Highland Hose House
Why it's listed
Highland Hose House, at 1007 Massachusetts Avenue in Arlington, is a brick fire station completed in 1928 for the town. Architect George Ernest Robinson of Belmont designed it in the Georgian Revival style, borrowing deliberately from Boston landmarks. Its stepped gable ends and rounded windows recall the Old State House, the delicate cupola and gilded grasshopper weathervane echo Faneuil Hall, and the violet-paned windows copy those on Bulfinch townhouses along Boston Common. The station was one of several built in Arlington as the town became more suburban. Inside, woodwork by the Theodore Schwamb Company was that firm's first commission after it shifted from making piano cases to architectural woodworking. A bronze relief of Fire Chief Charles Goff, to whom the station was dedicated, was made by Arlington sculptor Cyrus Dallin. The building has had no major alterations and remains in use as a fire station among commercial buildings and multifamily housing.
Significance in brief: The building is a well-detailed Georgian Revival design that deliberately imitates several of Boston's 18th and early 19th century landmarks. It reflects a major period of suburban growth in Arlington and the town's strong municipal response to it. It also holds interior woodwork by the Theodore Schwamb Company and a bronze relief by sculptor Cyrus Dallin.
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 85001034, listed April 18, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1007 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | April 18, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85001034 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | George Ernest Robinson |
| Architectural style | Georgian Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a fire house; no major alterations recorded and the form says it retains integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.41996, -71.16844 (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 85001034.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715535
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.