Cutter, Gershom, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1835 at 1146 Massachusetts Avenue in Arlington, this two-and-a-half story, five-bay house sits close to the street on a narrow lot. It combines late Federal vernacular massing with early Greek Revival detailing, including a faceted-pilaster door surround with sidelights, and has a one-and-a-half story rear ell. A recent renovation removed vinyl siding and restored the clapboards, corner boards, cornice and shutters, while keeping a later Eastlake-style door hood. Gershom Cutter 6th, a farmer and wheelwright, likely built it near the time of his 1834 marriage, replacing an earlier family house that reportedly was entered by British troops retreating from Concord in 1775. The Cutter family had been part of Arlington's mills and farms since the 1630s. The house is described as a typical village dwelling of middle-class late Federal housing, and the lot may hold archaeological remains of the earlier house and outbuildings. Its listing rests on its family associations and its architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination ties the house to the Cutter family, long involved in Arlington's milling, farming and development from the First Period through the nineteenth century. It also presents the house as a well-preserved, representative late-Federal village dwelling with early Greek Revival detailing. Possible archaeological remains of an earlier Cutter house on the site are noted as additional significance.
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 99001306, listed November 12, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1146 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | November 12, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99001306 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1835-1890 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture, Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Recently renovated: vinyl siding was removed and original clapboards, trim and the front door surround were retained and restored. Now used as a multiple dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.41995, -71.16929 (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 99001306.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5553095
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.