House at 42 Vinal Avenue
Why it's listed
Built around 1895, this house at 42 Vinal Avenue in Somerville is a modest but carefully preserved example of the Shingle Style. Its most notable feature is the unbroken covering of decorative shingles in varied shapes, which forms a continuous skin over the exterior. A sweeping gable roof on the eastern side shelters an integral entry porch, and the windows are simply framed, apart from a small attic gable window with a suggestion of volutes. The house sits on the west side of Vinal Avenue in an established residential neighborhood at the edge of Prospect Hill. Vinal, Grandview and Pleasant Avenues were platted to serve the city's growing commuter population, many of whom wanted stylish single-family homes, and horsecar lines arriving in the 1860s spurred rapid growth on the hillside north of Union Square. The house retains its original design, materials and setting, and has no major alterations. Two garages stand on the property. It was recognized for its architecture at the local level.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as a well-preserved, modest-scale vernacular example of the pure Shingle Style in Somerville. Its continuous skin of decorative shingles and sweeping gable roof over an integral entry porch are highlighted. It is also typical of the fine houses in the Vinal/Grandview area, which developed as 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 89001290, listed September 18, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 42 Vinal Ave., Somerville |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 18, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001290 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Shingle Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is described as excellent, with no major alterations and not moved; it is in residential use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.38455, -71.09713 (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 89001290.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5914320
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.