Farmer, Kimball, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1826, this two-story clapboard house at 1173 Massachusetts Avenue in Arlington is a center-entry Federal-style building. Its doorway keeps fine Gothic lancet tracery, and its two chimneys sit along the rear wall, following the regional pattern for Federal-period houses in Middlesex County. The form records no major alterations, no outbuildings and no move, and the house retains its integrity of location, design, materials and workmanship. It was once part of a large farm belonging to Kimball Farmer and remained in his family for three generations. Farmer was noted for growing violets for his wife in hotbeds behind the property. Today the house sits in a densely settled area of commercial and multi-family residential buildings and is in commercial use. It was listed for its architecture, as a well-preserved example of the Federal style.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a well-preserved example of the Federal style, meeting Criterion C. It keeps its Gothic lancet tracery doorway and rear-wall chimneys typical of Federal-period houses in Middlesex County. It was also part of Kimball Farmer's large farm and stayed in his family for three generations.
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 85001031, listed April 18, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1173 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | April 18, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85001031 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is commercial; the form reports no major alterations and no outbuildings, and the house has not been moved. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.42345, -71.17440 (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 85001031.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6409765
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.