House at 155 Reservoir
Why it's listed
This Greek Revival house at 155 Reservoir Road in Brookline was built between 1830 and 1844. It originally stood at the corner of Boylston Street, and was moved to its present site in 1920 by Carroll C. O'Neill. It has a low-pitched gable roof, an elaborate cornice, a closed pediment, pedimented window heads, six-over-six windows and a front door with sidelights. Its gable end faces the street, and the entry porch is carried on fluted Doric columns. Although covered in asbestos shingles, much original detailing remains. Early ownership is traced to Daniel Pierce's land and then to the Warren brothers, Simon and John W., who were farmers. The house was listed for its link to the neighborhood's 19th-century agricultural character and as a highly unusual local example of the Greek Revival style. A partial enclosure of the piazza for a bathroom in 1950 is the main recorded alteration.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house reflects the agrarian character of its neighborhood in the 19th century, as it was owned by the Warren brothers, who were farmers. It is also described as a fine and highly unusual example of Greek Revival style for the area, retaining its original cornice, sidelit door, pilastered cornerboards and fluted Doric porch columns.
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 85003282, listed October 17, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 155 Reservoir Rd., Brookline |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | October 17, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85003282 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National, State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently in residential use; asbestos shingle siding; the piazza was partially enclosed for a bathroom in 1950. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.14364, -71.14313 (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 85003282.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715568
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.