Elder, Samuel, House
Also known as: Skillings--Manny House
Why it's listed
This red brick house at 38 Rangeley Road in Winchester, Massachusetts, dates from about 1876 and is one of three Panel Brick style houses in the Rangeley Estates, a walled residential park developed by David Skillings. Its walls combine red brick with tar-dipped black brick for a polychromatic effect, under a slate hip roof with modillions and corner brackets. The asymmetrical facade has a segmental arched entry beside a projecting wing, a bracketed porch, brownstone trim and a double bay brick garage behind. The house reflects the town's rise as a fashionable suburb in the 1870s. It is also associated with Samuel Elder, a Boston attorney who lived there from at least 1889 to 1905. Elder took part in the Eastman murder trial, served as counsel to Mary Baker Eddy and the Christian Science Church, and acted as counsel in the Fisheries Arbitration Case at the Hague. Later research credits architect George D. Rand with the design.
Significance in brief: It is one of three Panel Brick style houses in Winchester, all in the Rangeley Estates area, with polychromatic red and tar-dipped black brick walls and an irregular silhouette. It reflects Winchester's growth as a fashionable suburb. It is also tied to Samuel Elder, a prominent Boston attorney who lived there from at least 1889 to 1905.
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 89000643, listed July 5, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 38 Rangeley Rd., Winchester |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 5, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000643 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown in the original nomination form; the 1990 revised form names George D. Rand as architect. Built by David Skillings on his estate grounds. |
| Architectural style | Panel Brick (Queen Anne) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is a dwelling; condition is stated as excellent, with no major alterations recorded. |
| Acreage | 0.6 |
| Coordinates | 42.44767, -71.14107 (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 89000643.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7411317
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.