Spear, Seth, Homestead
Why it's listed
Built around 1850, this farmhouse at 47-49 Spear Street in Quincy is one of the oldest houses on its street and one of the city's few intact nineteenth-century farmhouses. It follows a vernacular central-hall plan with minimal ornament, a granite foundation, a gable roof, twin rear wall chimneys and regular six-over-six sash windows. Projecting gable returns, sidelights at the entrance and simple corner pilasters point to its mid-century date. A two-story rear extension appears on the 1876 atlas, and pedimented porticos were added in the 1890s. Granite wall remnants and driveway posts survive at the front of the lot. Seth Spear (1801-1888) owned the property from the early 1850s until his death and ran one of the largest farms near Quincy Center, stretching from Wibird Street to Coddington Street. His daughter bought the homestead from his estate in 1888. The house later became a two-family dwelling and is in good condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a well-preserved vernacular Greek Revival residence and one of Quincy's few surviving intact nineteenth-century farmhouses. It retains integrity of design, location, materials, feeling and association, and is significant at the local level 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 89001375, listed September 20, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 47--49 Spear St., Quincy |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | September 20, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001375 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; built either by Thomas Drake shortly before 1850 or by Seth Spear shortly after |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as good; currently a two-family dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.25182, -71.00084 (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 89001375.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7456607
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.