Adams-Magoun House
Why it's listed
Standing on a low rise above Broadway in Somerville's Winter Hill section, this clapboard house was built around 1783 by Joseph Adams, a member of the same Adams family as the second and fifth U.S. Presidents. It rises two and a half stories under a gable roof, with its gable end facing the street, a five-bay facade, a pedimented entrance with a five-part leaded fanlight, very wide eaves and two interior brick chimneys. The plan follows the Georgian four-room, center-hall layout, while the detailing marks an early Federal example. It is described as one of the four oldest structures in Somerville and the only one of them still well preserved, and as the last eighteenth-century house on the length of Broadway. It once anchored a large Adams farm reaching toward the railroad. Adams's daughter Sarah Anne married John C. Magoun, for whom Magoun Square is named. No major alterations are recorded.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the best-preserved of Somerville's 18th century residences and one of the four oldest structures in the city. It meets Criterion A for its link to Somerville's agricultural past as the seat of a large farm, and Criterion C as an intact vernacular example of the transition from Georgian to Federal style. Significance is claimed at the local level.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 89001239, listed September 18, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 438 Broadway, Somerville |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 18, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001239 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Built by Joseph Adams; architect unknown |
| Architectural style | Federal (transition from Georgian to Federal) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Recorded as in excellent condition, with no major alterations, no outbuildings, and use as a residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.39625, -71.10085 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 89001239.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4680278
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.