Farwell, R.H., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1891 at 2222-24 Massachusetts Avenue in northwest Cambridge, this large wood-frame double house was erected for R.H. Farwell, with George Durgin named as builder. It is designed in the Queen Anne style, with paired entrances flanked by two-story polygonal bays that show Bracketed Italianate influence. The gable roof carries a widely spaced pair of gabled dormers. The building has not been altered or moved and is still used as a residence, as it was originally. Its setback from the street and its size preserve an image of the prestigious homes that developed along what was then called North Avenue in the mid to late nineteenth century. Together with the houses at 2200 and 2210 Massachusetts Avenue, it forms the best surviving group from that period and helps identify that phase of growth in northwest Cambridge. A federal reviewer considered it a rare surviving example of homes built by the upwardly mobile middle class.
Significance in brief: The house keeps the setback and size of the prestigious homes that lined Massachusetts Avenue (then North Avenue) in the mid to late nineteenth century. With its two neighbors at 2200 and 2210 Massachusetts Avenue, it is the best surviving group from that period. A reviewer called it a rare surviving example of homes built by the upwardly mobile middle class and locally significant for architecture.
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 82001939, listed April 13, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2222-2224 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | April 13, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001939 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | George Durgin - builder |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential, the same as its original use. The form records no alterations. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.39320, -71.12609 (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 82001939.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7273346
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.