Lechmere Point Corporation Houses
Why it's listed
This row of four attached houses at 45-51 Gore Street and 25 Third Street in East Cambridge dates from before 1821 and is Federal in style, built of wood and brick. It was erected by the Lechmere Point Corporation, a development company, and is the oldest structure known to survive in East Cambridge and the only one left of an unknown number the corporation built directly. A real estate record from 1821 shows the corporation selling it to Governor Christopher Gore, who held stock in the company and speculated in local land himself. The end houses are entered through central doorways, while the two middle houses have side-hall plans entered from Gore Street. Only the unit facing Gore Street remains substantially unchanged, with a pedimented gable and a deeply recessed center entrance in an otherwise plain brick wall. The house at 49 Gore gained arched windows and an extra story, and 51 Gore received a mansard roof. Despite these changes, the block was recognized for its place in the early development of the area. It remains residential.
Significance in brief: The block is described as the oldest known standing structure in East Cambridge and the only survivor of an unknown number of buildings put up directly by the Lechmere Point Corporation. It first appears in a 1821 sale to Governor Christopher Gore. The reviewer found it significant despite alterations, for the early development of the area, under Criterion C.
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 82001957, listed April 13, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 45-51 Gore St. and 25 3rd St., Cambridge |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | April 13, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001957 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Lechmere Point Corporation (original owner and builder); architect unknown |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential; the block has been altered at different times, with an added story and arched windows at 49 Gore and a mansard roof at 51 Gore. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.37190, -71.07983 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 82001957.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6511622
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.