Neighbor News
Just the Facts: Francis B. Austin House
A quick look at the history behind one of Charlestown's loveliest old homes.
Francis Austin "a quiet gentleman, of strictest integrity" never pursued public office. He was a dry goods merchant and later owned F. B. Austin and Company, an iron and steel trading company in Boston. Like most of his family, he was a large land-owner in Charlestown and spent a good part of his life building numerous structures in the neighborhood. The mansion at 58 High was one of the most beautiful.
- Where is it?
58 High Street
- When was it built?
1832. Improvements were made in 1865. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
- Who built it?
Francis B. Austin
- What was it built for and who was the first occupant?
A family home. Francis B. Austin and his family were the first occupants.
- How was it built?
The architecture is Victorian Second Empire. The foundation is granite. The walls are weatherboard and the house has a slate roof.
- What are the future plans for the structure?
The single family home has been divided into condominiums. One condo, a 2- bedroom, 1&1/2 bath unit, is currently for sale.