Oak Grove Farm
Also known as: Lovell House
Why it's listed
Oak Grove Farm in Millis, Massachusetts, centers on a clapboard farmhouse known as the Lovell House, set on a knoll along Exchange Street within a 108-acre parcel of fields, meadows and woodland. The house grew in three phases: a five-bay early 18th-century core, a three-bay addition from the second quarter of the 19th century, and a large rear ell added in 1884. Its features include carved summer beams, Greek Revival door surrounds and a restored front porch. The property matters chiefly for its link to Lansing Millis, a railroad executive for whom the town is named. He bought the farm in 1879, built stone walls and barns, and developed a substantial dairy operation. In 1883 he moved to a nearby mansion and turned this house into a boarding house for farm workers. Stone walls, old tree-lined driveways and active fields still reflect that era. The town rehabilitated the house in 1984.
Significance in brief: The farm is tied to Lansing Millis, the railroad executive for whom the town is named, who assembled Oak Grove Farm as a large dairy operation after 1879. The house also shows three building phases, with First Period, Georgian and Greek Revival features. The surrounding fields, stone walls and tree-lined driveways keep the farm's historic landscape.
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 11000247, listed May 4, 2011. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 410 Exchange St., Millis |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | May 4, 2011 |
| Reference number | 11000247 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century: Greek Revival; Colonial: First Period, Georgian |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant and deteriorated for several years before the town took it over and rehabilitated it in 1984; the rear ell was made into an apartment and surrounding fields are still farmed. |
| Acreage | 108 |
| Coordinates | 42.18188, -71.36705 (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 11000247.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16896029
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.