Cliff, Z. E., House
Why it's listed
This house at 29 Powderhouse Terrace in Somerville was built around 1900 by Zebedee E. Cliff, a carpenter who became one of the city's most active developers. It sits on a curving street at the edge of Tufts Park. The Shingle Style design is marked by a broad gambrel roof, diamond-paned window mullions in several windows, and a recessed "sucked-in" gable window with contoured shingled reveals, a hallmark of the style. Polygonal bay windows were added a few years after construction, and the exterior is clapboard. It is considered one of the best remaining Shingle Style buildings in Somerville. Cliff served as an alderman and later as mayor, and built many of the city's finest one- and two-family houses. Powderhouse Terrace was among his best residential developments, and at his death he was credited with over $2 million worth of construction. The house remains in residential use, in excellent condition, and retains its original location and design.
Significance in brief: The house is described as an excellent and finely articulated example of the Shingle Style, one of the best remaining in Somerville. It was also the residence of Zebedee E. Cliff, a prominent builder-developer, alderman and later mayor, who shaped the city's growth. The form cites 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 89001280, listed September 18, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 29 Powderhouse Terr., Somerville |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 18, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001280 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Z. E. Cliff (builder) |
| Architectural style | Shingle/Colonial Revival (described in the text as Shingle Style) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is listed as excellent; present use is residential; not moved. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.39968, -71.11659 (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 89001280.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8062864
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.