Francis, Dr. Tappan Eustis, House
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
This brick house at 35 Davis Avenue in Brookline was built in 1878-79 for Dr. Tappan Eustis Francis, a physician who lived and practiced in the town for 59 years after moving there in 1850. He had earlier built the house at 25 Davis Avenue, and by 1878 he owned a brick block, several houses and various house lots. The new house shows the irregular massing, broken roofline and picturesque details typical of the Queen Anne style. Tall chimneys display Panel Brick designs, the slate roof has bands of imbricated slates, and the walls carry string courses, segmental window arches, tar-dipped bricks, corbeled brackets and terra-cotta or carved brick gable decoration. A Stick Style porch with an intricate balustrade survives well preserved. A February 1879 published sketch credits William Ralph Emerson with additions to Dr. Francis' house, and the house is probably his design. It is considered an early Queen Anne example by an important architect.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to be an early example of the Queen Anne style as interpreted by William Ralph Emerson, one of the best known Massachusetts architects of his day. It shows irregular massing, a broken roofline, decorative Panel Brick chimneys and a well-preserved Stick Style porch. It was also built by a long-serving Brookline physician who could afford a new, more stylish home.
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 85003267, listed October 17, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 35 Davis Ave., Brookline |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | October 17, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85003267 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Probably Wm. Ralph Emerson |
| Architectural style | Panel Brick / Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National, State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a residence, as in its original use; no major alterations on record. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.33261, -71.12004 (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 85003267.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5304431
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.