House at 12 West Water Street

Wakefield, United States

Exterior only

Visible from the street; the inside is private.

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Heritage registerNational Register of Historic Places↗

Built around 1860, the House at 12 West Water Street in Wakefield, Massachusetts exemplifies the Second Empire style in its local context. The wood-frame structure rises three stories, the upper level nestled beneath a distinctive mansard roof, and spans three bays across its facade. A prominent covered porch with elaborately decorated posts frames the wide double-door entry. The house is thought to have been constructed by Cyrus Wakefield, proprietor of the Wakefield Rattan Company, before being sold to one of his employees. It subsequently passed to George Cox, a local billiard parlor owner. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.