Heath, Ebenezer, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1791 at 30 Heath Street in Brookline, this two-story, square, clapboard house has a hipped roof, two large chimneys, a pedimented entrance with pilasters, a dentilled cornice, a transom and 6/6 windows. John Heath built it for his son Ebenezer and daughter-in-law Hannah Williams Heath. He had bought the land in 1782, after it was confiscated from Samuel Sewall, a Loyalist who fled to England. The land had earlier belonged to the White family. The kitchen portion may have been moved in 1838 from the old White house. The front portico may have been replaced in 1845, but little else appears to have changed. The house is described as a rare Georgian/Federal homestead from a period when Brookline's economy was agricultural. It is linked to the Heath family, whose other houses stand nearby on Heath Hill, and it illustrates the transition between mid and late 18th-century architectural styles.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a rare Georgian/Federal homestead from the late 18th century, when Brookline's economy was agricultural. It is tied to the Heath family, prominent in the town's social and civic life after the Revolution. It is also called architecturally distinguished for documenting the shift from mid to late 18th-century styles.
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 85003274, listed October 17, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 30 Heath St., Brookline |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | October 17, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85003274 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | John Heath (builder/original owner); architect information not available |
| Architectural style | Georgian - Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National, State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Residential use; the house has remained in the Heath family. Little has changed apart from the possible replacement of the front portico in 1845. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.32553, -71.14286 (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 85003274.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5331690
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.