Munroe, Robert, House
Why it's listed
Perched on an embankment above Walnut Street on Prospect Hill in Somerville, this 2 1/2-story house was built around 1849 in the Greek Revival style. Its sidehall plan places the entrance off to the left, framed by sidelights and a transom light. A wrap-around Ionic portico, wide corner pilasters and full-length first-floor windows give the modest house its most distinctive character. A garage was later built into the lower hillside, with a terrace added above. Robert Munroe, a Boston grain dealer, was an early Prospect Hill resident. During the 1840s he and fellow grain dealer Robert Aldersley Vinal built modest Greek Revival homes on the southern slope of the hill off Walnut Street. Munroe Street, named for him, forms a circle around the hill with Boston Street; both were laid out in 1842. The house was recognized for its architecture at the local level. Alterations from the 1980s include aluminum siding, a raised shed dormer and metal window awnings, and it now holds multiple units.
Significance in brief: The house is described as a modestly pretentious Greek Revival building noted for its fine Ionic-columned portico, and it meets Criterion C at the local level. It is also tied to Robert Munroe, a Boston grain dealer who was an early Prospect Hill resident and for whom nearby Munroe Street is named.
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 89001294, listed September 18, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 37 Walnut St., Somerville |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 18, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001294 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is a multi-unit residence; condition rated fair to good. Altered in the 1980s with aluminum siding, a raised shed dormer and metal window awnings. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.38268, -71.09561 (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 89001294.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7347878
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.