Standish, James H., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1874-5 at 54 Francis Street in Brookline, this clapboard house combines Italianate and Stick Style elements. It has a hip roof, a polygonal bay, a crested turret or tower with finial, and a slate-covered entrance porch. Brackets and dentils run under the cornice, crossbucks sit beneath the first-floor windows, and heavy decorative work marks the entrance. The land once belonged to Thomas and Augustus Aspinwall and had been divided by 1874, when the tax list showed James Standish as owner of the land, a house and a stable. The 1875 Brookline Directory lists him as a carpenter and builder. Sarah Standish appears as owner on the 1875 tax list and moved to Allston in 1877 and Boston in 1879. The property was listed for architectural merit: it is a rare example of a Stick Style house that retains its cresting, decorative slates, stickwork and brackets. The barn or carriage house behind it also keeps its cupola, windows, siding and drip moldings, preserving the original site arrangement.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house meets criterion C as a rare example of a Stick Style house that keeps its important detailing, including cresting, a tower with finial, polygonal decorative slates, stickwork and brackets. The original barn/carriage house detailing and the original arrangement of the site, with the barn behind the house, are also preserved.
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 85003317, listed October 17, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 54 Francis St., Brookline |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | October 17, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85003317 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Variation on Italianate style; described in the significance statement as Stick Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National, State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.33865, -71.11527 (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 85003317.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6135292
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.