Allyn House
Also known as: # 339
Why it's listed
Set back on a large, tree-shaded lot on Oakland Avenue in Arlington, this house was built about 1898 and remains a residence. Its plan is irregular, and the building sits on a diagonal in the center of a well-landscaped property bounded along the street by a rubblestone wall. Light gray stucco covers the walls, with shingles on the dormers, and smooth dark brown window frames stand out against it. A hip roof extends into a broad, unenclosed eave overhang, a two-story bay window dominates the facade, and a small porch shelters the entry. The nomination describes it as a fine example of the Craftsman style, with well-preserved detailing and no major alterations. The lot was owned in the 1870s by the Arlington Land Company, the largest developer in Arlington Heights in the late nineteenth century. For many years the house was home to Philip M. Allyn, a Boston book publisher. Its architectural quality and integrity supported listing under Criterion C.
Significance in brief: The nomination holds that the house is a fine representative of the Craftsman style with well-preserved detailing and integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association. It also notes the lot's earlier ownership by the Arlington Land Company, the largest developer in Arlington Heights in the late 19th century, and the house's long use as the residence of Boston book publisher Philip M. Allyn.
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 85002680, listed September 27, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 94 Oakland Ave., Arlington |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 27, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002680 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Craftsman style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential, the same as the original use. No major alterations and no outbuildings are recorded, and the house has not been moved. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.41888, -71.17825 (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 85002680.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4733454
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.