Lovell Block
Why it's listed
Built in 1882 at 1853 Massachusetts Avenue in North Cambridge, this brick block combined shops on the ground floor with four well-appointed flats above. Andrew Jackson Lovell had it built, and the ground floor held a branch of his grocery business and a purpose-designed North Cambridge post office. It stood beside the Fitchburg Railroad depot in Porter Square, an area that grew as a transportation hub and a suburb for Boston businessmen. Flats of this kind were rare in Cambridge, where most multifamily housing took the form of tenements or row houses. The building uses the panelled brick variant of the Queen Anne style, with a corbelled cornice and a three-part arch framing a signet stone bearing the builder's name and date. The interiors show a free interpretation of the Eastlake style, and original plumbing fixtures, radiators, dumbwaiters and gas lighting jets survive. Its listing rests on its association with the neighborhood's development and its distinctive architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant under Criterion A for its link to the development of the North Avenue community in the later nineteenth century. It is significant under Criterion C for its unduplicated architectural style and quality. It offered relatively expensive rental flats, a post office and a grocer in an area that otherwise lacked them, and it remains largely unchanged inside and out.
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 83000814, listed June 30, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1853 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | June 30, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000814 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne - Panelled Brick |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as substantially unchanged from its original appearance, with original use continuing as residential/commercial. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.38739, -71.11909 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 83000814.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6692202
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.