Drake, Frances H. and Jonathan, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1848 at 21 Franklin Street in Leominster, this small front-gable cottage was the home of abolitionists Jonathan and Frances H. Drake. It sits in a working-class neighborhood close to Monoosnoc Brook, where mills once operated. The 1½-story wood-frame house has a granite foundation, a three-bay front with sidelights at the entrance, and wide gable trim that suggests a Greek pediment. Its irregular interior plan shows the influence of mid-century domestic reformers on modest homes. Later changes include asbestos cement shingles, larger dormers, and an early 1900s porch. The house is best known for its connection to Shadrach Minkins. After federal marshals seized him in Boston in 1851 under the Fugitive Slave Act, he was rescued and carried through Concord to the Drakes' Leominster home. Frances Drake's antislavery work and the parlor trap door, built with the original floor, add to its significance. A one-mile-area archaeological review found no Underground Railroad features on the lot.
Significance in brief: The house is tied to abolitionists Frances and Jonathan Drake and to the 1851 escape of fugitive Shadrach Minkins, who was brought to the Drake home after being freed in Boston. It is also an example of a modest Greek Revival workers' cottage, with a plan reflecting progressive domestic design. A trap door in the parlor floor, built with the original floor, is described as possibly linked to sheltering fugitives.
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 07001488, listed January 29, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 21 Franklin St., Leominster |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | January 29, 2008 |
| Reference number | 07001488 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1848-1865 |
| Architectural style | Mid 19th Century: Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Politics/Government, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used as a single dwelling; a later concrete block garage is non-contributing. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.52192, -71.76130 (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 07001488.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5478689
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.