Cabot, Lewis, Estate
Why it's listed
Built in the mid 1890s at 514 Warren Street in Brookline, this brick and half-timber house was commissioned by Louis Cabot after fire destroyed an earlier house on the land. Cabot hired R. Clipston Sturgis to help design it, and Olmsted Brothers landscaped the grounds. The 2½-story house has a complex roof, curvilinear Flemish-type gables, a tower, carved bargeboards and a copper, stone and wrought iron porte-cochere. A carriage house, stable and barns complete the property. After Cabot died in 1914, Henry Lapham bought it and subdivided part of the land. In 1942 the estate was sold to the Discalced Carmelite Fathers, who still use it institutionally. Alterations were made in 1902, 1916 and 1956. The property is valued as one of a few surviving late 19th century country estates built by prominent Boston families, and as a fine, rare example of Jacobethan design with its original Olmsted landscaping.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the estate meets criteria A and C as one of a few surviving late 19th century country estates built by prominent Boston families. It is also described as a fine and rare example of the Jacobethan style, with original landscaping by Olmsted Brothers.
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 85003251, listed October 17, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 514 Warren St., Brookline |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | October 17, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85003251 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | R. Clipston Sturgis and Louis Cabot (architect); Olmsted Brothers (landscaping) |
| Architectural style | Jacobethan |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National, State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned since 1942 by the Discalced Carmelite Fathers; present use is institutional. Altered in 1902, 1916 and 1956. |
| Acreage | 6 |
| Coordinates | 42.32206, -71.14521 (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 85003251.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6536378
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.