Heath, Charles, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1855-1856 at 12 Heath Hill in Brookline, this 2½-story clapboard house was constructed by Charles Heath, probably as a wedding present for his son Charles Henry, who married Lucy Wilson Ripley. Both father and son were Boston brokers. The Heath family was among the town's wealthiest in the 19th century and was known for military and civic service. The house later left the family but was bought back for the wife of Sidney Heath, Charles Henry's brother. Its design mixes several styles. The low-pitched roof and vertical boarding in the gable recall Swiss Chalet, the clipped gable on the ell is a medieval touch, and the floor plan is closer to Italianate. Bargeboards, belt and string courses, the corner portico and window lintels reflect a vernacular Carpenter Gothic, while the first-floor window hoods and portico railings follow Gothic Revival. The architect is unknown. The result is a restrained yet decorative house unlike any other in Brookline, with irregular massing, three chimneys and a two-story ell.
Significance in brief: The house meets criteria B and C. It was built by Charles Heath, a descendant of one of Brookline's wealthiest 19th-century families, known for military and civic affairs. It is also an unusual blend of styles, with a vernacular interpretation of Carpenter Gothic.
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 85003273, listed October 17, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 12 Heath Hill, Brookline |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | October 17, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85003273 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Charles Heath (builder/original owner); architect information not available |
| Architectural style | Carpenter Gothic Influence |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National, State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Residential use; the form records the building as unaltered, unmoved, with no outbuildings. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.32599, -71.14215 (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 85003273.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5078877
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.