Lane, Anthony, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1809 by bricklayer Pliny Newhall, this house sits on two acres at the corner of Harvard and Seven Bridge Roads in northeast Lancaster, Massachusetts. It is a 2½-story, one-room-deep building with a five-bay gable facade facing the street. The front and rear are clapboarded, while the side walls are brick painted white. A round-arched center entry with slender pilasters and a fan window is the main decorative feature, and a modillioned cornice runs above the second floor. The frame is pegged post and beam, and the parlor wainscoting has delicate carvings. Newhall sold the house in 1818 to Captain Anthony Lane, son of Deacon Jonas Lane, who served as selectman three times and was a skilled cabinetmaker though he listed his occupation as farmer. The house was listed as a fine local example of Federal architecture, notable for its pedimented gable, which combines Federal and Greek Revival elements.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a fine example of Federal style architecture in Lancaster, with a graceful entrance and a pedimented gable facade. Its narrow plan and gable pediment create a distinctive combination of Greek Revival and Federal styles. It was also the home of Captain Anthony Lane, a local selectman and craftsman.
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 76000300, listed November 7, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NE of Lancaster on Seven Bridge Rd., Lancaster |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | November 7, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76000300 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1809 |
| Architect / builder | Pliny Newhall |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Private residence, occupied, with the interior described as mostly intact. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 42.46512, -71.66575 (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 76000300.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4772917
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.