Coolidge, Josiah, House
Why it's listed
This clapboard farmhouse at 24 Coolidge Hill Road in Cambridge was begun in 1822 by Josiah Coolidge, who had bought 33-1/2 acres the year before. He built the ell first, and the main block probably started around 1825. The house was finished by 1828. It stood on the Coolidge Farm, which occupied a drumlin on the Charles River and was the last working farm in Cambridge until it was sold for subdivision in 1910. Around 1900 the house was remodeled: a jerkin-headed cross gable was removed, three dormers were added, the porches were enclosed, and two bay windows were built on the north end. These changes altered its original Federal character, so the house is not valued as a pure example of that style. It is recognized instead for its link to the farm and the growth of Coolidge Hill, and as a record of a house changing over roughly 150 years. It remains a residence.
Significance in brief: The house is associated with the Coolidge Farm, the last working farm in Cambridge, and with the residential development of Coolidge Hill. The form argues that because of extensive alterations it is not significant as Federal architecture, but it is an interesting study of how a house developed over about 150 years. It is listed under Criterion A.
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 83000795, listed June 30, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 24 Coolidge Hill Rd., Cambridge |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | June 30, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000795 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; built for Josiah Coolidge |
| Architectural style | Originally Federal; later altered (also described as Greek Revival in the continuation sheet) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential; the form records extensive alterations, primarily in 1900. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.37425, -71.13784 (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 83000795.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715651
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.