Gardner, Edward, House
Why it's listed
This farmhouse at 89 Cambridge Street in Winchester was built around 1764 by Edward Gardner, a fifth-generation descendant of Richard Gardner, who bought the surrounding land in 1659. It is a typical mid-18th-century farmhouse with a two-room central chimney plan, a five-bay clapboard front, a low gable roof with a rear saltbox slope, and nine-over-six windows. Inside, raised-panel fireplace walls, boxed cornerposts and wide pine floors survive. Gardner died young, and the Swan family then owned the house for several generations, possibly running a shoe shop in the rear wing. In the 1920s and 1930s architect F. Patterson Smith remodelled it in Colonial Revival style, moving the shoe shop wing and converting the barn to a separate residence. The house is one of only two pre-Revolutionary structures left in Winchester and the town's only Mid Georgian example, and it is linked to a prominent early family.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that it is one of only two surviving pre-Revolutionary structures in Winchester and the town's only Mid Georgian dwelling. It is also tied to the Gardner family, among the town's earliest settlers and most distinguished early citizens. Its Colonial Revival changes by architect F. Patterson Smith add further significance.
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 89000605, listed July 5, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 0 Gardner Pl. (formerly 89 Cambridge St.), Winchester |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 5, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000605 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; built by Edward Gardner (circa 1764); Colonial Revival remodelling by F. Patterson Smith |
| Architectural style | Mid Georgian |
| 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 described as very good. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.44423, -71.15165 (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 89000605.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5343064
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.