Downer Rowhouses (Central Street)
Why it's listed
Five brick apartment units joined in a single row make up this Second Empire building at 192-200 Central Street in Somerville's Winter Hill neighborhood. It was built around 1880 by Cutler Downer, a local real estate broker who lived in Winter Hill, and is a near neighbor of his similar row on Adams Street. The architect is not known. The tall, narrow building has full-height polygonal bays, recessed entrances and boldly projecting cornices. Its steep, straight-edged roofline suggests construction during the last years of the style's popularity, and the scallop-shingled slate roof survives, along with projecting dormers topped by broken pediments on brackets. Brick rowhouses were then being built for middle class residents in desirable neighborhoods such as Winter Hill. The row has no recorded major alterations, remains in good condition and still serves as multifamily housing. It was recognized for its architectural quality and its well-kept original character.
Significance in brief: The row is a well-preserved example of Second Empire design, with a steep roofline typical of the style's final years, tall narrow proportions, polygonal bays and bracketed dormers. It also reflects the late-19th-century construction of brick rowhouses for middle class residents in prestigious neighborhoods like Winter Hill. It is considered significant at the local level under Criterion C.
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 89001241, listed September 18, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 192--200 Central St., Somerville |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 18, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001241 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Cutler Downer (builder, local real estate broker); architect unknown |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as good, with no major alterations and no outbuildings; currently used as a multifamily residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.39477, -71.09930 (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 89001241.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.