Corey, Timothy, House No. 2
Why it's listed
Standing at the corner of Washington Street and Downing Road in Brookline, this fieldstone house was built in 1843 by Deacon Timothy Corey. It is a 2.5-story building with a gable roof, exterior chimneys, lintel-type window heads and a simple front entrance, now sheltered by a covered porch altered around 1960. Its massing and details reflect Greek Revival influence, yet the fieldstone walls give it an appearance more typical of Pennsylvania than Massachusetts. Corey was the son of a Timothy Corey who moved from Weston to Brookline in the 1770s and bought much land nearby. The family farmed extensively in the area, and Corey Hill takes its name from them. The house replaced an older dwelling on the same site. Local lore says Corey chose stone despite neighbors who believed the world was ending, saying he would rather face the end from a stone house. It is one of fewer than six stone houses in Brookline built before 1850, and it still serves as a residence and doctor's office.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it meets criteria B and C. It was built by a member of one of Brookline's most prominent early families, the Coreys, for whom Corey Hill is named. It is also a rare stone Greek Revival-style homestead, one of fewer than a half dozen pre-1850 stone houses 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 85003256, listed October 17, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 786--788 Washington St., Brookline |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | October 17, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85003256 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Built by Deacon Timothy Corey; architect information not available |
| Architectural style | Stone vernacular interpretation of Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National, State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential and a doctor's office; the front porch was altered around 1960. |
| Acreage | 9 |
| Coordinates | 42.34146, -71.13855 (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 85003256.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7807121
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.