Ayer, Thomas, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1854 at 8 Grove Street in Winchester, this Italianate house reflects the first wave of suburban growth in the town, when prosperous Boston businessmen settled along the early road to Medford. It has a rectangular plan, a symmetrical five-bay facade, and a gable roof with its ridge parallel to the street. Paired brackets decorate the eaves, two brick chimneys rise from the ridge, and the six-over-six windows have projecting lintels and sills. Its landscaped grounds and carriage house are typical of such estates. Thomas Prentiss Ayer came to Winchester around 1850 and became active in local affairs. He presided over a Civil War town meeting on raising military quotas, served on water supply and town hall committees, was second president of the Winchester Savings Bank, sat on the Board of Selectmen in 1861-62, and became a state representative in 1880. His brother Albert lived nearby on Brooks Street.
Significance in brief: It is presented as a well-detailed, conservatively designed Italianate house built at the start of upper and middle class suburban development in Winchester. It is also tied to the Ayer family, who were prominent local citizens in the second half of the nineteenth century. Thomas Ayer held several town offices and civic roles.
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 89000630, listed July 5, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 10 Grove St. (formerly 8 Grove St.), Winchester |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 5, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000630 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Thomas Prentiss Ayer (builder); architect unknown |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition; present use is as a dwelling. The full-width open porch was removed and a later Colonial Revival entrance porch was added. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Coordinates | 42.44217, -71.13687 (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 89000630.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7787220
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.