Building at 104-106 Hancock Street
Why it's listed
A small clapboard cottage at 104-106 Hancock Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts, dates to 1839 and was built for Isaac Livermore as a residence. It has remained residential since. The architect is not known. The building is described as a Gothic cottage that is basically Greek Revival in form. It stands with its gable end facing the street, about 15 feet back from the roadway on a lot roughly 50 feet wide, and it has a Doric side porch, which has been enclosed. An addition of unknown date has altered the original structure. It is one of a pair, set beside an identical Gothic cottage with the same form and porch treatment. The Cambridge Historical Commission recorded the building in 1966, and the listing rests on its architectural character: a modest house that blends Gothic cottage detailing with Greek Revival massing and classical porch columns.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the building as an architectural example: a Gothic cottage that is basically Greek Revival in form. It stands with its gable end to the street and has a Doric side porch. The form checks only the architectural theme and gives little further context.
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 83000789, listed June 30, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 104-106 Hancock St., Cambridge |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | June 30, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000789 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival (described as a Gothic cottage with Greek Revival form) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential, the same as its original use. An addition of unknown date is noted, and the building has not been moved. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.36923, -71.10755 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 83000789.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4986535
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.