Corey, Timothy, House No. 1
Why it's listed
Built around 1806 at 808 Washington Street in Brookline, this clapboard house is an end-gabled, five-bay example of vernacular Federal architecture. It was first owned by Deacon Timothy Corey, who with his brother Elijah helped found the Baptist Church in Brookline. The brothers inherited farmland acquired by their father, Timothy, who moved from Weston to Brookline in the early 1760s. The Corey farm was known for its apple orchards and also sent produce to Boston markets. Miss Abie Corey, the deacon's daughter and the last of the family to live here, died in 1919 at age 93. She willed the house to All Saints Church. Around 1920 a porch was added across the front and bay windows were added. The property is considered one of the few vernacular Federal-style buildings in Brookline. It was listed for its link to the town's agricultural past, its prominent family and its architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it meets criteria A, B and C. It survives from the period when Brookline was dominated by agriculture and was the homestead of a socially and civically active family. It is also a rare vernacular example of the Federal style in Brookline.
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 85003255, listed October 17, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 808 Washington St., Brookline |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | October 17, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85003255 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National, State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is a single-family residence; the form says the property has been carefully preserved. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.34163, -71.13904 (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 85003255.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7807120
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.