National Register of Historic Places

Beebe Estate

Melrose, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Listed
May 19, 1981
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
81000116

About this property

The Beebe Estate is a historic property in Melrose, Massachusetts. Developed in 1828, the main house is a prominent example of Greek Revival architecture, with an ownership history of prominent local and Boston businessmen. Now owned by the city, it is used as an art gallery and cultural event center. The estate was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. The Beebe Estate is located a short way west of downtown Melrose, on the north side of West Foster Street, just west of the railroad tracks and east of the Beebe School. The two story building is a sophisticated expression of Greek Revival architecture, with corner pilasters, and a front entry portico with fluted Doric columns and a gabled pediment. A railing surrounds the hip roof, which has a cupola at its center. The design of the cupola is based on the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates at the Acropolis of Athens. The house was built in 1828 by William Foster, a Boston merchant, as a summer house, and was owned from 1854 to 1963 by members of the Bigelow and Beebe families. Both of these families included prominent businessmen, active in railroads and banking. The last owners, the Beebes, gave the property to the city in 1963. After serving for a time as school administrative offices, it now operates the house as a cultural center for the display of local art on Saturdays, which are sponsored by the Beebe Estate Association. The renovated front rooms are available for rental and are used for special events. National Register of Historic Places listings in Middlesex County, Massachusetts

Location

235 W. Foster St.
Melrose, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
42.45574, -71.06984

Categories

INDUSTRYCOMMERCETRANSPORTATIONARCHITECTURE
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.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Larrabee's Brick Block
Industrial
0.2 mi
Trinity Episcopal Church
Industrial
0.3 mi
Melrose Public Library
Industrial
0.3 mi
Melrose Town Center Historic District
Listed
0.3 mi
Lynn Fells Parkway, Metropolitan Park System of Greater Boston
Listed
0.7 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Chelsea Creek (1775)
1775Revolutionary War
4.6 mi
Battle of Chelsea Creek
1775Revolutionary War
4.9 mi
Battle of Menotomy
1775Revolutionary War
5.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Beebe Estate listed on the National Register?

Beebe Estate was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 19, 1981.

What type of historic resource is Beebe Estate?

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

What is the period of significance for Beebe Estate?

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

Can I research the history near Beebe Estate?

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