National Register of Historic Places

Almshouse

Stoneham, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Listed
April 12, 1984
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
84002464

About this property

The Almshouse is a historic almshouse in Stoneham, Massachusetts. Built in 1852, it is one of the few surviving buildings of this type in the Greater Boston area. It is now part of the Stoneham Senior Center, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. The former Stoneham Almshouse is located in eastern Stoneham, near the town line with Wakefield on the north side of Elm Street. It is a 2+1⁄2-story wood-frame structure, with a gabled roof, clapboarded exterior, and granite foundation. It basically a functional vernacular structure, with minimal Greek Revival styling found in the main entrance surround. The interior follows a relatively retardaire (out-of-date for the period) central hall plan. The original building has been encrusted with additions to the sides and rear. The almshouse was built in 1852 to provide facilities for the town's indigent adult population. It was the town's second such facility, and is now one of the few in the region to survive. Its original 17-acre (6.9 ha) lot has been reduced to just two by subdivision and development, but it retains its original long entry drive. It served for a time in the 20th century as a nursing home, and now houses the town's senior center. National Register of Historic Places listings in Stoneham, Massachusetts National Register of Historic Places listings in Middlesex County, Massachusetts

Location

136 Elm St.
Stoneham, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
42.49171, -71.08745

Categories

ARCHITECTURESOCIAL HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Almshouse

This page lists Almshouse. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Almshouse report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

House at 380 Albion Street
Industrial
0.1 mi
Tilton, D. Horace, House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Daniels, Blake, Cottage
Industrial
0.3 mi
Millard-Souther-Green House
Industrial
0.3 mi
Cowdrey, George, House
Industrial
0.4 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Lancaster (King Philip's War)
1676Colonial
5.3 mi
Battle of Menotomy
1775Revolutionary War
6.3 mi
Skirmish at Menotomy (Arlington)
1775Revolutionary War
6.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was Almshouse listed on the National Register?

Almshouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 12, 1984.

What type of historic resource is Almshouse?

Almshouse is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Almshouse?

The period of significance for Almshouse is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Almshouse?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Almshouse will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Middlesex County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Middlesex County.

Explore MiddlesexCounty ›

More historic places in Massachusetts

Browse all historic places in Massachusetts.

View Massachusettshistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Massachusetts history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Massachusettshistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Almshouse will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report