House at 5-7 Winter Street
Why it's listed
Set in a residential neighborhood of East Arlington, a short distance from Massachusetts Avenue, this two-family house at 5-7 Winter Street dates to about 1895. John P. Squire, a successful market garden farmer, built it as a speculative venture. It went up before the large-scale subdivision of the area, which began when Squire and other farmers sold off their land around the turn of the century. Its proximity to public transportation made it attractive to middle-class commuters, and it illustrates Arlington's suburban growth in the late 19th century. The building is considered one of the largest and best detailed in eastern Arlington, and it is a well-preserved example of Queen Anne domestic architecture, with shingle and clapboard walls. The original carriage house, in the same style, also survives. Both buildings have been carefully maintained, and no major alterations are recorded. The property was listed for its architecture and its link to local suburban development.
Significance in brief: The building is described as one of the largest and best detailed in eastern Arlington and a well-preserved example of Queen Anne style domestic architecture. It was built as a speculative venture before the area was subdivided, and its closeness to public transportation made it suited to middle-class commuters. It reflects Arlington's late 19th century suburban development.
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 85001037, listed April 18, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 5--7 Winter St., Arlington |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | April 18, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85001037 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | John P. Squire (builder of the speculative venture); architect unknown |
| Architectural style | Shingle Style (recorded in the description); Queen Anne style (in the significance statement) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is dwelling; the form says the house and carriage house have been carefully maintained and have had no major alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.40614, -71.14184 (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 85001037.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715586
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.