House at 105 Marion Street
Why it's listed
This Second Empire house at 105 Marion Street in Brookline was built in 1861-62 for Austin W. Benton, who was a town assessor and, according to a local history, served for many years as a selectman. It is two and a half stories with a mansard roof, a bell-cast pediment, a heavy cornice with double brackets, an imbricated slate roof, two-over-two windows, a central Palladian window and an entrance portico with an arched double front door. A one-story room was added in 1906. The house originally faced Marion Street with a large barn behind it. Between 1884 and 1888 it was shifted into the triangle formed by Beacon and Marion Streets, probably to make room for a second Benton house. In 1921 it was moved back to Marion Street, and a block of stores was built on its former Beacon Street site in 1923. It is considered a rare example of its style and roofline and retains its architectural integrity despite the moves.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house meets criterion C as a rare example of a Mansard-style house with a bell-cast gable. It is nominated for its architectural significance and integrity despite being moved twice. Its arched double front door with surround is noted as an outstanding feature.
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 85003278, listed October 17, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 105 Marion St., Brookline |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | October 17, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85003278 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Austin W. Benton (original owner, who built the house); architect information not available |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National, State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential; a one-story room was added in 1906. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.33091, -71.12436 (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 85003278.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5913845
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.