House at 197 Morrison Avenue
Why it's listed
Half hidden behind a later house on the same lot, this brick dwelling at 197 Morrison Avenue in Somerville dates to about 1860, based on stylistic analysis. It rises 1 1/2 stories and has two bays, a full-width porch with Doric columns, medallions and a frieze, and a double entrance door with segmental-arched glass in the upper panels. Original details include a lancet window in the gable, cusped bargeboards and a floor-length window on the facade. It is considered the city's finest vernacular example of the picturesque Gothic Revival style. The house shares a ridge above the street with its neighbor at 201 Morrison Avenue, both set far back from the road. These houses somewhat predate the speculative building that filled Morrison Avenue in the 1870s. A side or wrap-around porch has been removed, but the house remains in good condition and is still used as a residence.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it Somerville's finest vernacular example of the Gothic Revival style, meeting Criterion C at the local level. It retains integrity of location, design, materials, feeling, workmanship and association. It also predates the speculative development of Morrison Avenue in the 1870s.
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 89001273, listed September 18, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 197 Morrison Ave., Somerville |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 18, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001273 |
| 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 good; in use as a residence. A side or wrap-around porch has been removed, and an earlier 20th-century garage is noted as non-contributing. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.39756, -71.11931 (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 89001273.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5914044
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.