Hill, Addison, House
Also known as: #421
Why it's listed
Set back from Appleton Street behind a hedge-enclosed lawn, this early-to-mid 19th-century house in Arlington was built for Addison Hill and is now divided into apartments. It shows the shift from Greek Revival to Italianate design. Clapboards are set flush on the first story and overlapped on the second, and a boldly bracketed architrave adds to the contrast. A wood cupola with a wrought-iron crown, a later addition, tops the house, and a late Victorian addition extends from the left side. A barn that once stood to the right and rear, with its own ornamented cupola and centaur weathervane, has been demolished. Hill came from families that settled much of what became Arlington Heights and western Belmont in the 17th century. His estate reached Massachusetts Avenue, his orchard lay near present Daniels Street, and his sheep grazed where the Locke School now stands. The house was listed for its architectural quality and retained integrity.
Significance in brief: The house is a well-preserved and particularly opulent example of the transition from Greek Revival to Italianate architecture. Its distinctive features include contrasting siding, a boldly bracketed architrave and a wood cupola. It also reflects Addison Hill, a landowner descended from 17th-century settlers of the area.
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 85002682, listed September 27, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 83 Appleton St., Arlington |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 27, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002682 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival with Italianate elements |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Converted into apartments; now a multi-family residence. The original barn has been demolished. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.42297, -71.18070 (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 85002682.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4681259
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.