Mason, W. A., House
Why it's listed
This modest, T-shaped wooden house at 87 Raymond Street in Cambridge was built in 1846-47 for W. A. Mason and combines Greek Revival and Italianate features, with pilasters showing the earlier style's influence. The rear ell is the original section, and the front part was added in 1867. Recent changes are limited to a stock replacement entrance surround and an enclosed porch with jalousie windows, which the nomination says do not detract from its integrity. Mason lived here from 1851 until his death in 1880, and his son Charles continued the family firm of W. A. Mason & Son. Mason was the surveyor who platted and surveyed almost every developing area in Cambridge in the nineteenth century, shaping street and lot patterns still in use in the city and nearby towns. The house was listed for this association and as an example of its style and type. The architect is unknown.
Significance in brief: The house is associated with W. A. Mason, the Cambridge surveyor who platted and surveyed nearly every developing area of the city in the nineteenth century. It is also an example of the transition between Greek Revival and Italianate styles. The nomination cites criterion B for the Mason association and criterion C for style and type.
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 83000817, listed June 30, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 87 Raymond St., Cambridge |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | June 30, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000817 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival/Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Science |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Residential use; the form notes only minor recent alterations, a replaced entrance surround and an enclosed porch with jalousie windows. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.38563, -71.12632 (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 83000817.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7945295
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.