Hoyt, Benjamin, House
Why it's listed
This two-story, side-hall house at 134 Otis Street in East Cambridge was built in 1868 for Benjamin Hoyt, who owned the land and the house originally. Clad in clapboard, it is a Bracketed-style residence, described by reviewers as Italianate. Its plan follows the side-hall type, but the two square rooms usually found off the stair hall were replaced by one long parlor, with the dining room and kitchen in the rear ell. The two-over-two sash windows are original, and the entrance has double doors with decorative glass panels in the upper part. A 1964 Historic American Buildings Survey cited the house as one of the only homes of its period to survive totally intact in East Cambridge. The original fence, storm doors, gable trim and brackets remain. It was listed for the quality of its architectural styling and its unusually good preservation, and it is still a residence today.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is locally significant for the quality of its architectural styling. Built in 1868, it is a well-preserved example of the Italianate Bracketed style of domestic architecture and one of the few houses from its period to survive totally intact in East Cambridge. Its original fence, storm doors, gable trim and brackets are cited as evidence of this preservation.
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 82001953, listed April 13, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 134 Otis St., Cambridge |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | April 13, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001953 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Bracketed (Italianate Bracketed) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Residential use; described as remaining in exemplary condition and unaltered. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.37073, -71.08428 (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 82001953.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4888837
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.