Blake, James, House
Why it's listed
Set in the middle of Richardson Park in Dorchester, this two-storey wood-frame house with a gable roof and central brick chimney is among the oldest buildings in New England. Tradition dates it to about 1650, and the framing and joinery support an early date. Its heavy timbers suggest a builder from the west of England. James Blake, who married Elizabeth Clap in 1651, was its first occupant, and his descendants lived there until 1825. After a series of owners, the City of Boston acquired it in 1895 and planned demolition, but the Dorchester Historical Society offered to move and preserve it. Moving it about a quarter mile to Richardson Park was one of the earliest relocations done only for preservation. The 1895 restoration removed two side wings and installed diamond-pane casements and wood shingles. Tree-ring testing in 2007 later dated construction to 1661, confirming it as the second oldest standing building in New England.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a fine example of 17th-century domestic architecture, with framing and joinery supporting a traditional 1650 date and suggesting construction by immigrant carpenters. It was also among the earliest houses moved solely for historic preservation. A 2009 supplement uses tree-ring dating to place construction in 1661, making it the second oldest standing building in New England.
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 74002350, listed May 1, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 735 Columbia Rd., Boston |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | May 1, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74002350 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 17th Century; specific dates circa 1650 and 1895 |
| Architectural style | 17th Century domestic architecture |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in good condition, altered and moved; owned by the Dorchester Historical Society and occupied. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.31976, -71.05979 (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 74002350.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6129865
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.