Call-Bartlett House
Why it's listed
Built in 1855, this Greek Revival house at 216 Pleasant Street sits on a landscaped lot along the western shore of Spy Pond in Arlington. Its gable ends face Pleasant Street to the west and the pond to the east, and a two-story portico runs the full width of the pond-side facade. The walls are clapboard, and the architect is unknown. A north wing and a larger portico with chamfered posts may have been added in the third quarter of the 19th century. Henry Call, formerly of Charlestown, first occupied the house. Later it became the home of Prof. George Bartlett, principal emeritus of the State Normal Art School. Born and educated in England, he studied at the South Kensington School, worked as a draftsman, designer and lithographer, and came to America in 1870. He lived here from the 1880s until his death in 1923. The house was listed for its architecture and for its links to prominent Arlington residents, and it remains a residence.
Significance in brief: The form describes it as an especially fine example of Greek Revival architecture, with a two-story portico running the width of the house. It is also associated with Prof. George Bartlett, an English-born draftsman, designer and lithographer who lived there from the 1880s until 1923. It is judged to retain integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association.
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 85001024, listed April 18, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 216 Pleasant St., Arlington |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | April 18, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85001024 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Art, Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in residential use; no major alterations are recorded, though the form suggests a north wing and expanded portico may have been added in the third quarter of the 19th century. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.40906, -71.15932 (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 85001024.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5021467
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.