Melvin, Isaac, House
Why it's listed
This wood-frame house at 19 Centre Street in Cambridge was built in 1842 as a residence for Isaac Melvin, who designed it with his colleague Oliver Woods. Melvin was a prominent local architect, and he also designed the North Avenue Congregational Church in Northwest Cambridge in 1845. The house is a cross-gable Italianate building with a strong vertical emphasis. Its elaborate applied ornament was taken from standard pattern books of the period. Notable features include Greek Revival pilasters, an octagonal cupola and heavy pediments at the gable ends. The form describes the physical layout as Italianate while the details are primarily Greek Revival. The property originally included a mansard carriage house, and it has undergone minor remodelling several times. It remains in residential use. Reviewers regarded it as an important Italianate mansion tied to a notable local architect, which supported its listing for both its associations and its architecture.
Significance in brief: The house is described as an important Italianate mansion designed by Isaac Melvin, a prominent local architect who also designed the North Avenue Congregational Church (1845). It has a cross-gable form with strong vertical emphasis and applied ornament taken from period pattern books. The reviewer recommended listing under Criteria B 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 82001962, listed April 13, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 19 Centre St., Cambridge |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | April 13, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001962 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Isaac Melvin & Oliver Woods |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival/Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential; the form notes minor remodelling several times. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.36983, -71.10903 (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 82001962.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6076789
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.