Nathan Appleton Residence

  • Also Known As: Appleton-Parker Houses also Women's City Club

  • Travel Genus: Sight
  • Sight Category: Building

From 1821 until his death in l86l, Nathan Appleton lived at 39 Beacon Street, one of a set of twin, red brick, bowfront townhouses that architect Alexander Parris designed for him and Daniel Parker in 1817. Although Appleton's previous residence - a four-story, brick, bowfront dwelling at 54 Beacon Street where he lived from 1808 to 1821 - survives also, the Parris house boasts a longer and more significant association with him. Moreover it was here in 1843 that Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was married to Appleton's daughter Frances Elizabeth. Since 1914 the structure has been the home of the Women's City Club of Boston, which has done much to preserve it. - NRHP, May 1977


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Timeline

Y/M/D Person Association Description Composition Food Event
Y/M/D Person Association Description Composition Food Event
1817/00/00 Alexander Parris Architect Alexander Parris designs mirror image townhouses for Daniel P Parker and Nathan Appleton.
1821/00/00 Daniel Pinckney Parker Home No 40 Beacon St is built for Daniel P Parker, the business partner of Nathan Appleton who will live at No 39.
1821/00/00 Nathan Appleton Home Twin brick townhouses on Beacon St are built for business two partners. No 39 is built for Nathan Appleton and No 40 is for Daniel Pinckney Parker.
1821/00/00 Thomas Gold Appleton Home The Appleton family makes a home on Beacon Street.
1833/02/01 Nathan Appleton Widow Maria Theresa Appleton, wife of Nathan Appleton, dies in Boston of tuberculosis.
1843/07/13 Fanny Appleton Longfellow Bride Fanny Appleton marries Henry W Longfellow in the second floor drawing room of 39 Beacon St. Marriage of Fanny Appleton and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
1843/07/13 Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Groom Fanny Appleton marries Henry W Longfellow in the second floor drawing room of 39 Beacon St. Marriage of Fanny Appleton and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
1850/08/31 Daniel Pinckney Parker Died Daniel Pinckney Parker dies at home, 40 Beacon Street.
1861/07/14 Nathan Appleton Died Nathan Appleton dies at home in Boston, 40 Beacon St.
1863/05/28 Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Life Saw the first black Regiment, or Regiment of Blacks march through Beacon St! An imposing sight, with something wild and strange about it, like a dream. At last the North consents to let the Negro fight for his freedom. - HWL Establishment of the Shaw Memorial
1875/00/00 In the 1870's a fourth story is added to both residences, the roof balustrades are saved and installed atop the new floor. The original cornices were left at the third-floor level.
1992/00/00 A bankrupt Women's City Club in 1992 sells the Appleton-Parker Houses to a developer who offers to converts them into condominiums or keep as a single-family home.
2008/00/00 Jack Welch Home Former General Electric CEO Jack Welch and wife Suzy rent 40 Beacon Street, moving out in 2008.

Data »

Particulars for Nathan Appleton Residence:
Sight Category Building
Area of Significance Commerce
Area of Significance Industry
Level of Significance National
Criteria Person
Owner Private
Historic Use Single dwelling



US National Registry of Historic Places Data »

Accurate at time of registration:

PLACE DETAILS
Registry Name:
Registry Address:
Registry Number: 77001541
Resource Type:
Owner: Private
Architect: Walsh,Richard; Parris,Alexander
Architectural Style: No style listed
Other Certification: Designated National Landmark
Nominator Name: National Historic Landmark
CULTURAL DETAILS
Level of Significance: National
Area of Significance: Commerce, Industry
Applicable Criteria: Person
Period of Significance: 1850-1874, 1825-1849, 1800-1824
Significant Year: 1821, 1861
Associated People: Appleton,Nathan
Historic Function: Domestic
Historic Sub-Function: Single dwelling
Current Function: Social
Current Sub-Function: Civic

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