House at 38-40 Webster Place
Why it's listed
Built in 1855-56 on Webster Place in Brookline, this two-story double house is six bays wide and fronted by a broad verandah. Deep eaves, tall first-floor windows, sidelights beside the doors and interior chimneys reflect the Greek Revival style, while the sawn porch supports follow the Italianate manner. The front under the porch is flushboarded and the rest is clad in narrow clapboards. It was built as rental property for George Stoddard, and a similar house at 30-32 Webster Place went to his brother-in-law, Albert L. Lincoln. Lincoln bought this house in 1868, and a tenant, Mrs. Ingersoll, lived here for many years. In the 1960s the Brookline Friendly Society acquired it for a family counseling center, altering the interior extensively, blocking the left-hand doorway and adding a rear fire escape in 1965. It is considered one of the few intact examples of the transitional Greek Revival/Italianate style and is unusual for its double-house plan.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that it is one of the few remaining intact examples of the transitional Greek Revival/Italianate style. It is also unusual for its double-house plan. It meets National Register criterion C.
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 85003286, listed October 17, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 38--40 Webster Pl., Brookline |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | October 17, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85003286 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, with Italianate columns on the porch |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National, State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a social services administration building (Brookline Friendly Society, a family counseling center) since the 1960s; interior extensively altered and a fire escape added in 1965. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.33324, -71.11545 (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 85003286.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5914286
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.