House at 44 Linden Street
Why it's listed
Built in 1874 on a corner lot at Linden Street and Linden Place in Brookline, this small two-story brick house is a good example of Mansard design from the 1870s. Its nearly straight-sided roof, topped by a shallow hip, and its polygonal two-story bay reflect the more animated, less classical Mansard style that developed after the late 1860s. Patterned slate, brownstone window arches, pedimented dormers and a cornice with bricks laid in several patterns add to its character. Alterations are modest: a 1923 conversion to two families, remodeled entrances and a piazza turned into a sun porch. The land was part of Thomas Aspinwall Davis's former house lot. Solomon Eaton of Roxbury replaced two small rental houses with this one in 1872, and it was later owned by Joseph F. Paul and Company and by lawyer Clement K. Fay. It was listed for its architecture, with intact detailing.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an excellent example of a small, two-story Mansard house of the 1870s with intact detailing, meeting criterion C. It has unusual features such as a polygonal two-story bay, patterned slate roof, brownstone window arches and a patterned brick cornice. It is nominated individually because of extensive 20th-century infill around the nearby Linden Place houses.
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 85003288, listed October 17, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 44 Linden St., Brookline |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | October 17, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85003288 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Solomon Eaton (original owner); architect information not available |
| Architectural style | Mansard |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National, State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Converted to a two-family house in 1923, with remodeled entrances, a piazza made into a sun porch and a new kitchenette window; otherwise almost entirely original. Present use is residential. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.33484, -71.11660 (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 85003288.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715583
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.