House at 343 Highland Avenue
Why it's listed
Built around 1880, this two-and-a-half-story Queen Anne house at 343 Highland Avenue in northwestern Somerville was designed as a two-family home and still serves that purpose. Its clapboard walls, paired brackets under the front gable, and modest dentilated window lintels give a simple plan, but the first and second story porches carry elaborate jigsaw bargeboard and friezework. It is described as one of the best conserved of roughly twenty similar two-family houses around Davis Square and the Somerville Highland Station area. The site was part of the Tufts brickyard, which was divided in the 1870s. After that, the area filled quickly with two-family homes aimed at commuters. The house may have been built by Somerville builder A. D. Rice, known for buildings that were plain in plan but richly ornamented. It was recorded as being in excellent condition with no major alterations, and it retains its original location and design.
Significance in brief: It is a good example of the two-family variety of Queen Anne house, with elaborate jigsaw bargeboard and friezework on its porches. It is one of the best preserved of about twenty similar houses near Davis Square and Somerville Highland Station. It also reflects the 1870s subdivision of the Tufts brickyard for commuter housing.
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 89001267, listed September 18, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 343 Highland Ave., Somerville |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 18, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001267 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; may be the work of Somerville builder A. D. Rice |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as excellent; present use is a two-family residence; no major alterations; a 20th-century garage is noncontributing. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.39429, -71.11605 (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 89001267.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5914255
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.