Fuller, Robert, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1707 by Captain Robert Fuller, this five-bay, 2 1/2-story clapboarded farmhouse at 3 Burrill Lane is the oldest house in Needham. In 1735, when his son Robert Jr. married, Fuller moved the house 500 feet along the lane, gave it to his son and built himself a new house on the original site. A lean-to was added around 1750, and shingled ells were added to the north and west in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century. The Fuller family kept the house until 1823, when it was auctioned to Abijah Greenwood, whose family held it until 1896. Its double-cell plan with central chimney and lobby entrance marks it as a First Period house, and a historian has described it as thoroughly worked over yet still recognizable. An 1861 painting by Timothy Newell Smith shows it much as it appears today. Early religious meetings were held here before Needham's meetinghouse was built.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant under Criterion C as a First Period house that shows how colonial building practices evolved. It keeps its original 1707 double-cell, central-chimney form despite the 1750 lean-to and later ells. It is described as the oldest house in Needham and was home to the Fuller and Greenwood families, both prominent in the 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 87001476, listed September 8, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3 Burrill Ln., Needham |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | September 8, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87001476 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1700-1799 |
| Architectural style | First Period |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in good condition, and used as a private residence; the barn that once stood across the lane has been demolished. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.29370, -71.25714 (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 87001476.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715831
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.