House at 49 Vinal Avenue
Why it's listed
Standing on a prominent corner lot near the summit of Prospect Hill, above Union Square in Somerville, this house dates to about 1894 and blends two late 19th-century styles. It rises two and a half stories beneath a wide gambrel roof. The central entrance sits within a porch under a steep gambrel gable, flanked by smaller hipped-roof dormers. Shingle and fieldstone trim cover the exterior, while Colonial Revival touches include an elliptical attic window on the facade, applied wooden garlands on the dormers and a curved front porch. Local realtor Fred Haley, who lived nearby on Grandview Avenue, appears to have built it as a speculative venture. It was listed for its architecture, as a stylish and well-detailed example of the transition between Shingle Style and Colonial Revival design, and it keeps its original character with no major alterations and excellent condition. Late 19th-century dwellings surround it in a well-established neighborhood.
Significance in brief: The house is described as an important example of a transitional Shingle Style-Colonial Revival dwelling. It combines a wide gambrel roof and shingle and fieldstone finish with Colonial Revival details. It is judged significant at the local level for its architecture and retains integrity of location, design, materials, workmanship, feeling and association.
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 89001292, listed September 18, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 49 Vinal Ave., Somerville |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 18, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001292 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; apparently built by Somerville realtor Fred Haley for speculative purposes |
| Architectural style | Shingle/Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is listed as excellent, with no major alterations and no outbuildings; the building has not been moved. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.38483, -71.09653 (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 89001292.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715585
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.