Clara Buswell House
The Clara Buswell House is a historic residence located at 481 Main Street in Stoneham, Massachusetts. Constructed around 1875, it is one of the few remaining Italianate-style houses on Main Street, south of Central Square, an area once lined with elegant homes. In 1984, the house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and it now serves as professional office space.
Situated on the west side of Main Street (Massachusetts Route 28), between Linden and Gerry Street, the house is adjacent to the nearly identical Onslow Gilmore House to the north. It is a 2½-story wood-framed structure with an L-shaped design, featuring a porch nestled in the crook of the L. Originally, the porch sheltered a double door, but part of it has since been enclosed, and the original door has been replaced with a smaller single door. While the house has been clad in aluminium siding, much of its original Italianate architectural details, such as bracketed cornices, decorative window lintels, and elaborate boxed bay windows, have been preserved. The property also retains original stone curbing and posts at the edges of both Main and Gerry Streets.
It is possible that the house was constructed by Onslow Gilmore, a well-known local businessman, banker, and property developer, as a speculative venture. Clara Buswell is the first documented owner of the house, recorded in 1889. Similar houses were built in significant numbers on Main Street following the American Civil War, though only a few, such as this one, remain today.