Brattle, William, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1727 for William Brattle, a prominent Cambridge lawyer and politician, this gambrel-roofed house at 42 Brattle Street has a five-bay, two-story facade typical of early Georgian design. Inside, it keeps a center-hall plan with a carved spiral newel and elaborate balusters, though the staircase was rebuilt after a fire in 1955. Original paneling survives in the right parlor. Brattle fled Boston in 1774 because of his Tory sympathies, and during the Revolution the house sheltered Thomas Mifflin. His son Thomas restored it in 1784 and landscaped the grounds, but the estate was divided after 1801. The Cambridge Social Union bought the house in 1889, renovated it, and built Brattle Hall beside it. Since 1938 the Cambridge Center for Adult Education has used the building, adding to the rear. The house was listed for its early Georgian character and for its successful adaptation to changing uses over time.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a significant example of early Georgian architecture in Cambridge, with good interior trim and its original one-room-deep gambrel-roofed form, despite rear additions and dense surrounding development. Its long adaptation to new uses, from a social union to an adult education center, is also cited as a notable example of historic preservation.
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 73000286, listed May 8, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 42 Brattle St., Cambridge |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | May 8, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73000286 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Early Georgian |
| Areas of significance | Military, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and altered; occupied and used as an adult education center. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.33330, -71.08256 (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 73000286.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8005872
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.