alteration. |
| Acreage | 1.6 |
| Coordinates | 42.48883, -71.10706 (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 84002851.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6827910
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.