Kingman, Gardner J., House
Also known as: Sampson Funeral Home
Why it's listed
Built in 1886 at 309 Main Street in Brockton, this red brick and terra-cotta mansion was designed by architect Wesley Lyng Minor for Gardner J. Kingman, a shoe and boot industry businessman who also subdivided land in Campello and served as a bank director and savings bank trustee. The 2½-story house has an irregular plan, a red slate roof with intersecting gables, decorated chimneys, a wide Palladian window dated 1886, and many stained glass windows. Its main entrance and porch face south, which allowed a more monumental facade toward Main Street. Inside, hand carved cherry, oak and mahogany woodwork and parquet floors accompany fresco paintings by Alexander Pindikowsky. The house was acquired in 1927 for use as a funeral home, which added a porte cochere, and later gained an elevator and garage. A carriage house was demolished in 1960. It is described as the finest Queen Anne house in Brockton and as little altered.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an exceptional example of the Queen Anne style and the first and finest red brick and terra-cotta house of its kind in Brockton. It is also noted for its unusual south-side entrance, its stained glass, and interior fresco paintings by Alexander Pindikowsky. It is tied to Kingman, a shoe and boot industry figure and banker, and to architect Minor.
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 77000196, listed July 25, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 309 Main St., Brockton |
|---|---|
| County | Plymouth County |
| Listed | July 25, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77000196 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1886 |
| Architect / builder | Wesley Lyng Minor |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Art, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a funeral home since 1927; condition listed as excellent and the building has been little altered. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.07937, -71.02031 (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 77000196.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5522603
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.