National Register of Historic Places

Charles Street Workers' Housing Historic District

Waltham, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Listed
September 27, 1989
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
89001503

About this property

The Charles Street Workers' Housing Historic District is a residential historic district at 128–144 Charles Street in Waltham, Massachusetts. It consists of four houses on a single city block, all of which are well-preserved vernacular worker houses built in 1865. They are representative of the city's growth of the period, and typify housing built for the city's laborers. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. The district is located on the south side of Charles Street, a predominantly densely-built residential street extending west from the city's Central Square. It consists of a single block of Charles Street, between Williams and Harvard Street, with four uniform houses on it. All are unpretentious vernacular 2-1/2 story wood frame buildings, with simple decorations, and only modest modern alterations. One of the buildings, that at 128-132 Charles, is a duplex; the others are single family houses. The styling of the houses is reminiscent of the Greek Revival, with only one of the three houses sporting a 20th-century porch. The houses were constructed in 1865 by Edward Campbell, as part of a westward expansion of worker house along the street. The area in which they were built was populated mainly by Irish laborers, as evidenced by what is known of the owners and residents of these houses at the time, and by the use of Irish names for some of the area streets. Early occupants were described in city directories as laborers. National Register of Historic Places listings in Waltham, Massachusetts

Location

128--144 Charles St.
Waltham, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
42.37386, -71.24301

Categories

INDUSTRYCOMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTARCHITECTURE
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 Charles Street Workers' Housing Historic District

This page lists Charles Street Workers' Housing Historic District. 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 Charles Street Workers' Housing Historic District report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Buttrick, Francis, House
Industrial
0 mi
Waltham Water Works Shop
Industrial
0.1 mi
US Post Office-Waltham Main
Industrial
0.2 mi
Building at 202-204 Charles Street
Industrial
0.2 mi
Christ Episcopal Church
Industrial
0.2 mi

Nearby Battles

Lexington Green — Parker's Stand
1775Revolutionary War
5.1 mi
Battle of Lexington
1775Revolutionary War
5.2 mi
Battle of Lexington – Parker's Stand
1775Revolutionary War
5.2 mi
Skirmish at Menotomy (Arlington)
1775Revolutionary War
5.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Charles Street Workers' Housing Historic District listed on the National Register?

Charles Street Workers' Housing Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 27, 1989.

What type of historic resource is Charles Street Workers' Housing Historic District?

Charles Street Workers' Housing Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Charles Street Workers' Housing Historic District?

The period of significance for Charles Street Workers' Housing Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Charles Street Workers' Housing Historic District?

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 Charles Street Workers' Housing Historic District 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 Charles Street Workers' Housing Historic District will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report