Smith, James, House
Why it's listed
Set on Great Plain Avenue, one of Needham's earliest transportation routes, this wood-frame house grew in stages over roughly two centuries. The oldest part is a story-and-a-half frame from about 1730, probably the farmhouse of James Smith, who arrived from Ireland and owned the land by 1727. Around 1810 to 1835 it was moved back to serve as a rear ell, and a two-and-a-half-story, five-bay Federal-style block was built in front. Greek Revival details followed around 1840 to 1860 under the Stevens family, including a new roof, trim and mantels. Twentieth-century changes added a rear bay window and dormers and removed the front porch. Heavy posts, chamfered girts and a summer beam survive in the early section. The property is recognized for showing how a simple colonial farmhouse was absorbed into a fashionable later home, and it also has potential archaeological value. Captain Robert Smith, a later owner, led the East Needham militia company in 1775.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house shows how building practices and styles changed from the colonial to the early national periods, as it was altered to suit changing needs. It keeps a modest ca. 1730 dwelling, one of the few early 18th-century houses still standing in Needham. It also has a Federal main block and mid-19th-century Greek Revival ornamentation. Its significance is rated local under 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 86001845, listed August 21, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 706 Great Plain Ave., Needham |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | August 21, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001845 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1700-1899 (specific dates ca. 1730, ca. 1810-1835, ca. 1840-1860) |
| Architectural style | Federal main block with Greek Revival alterations over an early 18th-century frame ell |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence; condition listed as altered and on its original site, and described as carefully preserved by successive owners. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.28035, -71.22622 (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 86001845.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6143361
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.