Holmes, Joseph, House
Why it's listed
This small Federal-style house at 144 Coolidge Hill Street in Cambridge dates to 1801 and was built for Joseph Holmes by John Holmes, a housewright whose father-son connection is noted in the records. It originally stood at 15 Appian Way. In 1929, as development pressure grew around Harvard Square, it was moved to its present site, which saved it from demolition, and a service wing was added. The wood-clapboard house has a square plan turned so the entrance faces the side yard on a narrow lot. Its porch has delicate triglyphs, papyrus leaf capitals and an elliptical fan. It is one of only 28 houses left in Old Cambridge built between 1800 and 1833, and it is described as an unpretentious but well-preserved example of the five-bay, center-entrance Federal type. Its move into a 1920s subdivision reflects a wider pattern of relocating Federal houses. It was recognized under Criterion C for embodying the characteristics of its type and period.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an unpretentious but well-preserved example of a standard five-bay, center-entrance Federal house. It is one of only 28 houses remaining in Old Cambridge built between 1800 and 1833. Its 1929 move into a 1920s subdivision also reflects the regard for Federal houses and the frequency with which they were relocated in that period.
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 83000808, listed June 30, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 144 Coolidge Hill St., Cambridge |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | June 30, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000808 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | John Holmes, housewright |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Residential use; moved in 1929 and a service wing was added that year. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.37188, -71.13958 (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 83000808.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6284036
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.