Gardner, O. W., House
Why it's listed
Built around 1840, this 1½-story clapboard house at 5 Myrtle Street in Winchester is a well-preserved example of Gothic Revival design. It has a steeply pitched gable roof with cross gables, elaborate scroll-sawn vergeboards, acorn-shaped drops, grooved cornerboards, label moldings over the windows and some pointed or lancet openings. The side-hall plan and one-story wing are typical of small houses of the period, and most windows keep their original 6/6 sash. The only notable change is a Queen Anne style porch, probably added when the house was moved. The house originally stood on a triangle of land near Washington, Main and Mt. Vernon Streets, where it was owned by Oliver W. Gardner and paired with a twin owned by Alexis Cutting. When the town chose the site for a new Town Hall in 1887, the Gardner House was moved to Myrtle Street, then a fast-developing residential area. Its move reflects the pattern of town centers turning commercial and institutional while homes ringed them. The twin house was demolished in 1968.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in a town known for many such houses, with scroll-sawn vergeboards, acorn drops and lancet windows. It also illustrates how town centers gave way to commercial and institutional uses while residential neighborhoods grew around them.
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 89000791, listed July 5, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 5 Myrtle St., Winchester |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 5, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000791 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as excellent; present use is a dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 42.45225, -71.13247 (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 89000791.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7072182
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.