Hunting For House Histories

The Rev. Stephen Badger House in Natick, 1753.

The Rev. Stephen Badger House in Natick, 1753.

Historic House Plaques

Several houses in Natick have signs stating their original owners and historical dates. A wooden plaque program began in the 1970s as the town established the Henry Wilson and John Eliot Historic Districts. Those plaques have deteriorated, and a newly designed vinyl replacement program began in the early 2000s. 

The eligibility criteria require that the Natick Historical Commission (a separate town entity unaffiliated with the Natick Historical Society) verify that the house has been inventoried and that the content name and dating have been verified. The list of nearly 500 properties can be accessed here through MACRIS (Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System). If you believe your house qualifies, please email the Commission Chair, Steve Evers, at severs726@gmail.com to process your request.

 

Getting Started

House histories are the most common research requests at the Natick Historical Society. Before European settlers colonized the area, this land belonged to and was occupied by Native people, including the Nipmuc, Wampanoag, and Massachusett people. If you are interested in the history of the land during that time, we recommend exploring the websites of those nations.

Below is a list of recommended online resources for research after the colonists arrived. Finding information about specific buildings and former tenants can be challenging, but you never know what else you might learn! Keep in mind that these resources are neither comprehensive nor complete.

If you find these resources helpful or have a new resource to share, please let us know on Facebook or email us.

Further Research

Still hunting for house histories? Submit a Research Request or make an appointment to visit our Research Library. Below is a list of printed resources in our Research Library and Archive that might help expand your house research.

  • Natick List of Residents (1850-2019)

  • Natick Town Reports (1850-2019)

  • Assessor’s Reports and Real Estate Evaluations (1854-2011)

  • Massachusetts State Censuses for Natick (1855-1865)

  • Resident and Business Directory (1965)

  • NHS Map Collections

  • NHS Photograph Collections

Historic Houses of Natick

Natick is full of historic houses from over 200 years ago that still stand today. Click anywhere on the picture of the house to the right to learn more about them.