Brackett, S. E., House
Why it's listed
Built around 1880 at 63 Columbus Avenue on Prospect Hill in Somerville, this Second Empire house was the home of S. E. Brackett, a local merchant. It is a three-bay, two-and-a-half-story mansard-roofed house with a central pavilion flanked by one-story polygonal bays on panelled bases, and an entry porch at the pavilion's base. The steep slate roof is laid in several patterns, the facade is flush-boarded to imitate ashlar masonry, and varied applied wooden ornament decorates the exterior. A sawtooth cornice joining the tower to the main block is especially notable. The house is considered one of the most pretentious and best-preserved Second Empire residences in the city. It stands on one of the most desirable lots of Ira Hill's 1870 Warren/Columbus Avenue subdivision, next to the James H. Brooks House. Prospect Hill residents of the period were mostly businessmen and professionals, some commuting to Boston and others working in nearby Union Square. The house remains a residence in excellent condition.
Significance in brief: The house is an intact, richly ornamented example of the Second Empire style and one of the most pretentious such residences left in the city. It is also tied to the 1870 Warren/Columbus Avenue subdivision and to the commercial growth of Somerville. The form finds it meets Criteria A and C 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 89001252, listed September 18, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 63 Columbus Ave., Somerville |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 18, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001252 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Residential use; condition described as excellent and well maintained, with a non-contributing garage. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.38189, -71.09486 (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 89001252.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7387457
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.