Barnes House
Why it's listed
Built in the 1870s on a corner lot at the foot of Wollaston Hill in Quincy, this two-and-a-half story house is a well-preserved example of the Italianate style. It follows a sidehall plan and displays double brackets under the eaves, a round-headed gable window, projecting window lintels on small brackets, and paneled bay windows on the front and side. A filled-in second-story window and an east dormer are judged not to harm its integrity. The original gable-roofed carriage house, with a flared roof cupola, also survives, which is uncommon among 19th century houses. The house appears to have been built by H. Watson Brassee, a salesman, and was sold in 1895 to Sophia Barnes, whose family ran a Boston musical instrument business and lived there until after 1930. It lies in a section subdivided by the Wollaston Land Associates in the 1870s, where residents commuted by the Old Colony Railroad. Its detailing and preservation led to its listing for architectural significance at the local level.
Significance in brief: The house is described as one of the most elaborately detailed and best preserved Italianate residences built in Quincy's late nineteenth-century suburban developments. It is one of two well-preserved sidehall plan Italianate houses in the city and one of a handful of 19th century houses that retains its carriage house. It meets Criterion C at the local level.
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 89001362, listed September 20, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 183 Pine St., Quincy |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | September 20, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001362 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; house appears to have been built by H. Watson Brassee, a salesman |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition good; in use as a single family dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.26114, -71.02878 (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 89001362.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4861533
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.