Brooks, James H., House
Why it's listed
Built around 1880 at 61 Columbus Avenue, this 1 1/2-story mansard cottage is one of Somerville's most pretentious small examples of the Second Empire style. A square corner tower with gabled dormers sits offset to the left and keeps its original iron cresting. A full-height polygonal bay, a steep slate mansard roof and a bracketed, flat-roofed porch wrapping the front and side complete the design, which likely came from a pattern book. Aluminum siding covers the walls, but the detailing remains intact. The lot lies within the Prospect Hill subdivision platted in 1870 by businessman Ira Hill, who also drove the growth of Union Square as the city's commercial center. Large lots there were meant for spacious houses for businessmen and professionals. The first owner, James Brooks, was a dry goods dealer with offices in Union Square's Masonic Block. The house was listed for its architecture and for its link to Somerville's postwar subdivision and commercial development.
Significance in brief: The house is one of Somerville's best-preserved and most ambitious examples of Second Empire style, notable for its square corner tower with original iron cresting. It is also tied to the post-Civil War subdivision of Prospect Hill and to the city's commercial growth. It is judged significant on a 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 89001251, listed September 18, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 61 Columbus Ave., Somerville |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 18, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001251 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Recorded in 1986 as in excellent condition and in use as a residence; aluminum siding has been applied but the detailing remains intact. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.38171, -71.09461 (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 89001251.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6135099
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.