Fuller, Amos, House
Why it's listed
Set back from Nehoiden Street in Needham, this yellow-clapboard farmhouse began as a compact leanto-style dwelling built in 1754 by Lt. Amos Fuller, a selectman and representative to the General Court. It sits on the site of an earlier Fuller house, and some material from that house may have been reused. Over time the building grew into a sprawling form, with a large rear ell, a sunporch and later chimneys, yet the original five-bay, 2½-story core remains clear. Much early woodwork survives inside. Nearby stand a hand-hewn timber barn of about 1830, the oldest in town, and a small 1850s building used as a law office by Artemas Newell. The house was rebuilt and restored by the Reverend William Ritchie after 1830 and remained in the Newell family until 1920. It was listed for its local associations and as Needham's best preserved example of its type and period, within a green setting of woods and fields.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is historically significant for its ties to important local figures of the 18th and 19th centuries, including Lt. Amos Fuller, the Reverend William Ritchie and attorney Artemas Newell. It is also architecturally significant as the best preserved example of its type and period in Needham. The barn is the oldest extant barn in town.
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 83000596, listed March 31, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 220 Nehoiden St., Needham |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | March 31, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000596 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1700-1799, 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence in good condition, altered over time; the form lists the property as occupied. |
| Acreage | 3.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.28528, -71.24143 (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 83000596.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4747870
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.