Mann, James H., House
Why it's listed
This small cottage at 23 Hancock Street in Winchester, Massachusetts, was built before 1865 by its carpenter owner, James H. Mann. It is a 1½-story building on a T plan, with a forward-projecting tower topped by a jerkin-headed roof and vergeboards. The main body sits under a double gable roof resembling a monitor, with finials and vergeboards at the gable ends. Clapboards cover the walls, trimmed with beaded cornerboards, a water table and a frieze with modified dentils. A double-leaf door with round arched glazing sits beneath a shed-roofed porch, and an oriel window projects from the right side. The house blends Italianate and Gothic Revival features and reflects the picturesque ideals promoted by mid-19th century pattern book writers such as A.J. Downing. It was the first house built on Hancock Street, on land owned by carpet dealer Jerome B. Judkins. Its listing recognizes both its design and its link to Winchester's growth as a fashionable suburb.
Significance in brief: The form argues the house is an unusual picturesque cottage combining Italianate and Gothic Revival elements and reflecting the ideals of mid-19th century pattern book writers such as A.J. Downing. Built by its carpenter owner, it illustrates Winchester's growing popularity as a fashionable suburb. It meets criteria A and 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 89000624, listed July 5, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 23 Hancock St., Winchester |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 5, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000624 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | James H. Mann (builder) |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as excellent; present use is a dwelling. Siding was added and then stripped in 1986. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 42.45673, -71.12849 (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 89000624.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6135219
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.