Peak House
Why it's listed
Peak House, at 347 Main Street in Medfield, is a small timber cottage built in 1677 for Benjamin Clark. It measures about 24 by 15 feet and rises one and one-half stories under an unusually steep roof, which gave the house its name. Researchers have described the roof pitch as the highest recorded for a 17th century building. The roof frame is exposed and uses only principal rafters, without purlins, joined with bridle, mortise and tenon, and dovetail joints. The house is one of the few surviving examples of the one-room cottage type once common among early settlers, since most were later enlarged or altered. The Clark family owned it until 1818, and several members served in town and colonial government. The Medfield Historical Society received the house in 1924 and restored it with advice from William Sumner Appleton, making it an early preservation project. It now operates as a museum of colonial life.
Significance in brief: It is one of the few surviving examples of the one-room cottage type that was once the most common early settler dwelling. Its exceptionally steep roof is the highest 17th century pitch on record, and its roof of principal rafters without purlins may be the earliest known example. Its 1924 restoration, advised by William Sumner Appleton, places it among the earliest historic preservation efforts.
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 75000288, listed September 5, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 347 Main St., Medfield |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | September 5, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75000288 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1600-1699 |
| Architectural style | Colonial |
| Areas of significance | Conservation, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Excellent condition, restored in 1924 and used as a museum of colonial living. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 42.18998, -71.29679 (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 75000288.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q2065833
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.