Wollaston Theatre
Why it's listed
Wollaston Theatre, at 14 Beale Street in Quincy, Massachusetts, is a brick Classical Revival building completed in 1926. Local architect E. H. McEwan designed it, and Edward H. Sears, a Quincy contractor, built it and first owned it. It opened as both a legitimate theatre and a movie house, and it has been run as a movie house since 1930. The facade combines simple storefronts separated by stylized Corinthian pilasters, a parapet with a central cartouche and cast stone swags, and a triangular marquee topped by electrified letters spelling Wollaston. Stained glass transoms, a mosaic entrance floor marked W.T., crystal chandeliers, an original freestanding ticket booth and marble detailing survive in the lobbies. Of thirteen theatres built in Quincy in the 1910s and 1920s, this is the only one still standing. It anchored the neighborhood commercial and civic center that developed in Wollaston during the 1920s, and it keeps its original design, materials and setting.
Significance in brief: It is the only survivor of thirteen theatres built in Quincy in the 1910s and 1920s, and a fine example of suburban theatre architecture. It was the focal point of the commercial and civic neighborhood node that grew up at Hancock and Beale Streets in the 1920s, and it retains its integrity.
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 89001315, listed September 20, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 14 Beale St., Quincy |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | September 20, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001315 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect E. H. McEwan; built and originally owned by Edward H. Sears, a Quincy contractor |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as fair; operated as a movie house since 1930, with the interior converted to a movie theatre in 1932. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 42.25659, -71.01615 (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 89001315.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8030324
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.