House at 29 Mt. Vernon Street
Why it's listed
This one and one-half story Greek Revival cottage at 29 Mt. Vernon Street in East Somerville dates to about 1845-1850. It is clad in clapboard and has a garage added around 1930. The street was platted in 1845 and soon filled with Greek Revival cottages, drawing Boston businessmen and artisans who valued the nearby Charlestown and the Boston and Maine Railroad. The house has a temple-form gable end with wide eaves and a full entablature, carried by a full-width Ionic porch. Full-length windows with high-profile lintels and an elaborate entrance framed by decorative panels add to its Greek Revival character. It is the only house of its size among the two and one-half story side hall cottages on the opposite side of the street. East Somerville is the only part of the city that still has a concentration of these cottages, and the house keeps its original location, design, materials and workmanship, in good condition and with no major alterations. It was recognized for its architecture at the local level.
Significance in brief: The house is a fine example of a one and one-half story Greek Revival cottage and keeps its integrity of location, design, materials, workmanship and association. It represents the mid-19th century residential development of East Somerville, the only part of Somerville that still has a concentration of Greek Revival cottages from the 1840s and 1850s. It is also the only house of its size among the two and one-half story side hall cottages across the street.
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 89001302, listed September 18, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 29 Mt. Vernon St., Somerville |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 18, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001302 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Residential use, in good condition, with no major alterations and not moved. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.38577, -71.07944 (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 89001302.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5914203
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.