Stoughton Railroad Station
Why it's listed
Stoughton's railroad station, at 53 Wyman Street, was designed by architect Charles Brigham and completed in 1888. Built of random ashlar with a slate roof, it has an attached clock tower, a pedimented entrance portico with half-timbering, and a carriage porch of four granite piers. Inside, a polygonal women's waiting room and a rectangular men's waiting room flank a central ticket booth, and each waiting room has its own fireplace. The nomination treats the station as the most important public building in Stoughton and as closely linked to local industry and the westward and southeastern spread of the railroad in Massachusetts. It is described as the last surviving towered station of its kind in the state, since other substantial stone stations on the line have been destroyed. It is also noted as Brigham's first independent public commission and a strong example of his response to Richardsonian design, before his later work in the Classical Revival style.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the most significant public building in Stoughton and ties it to local industry and to the early extension of the railroad in southeastern Massachusetts. It is described as the only remaining example of the towered stations built in Massachusetts cities and towns in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It is also Charles Brigham's first independent public building and shows Richardsonian influence.
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 74000384, listed January 21, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 53 Wyman St., Stoughton |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | January 21, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74000384 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1888 |
| Architect / builder | Charles Brigham |
| Architectural style | Richardsonian motifs |
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as essentially unaltered, in excellent condition and occupied; owned by the Metropolitan Boston Transportation Authority at the time of nomination. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.12434, -71.09892 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 74000384.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7620550
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.