Downer Rowhouses (Adams Street)
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Why it's listed
Five brick rowhouse units share a single four-story building at 55 Adams Street on Winter Hill in Somerville. Built around 1880, the row is recognized as one of the city's earliest rowhouses and as a fine example of the Second Empire style. Its most notable features are five full-height polygonal bays, broken-pedimented dormers, a straight-sided mansard roof with a scallop pattern, and brownstone lintels and sills. The architect is unknown. Cutler Downer and a real estate developer built it on speculation for prosperous middle-class residents, at a time when the top of Winter Hill was a fashionable neighborhood of large lots and architecturally distinguished homes. Downer also built a second brick row behind it, fronting Central Street. The building remains in good condition with no major alterations, keeping its original design, materials and workmanship, and it still serves as multifamily housing. It was listed for its architectural significance at the local level.
Significance in brief: It is described as one of Somerville's earliest rowhouses and a fine example of the Second Empire style. It is also one of the finest brick rows on Winter Hill, built when the hilltop was a fashionable residential enclave. The nomination cites Criterion 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 89001225, listed September 18, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 55 Adams St., Somerville |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 18, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001225 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; built on speculation by Cutler Downer and a real estate developer |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition good; no major alterations; currently multifamily housing. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.39467, -71.09990 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 89001225.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5303117
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.